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Topic: Turret .50 Direction |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 5:59am
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As I was working on rigging up ammo belts for my 103 project, I noticed that photos of boats on patrol with ready guns locked in the up position mostly faced aft. That is, the back rest was forward.
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ducati650
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 7:18am
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I always assumed they were located to allow the quickest and easiest path to enter the mount in a hurry.
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Wayne Traxel
MASTER
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 11:15am
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Have seen photos where the turrets appears to be a good location to post lookouts. Gun barrels in upward position directly behind the lookout while they scanned the area with the back rest in front of them.
Wayne |
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Jerry N Gilmartin |
Full Member
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 11:16am
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Hi Jeff,
I have an educated guess why you see the turrets in that position. There is an elevation lock that latches the cradle in the vertical position. The vertical position makes it easier to walk around on the boat and not hit your head on the gun barrels. When not in use, the gunners would normally place the guns in this vertically latched position. Then, when the boat gets underway and up to speed, the bow rises out of the water up "on the step". When this happens gravity causes the now heavier front side of the turret ring to move towards the lowest level. This would cause the rings to naturally rotate until they face aft. (or "downhill") The rings are pretty well balanced, but when you lock the gun barrels vertically, the normally even weight distribution is thrown off towards the front. Like I say, just an educated guess. I dont think I have ever seen any sort of SOP or crew instruction to place the turets into the aft facing position for any tactical reason. Jerry
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 1:49pm
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Yes ducati, with the backrest forward it would be easier to jump into a turret.
I didn't think of that one Wayne, good observation.
Jerry, on your boat does the hand brake immobilize rotation pretty well or do the carriages still tend to go "downhill" if they are facing forward?
I got this from the hnsa manual, it mostly describes the latches. Interesting about the periscope, although most photos show them at max elevation like Jerry reasoned out. Horizontal guns would make it harder to get into the turrets too:
Hand Brake
3. The hand-brake assembly is bolted on the pads provided on the rotating support ring (see pls. 4 and 6). With brake handle locked in horizontal position to the left (with reference to operator inside the turret) the brake shoe should be clear and free from the brake surface, i.e., the fixed ring of the carriage.
4. To hold the mount in train in any fixed position, turn the brake handle 180° to the right for maximum braking effect. The hand brake may also be used to apply varying degrees of braking effort by engaging the brake-handle detent in any one of the three intermediate notches provided on the cam surface of the brake bracket.
Cradle-Locking Latches
10. Two latches for securing the cradle are provided: one for securing the guns in maximum elevated position, and another for securing them in a horizontal position. Guns should be secured in a horizontal position on sea when visibility is low. Guns stowed nearly vertically have been mistaken for a submarine periscope.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 3:48pm
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Hi Jeff,
Yes our traverse lock will stop movement, but hardly anyone ever actually engages it. The one we have I personally installed, it is pretty beefy with teeth and the cam lever. The turret will move all by itself if you dont lock it down as long as the bearings are in good shape. Yes the horizontal lock is also there, but ours doesnt work. I had never heard that line about the vertical guns being mistaken for a periscope! Pretty interesting! Take care. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2014 - 6:41pm
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Thanks Jerry.
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