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Topic: December 28th,1943 |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 5, 2015 - 11:12am
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Mike: I do not know what "Love" time means. If there is a Quartermaster here on the board they might know. Our stern mounted 37mm gun was a 2 man operated like the 40mm. I think they were a Army type field gun. All Ron 19 and Ron 20 boats were outfitted with this type gun. Ammunition was different for these guns than the 37mm aircraft recoilless type on the bow. Two or three years ago we had a lengthy discussion of these guns here on the message board..
C. J. Willis |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 13, 2016 - 6:31am
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We had several other close calls from shore batteries and bombings during my 13 months and 85 nightly patrols of Jap held islands aboard P.T.242 in the Solomons but I am always reminded at this time of year of this incident. I do as Captain Smith suggested, pray to God that the torpedo did not explode which has given me nearly 92 years of living in this great Country of ours. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and many great friends. I couldn't ask for anything more. God bless America.
C. J. Willis |
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David Waples
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Posted on: Dec 13, 2016 - 5:07pm
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Merry Christmas C.J. So glad to have you with us this holiday season. We're all glad that torpedo didn't explode!
Dave
David Waples |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 14, 2016 - 8:01am
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C.J.
Great to hear from you, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
P.S. If Mike reads this, yes Love Time stands for Local time.
Take care,
TED
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Will Day
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Posted on: Dec 14, 2016 - 6:46pm
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Merry Christmas C.J. to you, your family, and all of the other vets that grace this forum....
Will |
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David Waples
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 15, 2016 - 7:27am
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Quote:
Mike: I do not know what "Love" time means. If there is a Quartermaster here on the board they might know. Our stern mounted 37mm gun was a 2 man operated like the 40mm. I think they were a Army type field gun. All Ron 19 and Ron 20 boats were outfitted with this type gun. Ammunition was different for these guns than the 37mm aircraft recoilless type on the bow. Two or three years ago we had a lengthy discussion of these guns here on the message board..
C. J. Willis
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I completely forgot about the 37mm Browning M1A2 guns. It's a very different design than the 40mm Bofors. I was hoping to find one in 1/35 scale but nobody that I can find has made one. If we could find some plans for this gun we could probably have somebody set them up for 3D printing.
Thanks everyone for sharing this story. Great thread.
Dave
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 15, 2016 - 10:04am
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C.J. and Dave;
I wonder when RON 19/RON 20 switched to 40mm, because it seems that every photo of a RON 19 or 20 boat is either not the right angle, or before or after the 37mm M1A2's were installed.
Gary originally posted this in 2008, Gene mentioned that this is a 37mm. The boat is PT 201 RON 15. Would'nt this be reflected in the after action reports, specifically, Expended Ammunition. I don't remember seeing any RON 15 after action reports that mentioned this.
I wonder if Steve has anything on this?
Take care,
TED
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 15, 2016 - 10:25am
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All;
After Mission 146(12 January 1944), LCDR Stanley Barnes requested permission for COMNAVNAW that 40mm be installed experimentally on 2 boats to deal with F-Lighters. he goes on to describe that the two after torpedo tubes and stern 20mm needs to be removed.
The mounting and testing was done on PT 204,
On 25 January 1944, LCDR Barnes relays result of tests:satisfactory.
then requests permission from COMNAVNAW for installation of 40mm on all RON 15 boats.
They also recieved a dispatch on this day from COMNAVNAW for 20 SCR-695A(Navy Model ABF) sets were being shipped from Bizerte with a civilian engineer for installation on the boats.
On 1 February 1944, a dispatch was received from COMNAVNAW, stating that all boats would have 40MM's that were obtained from the Army installed and 4 roll off racks. So the above photo is an Army 40MM on PT 201.
As an additional note: It also mentions PT 201 was involved in a friendly-fire incident on 28 January 1944, when PT 201 was mistakenly identified while joining a convoy near Anzio. USS AM 120 fired on PT 201, killing a Officer passenger, and one crewmember. Both boat officers and a crewmember were wounded. 201 had slight gunfire damage to charthouse area.
Take care,
TED
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 15, 2016 - 12:24pm
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Ted: The 2 man 37mm guns were mounted on the stern of Ron 19 boats at Espirito Santo in New Hebrides in October 1943 shortly after they were unloaded off the Maraciabo. They replaced the 20mm. that were on the stern. They were on the Ron 19 boats all the time I was aboard. I was relieved and left the boat the middle of Nov 1944. I do not know if they were replaced afterward when the boats went to the Philippines.
C. J. Willis |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 15, 2016 - 2:22pm
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Dave and Ted: I have a picture of a 37mm being mounted on the 254 boat. A Ron 20 boat.
C. J. Willis |
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