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Topic: Revell New Tool PT-109 Instruction Sheet |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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 Posted on: Feb 14, 2018 - 6:36pm
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I've been thinking a lot about my guess as to how they might have secured the 37mm and changed my mind / refined from what I had posted earlier.
Chained from the mooring bitt to the axle, then from the ends of the carriage trails (legs) to the cleats (have to move the depth charges back). The 2x6's from inside the wheels to the ends of the trails with the axle and trail ends lashed down to them to prevent the gun from lifting.
The Revell kit 37mm lacks carriage wheels, I plan on creating some for 3D printing for those that want them as well as scale foot rails.
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Stuart Hurley
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 15, 2018 - 4:35am
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Hello Jeff
I remember a while back the popular belief was that the wheels had been removed and brackets fabricated to secure the axle stubs to the planks.
Interesting to hear the mention of chain to help lash the gun down.
Best Regards,
Stu.
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 15, 2018 - 6:17am
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Yes, and that the gun wasn't able to fire and that coconut logs were used. Although I don't believe everything I read in a newspaper this article has the advantage of being a relatively short time after the incident and taken from those that were there. And none of the details would make the article "sell" better so there's no reason to fabricate "fake news" about them.
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 15, 2018 - 5:18pm
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Pitch the 37mm. Who needs it! 
David Waples |
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 15, 2018 - 7:45pm
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Quote:
Hello Jeff
I remember a while back the popular belief was that the wheels had been removed and brackets fabricated to secure the axle stubs to the planks.
Interesting to hear the mention of chain to help lash the gun down.
Best Regards,
Stu.
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As much as I loathe discussing PT 109, that scenario comes from Donovan's PT 109 (page 97 in my edition)
(quote) When the Higgins boat came alongside, they hauled the anti-tank gun and a couple of two-by-eight planks aboard. They laid the two planks along either side of the foredeck. Then they lifted the gun, the wheels of which had been removed, and placed it in position with its axles resting on the planks. After that, they waited for some carpenters to come out from Lumberi to nail down the planks and bracket the axles to them.(end quote)
Donovan interviewed the survivors, so his information was coming from primary sources. The plot thickens...
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 15, 2018 - 7:45pm
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Quote:
Hello Jeff
I remember a while back the popular belief was that the wheels had been removed and brackets fabricated to secure the axle stubs to the planks.
Interesting to hear the mention of chain to help lash the gun down.
Best Regards,
Stu.
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That comes from Donovan's PT 109 (page 97 in my edition)
When the Higgins boat came alongside, they hauled the anti-tank gun and a couple of two-by-eight planks aboard. They laid the two planks along either side of the foredeck. Then they lifted the gun, the wheels of which had been removed, and placed it in position with its axles resting on the planks. After that, they waited for some carpenters to come out from Lumberi to nail down the planks and bracket the axles to them.
Donovan interviewed the survivors, so his information was coming from primary sources. The plot thickens...
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2018 - 5:43am
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Nigel Hamilton author of JFK Rweckless Youth, quoted an interview with Barney Ross who manned the gun
"And I remember, on the bow of the boat they had this contraption, this old Army--well, I guess it wasn't too old, but was one of these Army single shot 37mm cannon with the wheels still on it, and the carpenters had been in the process of fastening this in some way to the deck so that it wouldn't roll around. So Jack said, "Do you know anything about these 37mm's?" I said "No, I'm afraid I don't"" He said, "well I don't think any of us are too well informed on it either." So we both looked at it, and finally figured out how to operate it."
So that's another account of the gun with wheels attached.
Whatever it was, it was clearly temporary. Other boats that installed this gun used a more substantial mounting. Not sure where I got this photo but if the 109 had survived I expect this is more like what would have happened with the 37mm. If ever build this boat again it will NOT have the gun on the deck.
David Waples |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2018 - 6:26am
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In my opinion the way the mount was set up, when they returned, they probably would have put reinforcement planks on the backside of the deck and used large U bolts through the planks and deck. In this configuration, I can only see it being useful for shore bombardment, by maneuvering the boat into firing position and letting it fly,
As for barges, with its slow rate of fire, you could only get a few inaccurate rounds off when closing the target, because of either all the maneuvering the boat would be doing, or closing to board,once your too close, it couldn't depress enough to be useful.
I think Dave's photo came around pretty quick after 1 August 1943, it was the only real way to make this weapon somewhat useful. A few boats had this weapon, but I really don't know which ones. The below artists rendering of PT 116 maybe just his opinion, the two photos I have of PT 116(maybe they were taken before it was mounted, I don't know) do not show a 37mm;
Regardless of how it was mounted, it didn't stick around long. Jan 1944 photos of RON 10 boats at Green Island show M4 37mm Automatic Guns mounted.
Take care,
TED
P.S. Didn't CDR Kelly's barge killer landing craft mount a 37mm M6 off a Dodge WC-55?
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 16, 2018 - 7:44am
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Thanks Dave, I think the question answer if not resolved is strongly leaning towards wheels on.
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