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Topic: Question for Al Ross |
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David Buck
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 11:27pm
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AL,
Your book Allied Coastal Forces has a nice detailed drawing and detail of the 21" PT Boat Torpedo Tube but does not explain how it was retained on the deck. Was it held down by some fixing ie. bolts or other form or like the Battleships turrets were they held down by there own weight?
The forward travers gear "nut" and the "T slot" appear to be all that hold the tube down as the rear pivot does not appear to have a holding band attached.
D.buck |
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 10, 2012 - 4:20am
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I'm not going to be around my references until Sunday, but will look then. Jeff did some work with the factory drawings of the MK18 and may have the answer for you sooner.
Al
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David Buck
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 2:04am
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Thanks guys the photo does answer part of the question, it showes that there is no form of attachment other than the "Z' plates and traverse "Nut" at the frount of the tube.
As has been mentioned the turntable at the rear of the tube took the major amount of force at time of fireing I was wondering if the turntable is held down with some form of fixing to stop it lifting up?
Interesting to note that the damage to the " Z " appeares to be to the inboard section of the plates, wondering if the ride of the Boat up and down could be part of the cause of this as the outboard section appears fine.
D.buck |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 7:34am
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I'm not sure if / how the turntable was secured David, but I doubt weight alone held the tube down. Here's more of the image showing the turntable damage. According to Jack Duncan who served aboard the 103 the damage might have been done stateside at the dock. Here's a quote from him:
No, but this must be the story that the old guys told me about -- perhaps. I'm guessing. An officer reportedly an actor named Montgomery (Robert??) crashed into the dock at or near the Elco factory in Bayonne not long after the boat was built in June 1942.
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 8:22am
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Here is the complete image:
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 11:12am
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Jeff;
This photo is probably the reason why "he" was later made Exec on PT 107. He also accompanied Jack Searles part of the way to Panama on PT 60,(I believe he got off the boat in either Charleston or Miami, because fans would flock to the pier, once word got out he was aboard) when Jack brought PT 60, Tom Warfield took PT 61, and Charlie Mills took PT 59 down to Panama in Spring 1942.
Take care,
TED
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 2:34pm
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Robert Montgomery may have started out badly on PTs (as I recall, so did Dick Keresey, who also dinged up the 103 as her took her away from the Elco dock) -- but it sure looks like he knows what he's doing at the helm of that 80' Elco in "They Were Expendable."
Watch the way he works the wheel, as he brings the boat in a couple of times in the film...
"All boats from Brick...scatter-plan Baker...Execute, execute!"
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 4:46pm
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Yes, I seem to remember interviews with some of the crew members during the TWE filming. They seemed to feel that RM's boat handling passed muster. I think after viewing photos of some of the dinged-up boats Out In The Area that minor collisions with stationary objects was not an uncommon occurance.
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 - 6:45pm
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Will;
Yes it was VERY common.
take care,
TED
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