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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 2, 2022 - 5:05am
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A few photos of PT-9, the Scott-Paine boat which was purchased by the Elco Naval Division. Negotiations for the boat was successful which was around March of 1939. Delivery of the boat was to take roughly three months, which took a bit longer and the boat was delivered in New York in September 1939. The boat was lightered to the Electric Boat Company plant in Groton,Connecticut where they would run a series of tests and trials. Scott Paine himself came to the US and was in charge of it's operation. The Navy and Elco representatives came up to New London to take trial spins on the boat. While in New London, the boat was painted and given the number PT-9. After, the boat made it's way to Elco in Bayonne, New Jersey where it would be taken apart to make blue-prints and changes to the British design, including removing her Merlin Engines for the Packard Marine Engines, enlarging the Pilot House, improved lines to the superstructure, removing the twin .30 caliber machine guns and replacing them with the twin .50 caliber guns while enlarging the Dewandre turret, and other changes that would result in Elco's first assembled 70 foot boats numbered 10-19.
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Dick
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Posted on: Jul 2, 2022 - 11:23am
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Thanks Frank . . .
Right on the money! ! ! ! That's what I was looking for.
Dick . . .
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PRJM3
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jul 6, 2022 - 10:57am
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That's a very interesting set of pictures, Frank. I always like pictures that show construction details. Thanks for posting them.
I find it interesting that the entire cabin structure appears to be built of metal, probably aluminum. It likely didn't take long before the switch to a less critical material, wood. Speaking of the cabin, I don't remember where I got this picture, and the file is labeled "PT9 on Crane Lighter". The cabin structure, however, doesn't look anything like that seen in Frank's pictures. If it is the PT9, this would appear to be upon its arrival in the US - still in dark colored paint and being offloaded from a larger steamship. Could there be something loaded onto or over PT9's cabin structure that gives it a higher and rectangular appearance?
I am also very interested in the New York harbor railroad in this era, which involved major usage of various types of lighters. Merrit-Chapman-Scott was one of the largest maritime salvage operators in the US and their crane lighters tend to show up in any pictures of a heavy lift. The crane Colossus is offloading the PT boat and was one of the largest in their fleet. It's lifting capacity was much greater than a PT boat, but it might have been used here because of the greater height and side reach needed for this move. Compared to other pictures I've found, the Colossus is hardly listing at all with the weight of the PT boat!
In Frank's pictures of PT9 being lifted in its Elco paint scheme it is also a Merrit-Chapman-Scott crane barge, however it is not Colossus. The lift is to or from a deck lighter (barge) bearing the name "Louis" that does not involve as much height or side reach.
Thanks again, Frank and apologies for the side trip into the NY harbor operations.
Randy McConnell (Randall J. McConnell III) |
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2022 - 9:26am
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***UPDATE*** See Al's response below, my pictures are of PV-70 not PT-9.
I forget Randy but I believe it may have been a structure added to hide her cabin shape for some reason? Hopefully somebody who knows for sure will jump in. I also forget if the final PT-9 was a totally different boat.
Again, I'm not sure but I believe this is PV-70 aka PT-9 as originally received. The 2nd photo may be after some cabin and other mods, and turret installation:
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2022 - 12:15pm
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Here is a photo of PV-70 in England running some torpedo Tests. I think this was in July 10, 1939. The Queen Mary is behind her. The Scott Paine designed boat was delivered to Elco around September 4, 1939. Rough water trails list the boat as PT-9 and not PV-70. To my knowledge PV-70 and PT-9 are two different boats.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2022 - 12:38pm
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As a side note Jeff, in my conversation with Al Ross he described how PV-70 was actually built in 1938 and sold to Canada when it became V-250 and again MTB-332. PV-70 had more of a gunboat structure while PT-9 was consistent with their 63 foot boats. So to add up all the parts, PV-70 and PT-9 were two different boats
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2022 - 6:35pm
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PT9 and PV70 were two distinct boats. Both were built by the British Power Boat Company, shared the same hull design, and served with the RCN. PV70 had a number of different coachroofs during her life. Those seen in Jeff's photos are some of the earliest. PV70 became CMTB1, then V250, then MTB332. PT9 became SO9.
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2022 - 6:24am
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Thanks Al, Frank. I saved a screenshot so I won't have to rely on my apparently old decrepit brain again.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2022 - 11:13am
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Jeff don't feel bad, I have a pad to jot these things down and misplaced the dam pad.
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Dick
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2022 - 1:47pm
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Just some “Food for Thought” . . . . No expert here!
Scott-Paine’s U.S. Patents - Top sheet only - From Google "Patent" Search Engine, Will post all H. Scott-Paine PDF's soon
PT 9 Contract with the British Power Boat Company Ltd. - Courtesy of Andy Small
PT 9 Images - Labeled M.T.B. ELCO - Courtesy of Frank Andruss, but via to me from Chip Marshall in December 2017.
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