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Topic: HIGGINS TRAIN |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 20, 2016 - 10:48pm
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PT-71 type early configs, I think.
Will |
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined:
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Jul 21, 2016 - 12:56pm
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Hi Gary,
You touched on one of my interests.
The six PTs were shipped by rail over a period of time as parts. Often in sep one car shipments.
In mid 1942, this project was a logistical and production test case to see if boats could be cut, packaged and then shipped to a forward location for assembly. It was also sold as setting up Terminal Island as a potential West Coast Repair facility for ELCOs (train the local labor under ELCO's supervision). It's an interesting sub story in ELCO war-time production. Things such as finding skilled labor in mid 1942 was one of the factors. The careful accounting of materials at both ends another. The use of a numbering system which was probably similar to today's bar coding yet another (people checking the arrivals often had no idea of what the parts were). Making sure enough screws, bolts and fasteners on hand (seems several shipments arrived without the little pieces to put it all together). Even concepts of pre-painting parts or not came up. The team quickly adapted and recorded all the lessons identified. In the end, the boats were completed several weeks ahead of schedule.
The Soviets accomplished something similar with their D3 MTB design. They had far more extreme conditions so they devised a strong PT boat with a maximum of simplicity of construction that could be assembled onsite by local available labor. These also relied on Packards (two).
Cheers,
Andy
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 21, 2016 - 3:51pm
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Thanks, Andy. Fascinating stuff....
Will |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 21, 2016 - 3:51pm
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Thanks, Andy. Fascinating stuff....
Will |
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined:
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Gary Paulsen
MASTER
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Posted on: Jul 22, 2016 - 3:25pm
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Thanks Andy
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