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Topic: Query re. 20mm In Action & Magazines |
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PeterTareBuilder
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 16, 2008 - 2:21am
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Hi there.
Whb the 20mm on the aft deck of the PT-103 Class of boats was in action (or any other 20mm for that matter) what was dine with the empty magazine when it was removed from the weapon?
Also, when I watched Part 2 of Devil Boats on Utube I noticed some thing about the .50 caliber machine gun that piqued my interest. There was a door on the exterior or the gun tub through which .50 caliber ammunition was place into the gun tub. Later in the film a wounded gunner was removed through this same door. Were either or both of these things done this way in combat?
Were the .50 caliber spent casings simply ejected into the bottom of the gun tubs? If so how were they cleaned out?
Cheers from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Aug 16, 2008 - 6:00am
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The 20MM Canister was sprung fed and held 60 rounds of ammo. The Gunners mates would load these drums so that each locker held at least 8 canisters giving them 480 rounds of ammo. Some certainly had more. The canisters were simply removed from the weapon when empty and another locked into place so that the man manning the 20MM could continue firing. When the boat returned to Base, these were simply checked out and re-loaded. These drums were not reloaded during patrol, unless they used every ounce of ammo for the gun.
The access hatch to the 50 caliber gun tub was provided for just that, easy access for removal of spent shells. Now, I am not sure just how many rounds were held per gun, but I would think a hell of alot of rounds would have to be expended to have the gunner run out of rounds. Remember, the movie you saw was staged for the viewer, and I doubt it vey much if anyone who was wounded while in the gun tub was dragged thru this little hatch. If you watched the movie, I also doubt it very much if any gunner counted to 5 or 8 before blasting away at a target as dangerous as a Jap Plane.
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PeterTareBuilder
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Posted on: Aug 16, 2008 - 7:49am
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Hi and thanks again Frank.
THe devil really is in tge details isn't it? VBG
What I was wondering about was what was done with the empty 20mm magazine *IMMEDIATELY* after it was removed from the gun? Was it just dropped on the deck? Or was it placed some where specific? I can not see it being put back into the ammo locker as that would interfere with getting another one out.
Cheers again from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Aug 16, 2008 - 9:33am
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Common sense has to take over here. While under GQ, I am sure the drums were simply put down and worried about when the boat was out of danger. It was more important to have a weapon firing at a target, then to worry about empty drums and where they were placed. hey, if it was me being shot at by a Jap Plane, or shore bateries, the dam empty drum would be tossed anywhere it landed, as long as we could keep the gun spitting out hot lead..........
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PeterTareBuilder
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Posted on: Aug 16, 2008 - 9:49am
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Hi Frank and thanks again.
I agree with your comments exactly. However it is always nice to have one's conjecture's confirmed.
I have studied military history and one of the first an greatest things I have learned, and have confirmed, was that far too many times common sense was not very common.
Lindberg very nicely sent me some spare 20mm magazines for my current PT boat build. I am garnering this information regarding the variuos weapons in use as I wish to display the boat in an in-action setting.
I also have an Italeri PT-596 kit I wil be building in the near future, I also have two sets of 1/35 scale .50 caliber machine guns from Tamiya. The bodies of these guns are molded in two parts so that the receiver cover can be displayed either opened or closed. I am thinking about grafting a barrel from an Italeri PT boat .50 caliber machine gun onto one or even both of these receivers and displaying my Italeri boat with one of theturrets either having a jam cleared or being reloaded.
BTW, did you spot the mistake in the image of the stern mounted 40mm Bofors on the Italeri PT-596 box art?
Cheers from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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