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 Author  Topic: Lt. Comdr. Alan Montgomery Pocket notebook
Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jan 27, 2013 - 7:04am

I received the second book from the estate of Lt. Comdr.. Alan Montgomery, and it is full of hand written notes. I am sure this was when he was at the shakedown base in Florida. I have included six pages of interesting notes for you guys to take a look at. Interesting trials and notes on the boats, that I thought you might find interesting.

Frank


















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comcardiv1

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jan 27, 2013 - 9:33am
Frank--that note book is interesting...some of those notes are from trials ordered by the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Frederick J.Horne) and conducted in Miami by the Board of Inspection and Survey in November 1943. This was after an unfavorable report surfaced from the sub-chaser training center (responsible for shaking down the Higgins boats) criticizing the speed of the Higgins PT's The tests were done using two standard Elcos (PT's 552 and 553) and two standard Higgins (PT's 295 and 296) Two versions of the Packard engine (W-8 and the more powerful W-14), one version for each pair of boats were installed. The boats were carefully calibrated to near equality--bottoms cleaned, weights adjusted, etc. The short story is that these tests proved to the Navy that the Higgins boat was worth keeping in production.

I also see notes referring to PT 487--I wonder if this has anything to do with the Elcoplanes? PT 487 was the boat they were originally tested on.

Gene K.



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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jan 27, 2013 - 10:36am
I think it is a wonderful look into the History of these tests, and to have the actual notes pertaining to these tests is a thrill for me. I find it amazing that the Montgomery Estate had no one to pas along these items to, but in all honesty, I am very thrilled to have his artifacts in my collection. Thanks
so much for the update and confirmation of these notes. SEE JERRY, the HIGGINS BOATS were pretty darn good.......


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Jan 27, 2013 - 12:10pm
Hi Frank! I remember you showed this book to me and Jason when we visited you last spring. I always knew the Higgins were the best! Thanks for posting it. PS I am working on your guntub request and the letter from Maury. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jan 27, 2013 - 3:05pm
Jerry, this is the second book I just got from the estate. I showed you the first Montgomery book, with entries almost the same. Thanks for working on the request's, I appreciate it.............


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TED WALTHER

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Gene;
You might be right, those speeds for PT 487 are consistant with the Elcoplane test speeds.

Frank does the book have another set of these high speeds?
Because according to At Close Quarters RON 29 (MTB DIV PT 560, 561, 562,and 563 ran from New York to Miami with Elcoplanes. While the book states PT 487 ran the initial Elcoplane tests in Newark Bay on DEC 16, 1943, The PT 487 tests were for speed increases in "empty" and warload weights.
These numbers for 487 in Monty's notebook, would they have sent Monty to ELCO to observe these tests in Newark Bay? Or are his numbers from later tests conducked in Miami? It would only stand to reason PT 487 would be sent down to Miami to also complete warm water tests also, to see what could be expected if these were sent out to the Pacific as retro fit kits. The later RON 29 tests were conducted specifically in various sea states to test long distance runs while travelling down the East Coast on the outside(following coastline).
take care,
TED


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jan 28, 2013 - 2:51pm
Ted

Towards the back of Montgomery's Book, he wrote:

ELCOPLANES

7 planes are extending 3 ft. beyond transome, next are even with outer stern tube- other 5 spread at about 6 6 intervals each plane 3" x 45. Then he lists PT564 with entries. Other entries include PT-487, Other trials include PT-564, 295, and 552., 296, 553, I can try and scan what is left in the book if need be. One entry which is the only one with a date, says PT-552 on November 9th.


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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Jan 28, 2013 - 6:58pm
Frank;
This is all very interesting to me. However, Since Monty did not elaborate further, we are forced to back track on his notes. Isn't it amazing how they worried about oil consumption, but not fuel consumption during these tests. In todays Navy, all these consumption numbers would be suspect. The PT 487 assumption I made makes sense to me, even if they broke down/removed the ELCOPLANE, let 487 run down to Miami normally, then re-installed the ELCOPLANE for the warm water testing. But this is all supposition on my part.
Take care,
TED


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jan 28, 2013 - 8:48pm
Ted, In viewing Monty's notes a little closer, it seems these trial were started on November 3, with his last entry being November 10th. In one section he lists Trail Board Members: Lt. Selwart (this is a guess, hard to read) and Lt. Whitman, Wells, and Lt. Com. Walsh. With Walsh being in charge of the MTBSTC, this leads me to think these trails were held at the MTBSTC. Your thoughts guys....................


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