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Topic: 20 MM Turret Mount |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Jan 22, 2008 - 12:49pm
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Wayne:
Thanks so much for setting the record straight and sending those great photographs. Man, I would not want to fire that weapon being so exposed to enemy fire. To me it seems that the weapon is so cumbersome and clumsy in that mount. I do not know how they used it to any degree of accuracy. I wonder what the recoil was on a 20MM set up that way. It certainly must be more then the twin 50's......
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Wayne Traxel
MASTER
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Posted on: Jan 26, 2008 - 1:07am
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Frank,
Not a problem supplying Mk-12 info. It's nice to know that there is an interest in this unusual mount. Been researching the Mk-12 for almost 20 years and most of the material was found by accident looking for something else. As mentioned earlier I never really asked the how the mount preformed and was more concerned with its appearence. Hind sight on my part. The Skipper of PT 156 Rex Anderson told me a story about how his Gunners mate named Gaddie really liked this mount and laid claime to it until finding a new interest when the Quad 50 mount was installed. The Mk-12 mount was manufactured in New York Navy yard and appears (at least to me) to have be a modified MK-17 mount. My take on the photos is that a triangular piece was welded to the front of the yoke to allow for the increased length of the 20mm. It also appears that an additional gussets were welded to the rear portion of the yoke and the heavier pipe bracing. On the Ron 9 boats the guard rails were modified to allow this longer yoke to clear. A heavier counter weight and higher back rest no doubt aided in traversing the mount. in 1993 Bob Haskett on PT 155 said that a 30 cal. mount was fitted to the spray shield behind the MK-12. The guy on the 30 would fire on a target until hitting something solid then the Mk-12 would finish the job. Bob also mentioned that the muzzle blast from the Mk-12 pounded the helmet of the relocated starboard bow twin 50 gunner when firing over him. For the most part the Mk-12 must have been a good mount. it was retained by Ron 9. and started making appearence on PT-115 and 168 and other boats near the end of the war.
Hope this helps.
Former PT-155 crewmember Bob Haskett indicated that while on patrol spare 20mm ammunition drums were located on top of the charthouse extension aft of the forward turret and also mentioned that the Mk-12 gunner would remove the empties and load a fresh drum without aid.
 
Wayne Traxel |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 26, 2008 - 4:47am
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Wayne
Thanks so much for supplying some outstanding photographs. This is more then I have ever seen on this type mount. Actually, the gunner seems very comfortable firing this gun, although I still think swinging the gun into position in a flash would not be easy, and the re-coil must have been something. It still looks as though much effort was needed to man this weapon, and would have been a chore to fire at planes, which as you know came in very fast. It was tough enough to swing those 50's at a high speed passing target, let alone a 20MM Cannon. It just goes to show that these guys were always looking to add something different to get more fire-power..........
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 26, 2008 - 5:08am
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My thanks, too Wayne -- absolutely fascinating photos and facts.
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