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Topic: What is this? |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 19, 2011 - 9:06pm
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The large holes were simply there to pass ammo into the turret. It was easier thought to hand the gunner ammo through this hole then try to left it up over the gun supresser rails...............
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 20, 2011 - 5:15am
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Al and Bob;
This is a shot in the dark, but were these turrets ever intended to have a power assist? Either electric or hydraulic, This could have been the access for the on/off switch for the power assist, and it was just never used, (after seeing the problems the Elcos had with there turrets at Pearl Harbor), but the hole remained in the turret through the early series Higgins PT's?
Just a pure guess, but worth researching.
Bob;
To answer your other question, spent shells got the deep six, that is one reason why you see alot of photos with brooms present, not only were they used to keep the boats clean, but they used them to sweep the spent shells over the side, on the way back to base. They were slipping/tripping hazzards.
Take care,
TED
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 20, 2011 - 7:43am
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There seems to be SOMEthing in that hole. Could it be a later addition to the inside of the turret that was just a little bigger than the space available. The fact that is on the line drawings suggests that it was not some ad-on feature. Maybe Ted is right about the power assist capability.
Will |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 20, 2011 - 1:06pm
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Bob: I don't know what the large holes were for. I never used them in my turret. I loaded ammo belts in the cans on deck then had some crew member lift them up to me in the turret then I would put them in storage either in the ring shelf at the top or down on the floor of the turret. As for the 50 cal hulls- most of them fell down in the floor of the turret and we just threw them out when we got back to the base.
C. J. Willis |
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Bob
MASTER
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Posted on: May 21, 2011 - 6:01am
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Thanks guys for the responses. We should be adding the inner steps today, as well as cutting the access hole. Still trying to figure out what the small round hole was for. Power assist is a possibility.
Bob |
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 21, 2011 - 10:19am
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The manual for the MK17 mount does not mention anything about a power drive.
A review of the ELCO turret construction drawings shows no similar access hole.
Al
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alross2
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 21, 2011 - 11:32am
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The round hole does not appear on this drawing of the turret construction for PT265-313. The circle with the 1 inside, while in the approximate location of the hole in the photos, is simply a drawing key identifying the turret tube.
Still, the hole was there as evidenced by the photos, including this one of a 265-313 boat:
and this one of a 450 series boat:
Notice that the large access holes are quite different, too.
Al
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Bob
MASTER
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Posted on: May 21, 2011 - 1:32pm
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Al, great photos. We worked on the tubs again today using the exact plans as Al showed. We cut the tops of the tubs to the proper height, level at the top. Installed both steps inside the starboard tub along with brackets. Also cut out the access hole.
Mold to make machine gun tubs.
Making the steps for the inside of the tubs. The lower step is 5" wide and upper is 4".
Tub temporarily in place.
Inside steps mounted with brackets
Closeup of access hole.
Bob |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: May 21, 2011 - 2:02pm
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Great stuff, Bob. Thanks from all of us....
Will |
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Steve Tuhy
Advanced Member
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Posted on: May 22, 2011 - 6:17am
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THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE THAT THE HOLE LINES UP WITH IS THE SPENT CARTRIDGE AND LINK CONTAINER ZIPPER. JUST EYEBALLIN' IT.
Steve Tuhy |
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