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Topic: Front fifty turret. |
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Kurt
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 29, 2007 - 12:12pm
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Is the reason the front fifty turret never has canvas on it because of blocking the vision of the bridge?
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 29, 2007 - 4:35pm
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Never heard that, but I suppose there could be instances where it was true. LOTS of pictures around where the forward turret is covered, though.
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Kurt
New Member
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Posted on: Apr 29, 2007 - 5:01pm
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I haven't seen that many with the front covered, but the stern one always seems to be covered. Maybe the stern one was wetter due to spray? I just thought that maybe the canvas would limit the field of vision too much and was removed.
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 29, 2007 - 7:09pm
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Kurt;
It is good your thinking this way, now your thinking like a boat captain or a Skipper, the answer is yes, it limits the coxswains/skippers field of vision, in fact the whole mount did, this is why in later series Elcos the mount is moved back a few feet.
Take care,
TED
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 29, 2007 - 8:01pm
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Kurt,
The reason the forward (starboard) twin .50 turret didn't have a canvas spray shield around it was that it didn't "ship water" the way the aft (port) turret did while the boat turned and maneuvered at speed. The spray shield kept the aft gunner and the interior of the turret relatively dry.
This is also why there were fore-and-aft spray shields abaft of that port twin .50 turret and the starboard side of the day room canopy on the early 80' Elco boats-- so shipped water wouldn't flood the engine room hatch area.
The forward gun turret, being higher and drier that the aft turret, didn't really need a spray shield.
This being said, I've also seen some vintage photos of 80' Elcos with no spray shield on that aft twin-.50 turret.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Apr 30, 2007 - 4:08pm
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Kurt:
Of course we are only talking the Elco Turret Here. The Higgins which had the 2 gun tubes on each side of the helm would somtimes be a wetter ride due to the stubbier nose of the Higgins boat. Many times a spray shield would be added from the gun suppresor rail to the sides of the Cockpit. In any case there was water everywhere on a jumping PT Boat, so no doubt some got a wet ride. It certainly must have been somewhat of a problem as Gunner Mates would have to change ammo to fresh stock after some Patrols because of ammo exposed to the salt water spray.
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