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Topic: PT-138 B6 Elco Turret Mount |
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Jan 10, 2025 - 4:24pm
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Was wondering if anyone had information on when PT-138's Elco Turret Mount (The B6 Thunderbolt originally tested on PT-160 by Elco), popped off and was lost at sea? Here's a photo from the Irwin Chase showing the B6 mount on PT-160 off Elco and before the firing tests up in Newport.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Jan 13, 2025 - 1:32am
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Wow! It really fell off the back of the boat? That must have been a wild ride! I have never heard about that before. I wonder if it is in the deck logs?
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
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smallwi
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jan 14, 2025 - 7:06pm
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Jerry,
Good news, bad news… the logs of the boats are not available as they are being digitally scanned. These online scans have been a boon for my research of movements of the PTF boats between Da Nang and Subic Bay. The bad news… the OT boat logs, except PT 109 and PT 59 have not been scanned yet. A large number of Squadron War Diaries and action reports, specifically from 1944 and 1945 are now available. Great stuff.
I spent the weekend pulling the War Diaries for the New York Navy Yard. These document the acceptance, over time, of all of the ELCO boats.
But, we are condemned to a painful wait for the log books of the individual boats. BTW, I could not find the War Diary for RON 7 from late 1942 that might contain the details Andy is seeking.
Bill
Bill Smallshaw |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 19, 2025 - 10:36am
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Great photo Andy!
Jerry;
Try looking at the RON 7 War Diary on FOLD3. They have been online for several years. If this mount fell overboard, it should be in the 1943 War Diary pages.
Take care,
TED 👍🏻😎⚓️🔱🇺🇸🏴☠️
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smallwi
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jan 19, 2025 - 6:26pm
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Ted,
The RON 7 1942 war diaries are, unfortunately, yet to be scanned. I checked last week.
Bill
Bill Smallshaw |
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Andy Small
MASTER
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Posted on: Jan 20, 2025 - 6:53am
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This B6 turret was the first "naval" version of the Elco Turret and followed the earlier A8 turret, which was installed on the '37 GM COE truck and tested out at Fort Hancock. With the 4x20mm and 2x.50call, and with the updated "Thunderbolt" looking mount design, the B6 would have been much heavier than all the follow-on "naval" mounts (C4/Mk15 mods 0 and 1) which only had the 4x20mm. Since this was the first "field" install and the later history of the mount base and motor issues, it's not surprising it didn't last long on PT-138 outside a test environment with actual Elco engineers present to monitor the stresses with test equipment and make the needed field repairs and shop upgrades.
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