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Topic: Preventative Maintainence |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Jun 7, 2008 - 1:05am
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Randy
Thank you so much for filling in so much information. It was a challenge just for these Base Force guys to get the boats ready when damaged. You are correct, these guy were a special breed, working in Hot lousy conditions, lousy food, little medicine, short supplies, and other problems. They faced thier day with a determination that can't be found today. These behind the scene guys that kept the boats in fighting trim should get a medal for their efforts. They don't get enough pats on the back as far as I am concerned. Well, here's to you guys, you certainly kept the PT BOAT FLEET going. A JOB WELL DONE!!!! Thanks again Randy.
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jun 7, 2008 - 12:48pm
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Great list and info, Randy. You ought to get together with Gene Kirkland, who has a wealth of information on the early Guadalcanal-era PTs on his PT King website.
I've only sailed at night once,along the southeastern coast of Hispanola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and in the open ocean of the Mona Passage (between Hispanola and Puerto Rico) in a boat comparable to a PT's size, but...it was hairy.
How those guys in the PTs did it, while weaving in and out among columns of enemy destroyers and cruisers, and being hunted, chased and shelled by them in those poorly-charted and reef-filled waters has always amazed me.
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Randy Finfrock
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jun 8, 2008 - 8:21pm
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Thanks Drew, I've been in contact with Gene for some time now. He is a terrific guy. We both share a passion for the early PT days at Tulagi. A large portion of the information that I posted, Gene had shared with me awhile back - it was gleaned from some PT ships logs that he had obtained while at the Nat'l Archives.
I made a spreadsheet of all the PT's at Tulagi from the first that arrived in Oct-42, the second in Nov-42, and the third group on Dec 31, 1942. I detailed which PT's were out on patrols, which were out of commission, which were in drydock, and which were lost in combat thru Feb 2, 1943. With all of this information on one sheet, I could see how many PT's were actually available for duty on any given day. Of course all of the logs were not complete, but it gives a good idea of the difficulties encountered in those early days.
As for the darkness, my father-in-law Bill actually preferred it to when the moon was full, because you had an edge with the element of surprise. What was spine-tingling was when starshells filled the night sky, or searchlights waved their penetrating beams to and froe trying to spot the PT's. Bill also told me of times when tracers found their way through the blackness and blanketed their PT. This scared him the most.
Randy Finfrock |
Total Posts: 97 | Joined:
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jun 9, 2008 - 6:03pm
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Hi there Randy-
Would it be possible to send me a copy of the spread sheet of the PT boats at Tulagi. I have a very special interest in the Base at Tulagi and I have a diorama of Tulagi as well. I would like to add this spread sheet to my documentation for this traveling diorama display.
Here is my e-mail address-
shipkit@bellsouth.net
Thank you in advance-
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/friend Ron-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
P.S. A much better idea!!! Why not try and post that spread sheet here on the message board for everybody else to see as well!
FJR
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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