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Topic: Torpedo Tube ID Assistance |
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 3, 2014 - 11:40am
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Maybe this tube version had been manufactured specifically for Elco, but because the MK13 torps were coming online, they shipped them all south to be installed on the Huckins. The Ron 26A batch left Miami for CZ in early June 43. The Ron 26B batch had these tubes removed in Miami at the beginning of October 43, just before heading to the CZ.
Andy
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 3, 2014 - 6:46pm
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Andy and Ted,
Thanks for the history lesson. Where can I learn more about PT's at Panama?
Jerry,
Don't be a hater. I know deep down you love the 109 like the rest of us. :-)
Dave
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 4, 2014 - 7:43am
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Dave,
For info outside of what has been covered in various published PT Boat books and government documents such as the Administrative History of PT's in World War II, the PT Boat Archives in Germantown has a great deal of info and photos available, but requires a visit. The National Archives has piles of primary info, including deck logs, war diaries and BuShips files, which allow you to piece together the different boat/squadron activities in the CZ. Fortunately fold3 website has made jpg files of the war diaries and you should be able to piece a good timeline of CZ PT boat activities through these reports. Sometimes they also list mods and repairs completed by the facilities, but it takes lots of shifting through the chaff.
Cheers,
Andy
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Nov 5, 2014 - 7:09am
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Dave;
Andy is spot on. To find out about PT's in Panama you have to sift through various sources, and it is hit and miss. One thing that motivates me is I was stationed there for 5 years and traveled back and forth for 3 while in the Navy. Also my wife is from there, so we go back almost every year. I have been on Toboga a lot. Jack Searles and Tom Kendall were also sources of my info.
As Andy stated, Deck Logs at the National Achieves has been a large source of my info, especially PT 48's deck logs. while looking at FOLD3, back tracking does not always work here, as 15th Naval district logs are almost useless, however, they do show evidence that plans were made to have multiple FOB PT Boat bases within the15th Naval Districts area of responsibility, as sight surveys were done, one that pleasantly surprised me was Flamingo, Costa Rica(which I went to in 1995 with 4 PB's, 2 MK lll and 2 MK lV's on our way to El Salvador). it is an excellent area, easily enough room to accommodate a squadron or two of PT Boats. I can see this was originally proposed to increase operational search areas and act as protection/early warning for canal defense, then as the war progressed they continued along this path as it would have create a more realistic advanced training scenario for squadrons deploying to forward areas. however, this seems to have only gone to the planning stages.Today, there is an awesome yacht club and hotel, looking at current photos on trip advisor, it has built up some since I was there, but, it is still a favorite stop for sailboats and yachts heading down from US west coast or Mexico.
Take care,
TED
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 9, 2014 - 7:52pm
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Jeff,
Found my answer while looking through all my national archive material. I found a 1 Dec 43 reference in the PT 255 deck log book listing the tubes they removed as Mk 18 Mod Vs, so I guess there were two versions of the Mod V. You mentioned drawings you had of the Mod V?
Cheers,
Andy
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2014 - 6:51am
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Thanks Jeff,
I just double checked to make sure that PT255 didn't have different tubes from the others, but the photos all check out for Ron 26 being fitted out the same for commissioning. PT 363 also had the same tubes (CA photo posted on NavSource) as PT 362, so probably the whole batch (362 thru 367) that were shipped from Elco out to CA for assembly had them? Maybe there's some related paperwork for this. Drawing 1798-24 mentions an Alteration A to the rear support in May 13, 43. Having trouble reading the details of the alteration. Looks like these tubes had a lot more interesting thingees forward instead of the usual smooth tube.
Here are some more cropped Huckins photos showing some additional details - Andy
Photo Taken in Jacksonville during commissioning - shows multiple views of the tubes. Of note the first couple of boats in the Ron 26 batch still had wood deflectors on their 50s, these were replaced with rails within weeks of this photo.
Photo of the aft tube on PT 257 taken down in Panama about Sep-Oct 43.
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2014 - 9:35am
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Cool images, once again thanks Andy. Yes they do have a lot going on along the top...
I think the alt text says "rear support changed to agree with detail".
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