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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
JUNGLE JUICE!!!!
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Hello everyone-
I have read countless stories of torpedo crews tapping the alcohol and mixing it with local fruits to make a rendering of so called "jungle juice" !
I read that the alcohol was 100 % pure proof! My question is just how much alcohol did a prime time torpedo hold? And exactly how much of the tapped off alcohol would render said torpedo as a "DUD" ???
Thanks again guys!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Nov 9, 2008 - 10:32am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Hi Frank,
At least on a Mark 13 aerial torpedo, the fuel flask was donut shaped and held about 5 gallons of alcohol. I am pretty sure the boats were supposed to keep several 1 gallon cans of torpedo alcohol on board to replenish any alcohol that may have evaporated or leaked. I know the Torpedomen were supposed to denature the alcohol by adding "Crotin oil" to make it undrinkable (which would also change the color) Some enterprising TM's may have added only food coloring to obtain the correct color. I was told this by one of our crewmen and PT185 veteran Beaty Lay. Here is a picture of our cutaway torpedo and you can barely see the red donut shaped alcohol flask, only partly visible. It is behind that bolting ring, if you draw a right triangle between my elbow and my thumbnail, it is at the other point of the triangle. Also, the fill tube is that bolt recessed right next to my thumb. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/colorcodecutaway.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 9, 2008 - 12:32pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
I think it was Ethyl Alcohol that was denatured by the addittion of Pink Lady. This could be removed by filtering the alcohol thru a compressed loaf of bread. Add some grapefruit juice, and there ya go. It got so bad sometimes, that the cans of Torpedo Juice were more highly guarded then Fort Knox. PT Crew's would sometime volenteer to off-load a supply ship, in hopes to nab a few cans of the stuff. I don't know how these guys didn't die drinking this stuff.............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Nov 9, 2008 - 1:51pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Hi Jerry and Frank A.-
Jerry thats a neat shot of the internal plumbing on a torpedo! Was the alcohol under severe pressure as was the compressed air chamber? I know the alcohol and compressed air were mixed to thus propel the torpedo on it's way.
Frank A.- I take it that the PINK LADY was some sort of additive to render the alcohol undrinkable??? What exactly was in this stuff???
That "jungle juice" brew must have had one hell of a whomping kick to it! Like you say Frank, it's a shear wonder how those guys survived drinking that stuff! I guess that anything that works- works well at that time!!
Guys, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 8:00am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Hi Frank, yes I think the alcohol tank is pressurized on top to push it out of the tank into the combustion chamber by air pressure, let me get back to you on how much pressure, I am guessing 250 psi. I have access to a torpedo manual that I can look at and find the answer. Also Eugene Slover has the Naval Ordnance Manual Part 1 Chapter 12 Online [url]http://www.eugeneleeslover.com/GS-USN-PAGE.html[/url] that talks about "Aircraft Torpedoes" and shows a cutaway view of the Mark 13. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 9:50am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Hey Jerry-
Is that cutaway torp part of the restored PT 658?? I'd love for one day to get up there and see her. Thanks, Jerry for your interest!!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 10:17am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm
Hi Frank,
Yes, it is mounted on the Forward Starboard torpedo rack of PT658. We have four real Mark 13 torpedoes mounted on board the boat now. We obtained them from the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Wa via a memo from the HNSA, telling us there were some available. The boat looks pretty mean with all four torpedoes mounted. You should see the passing looks we get when we go up the Columbia River. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PTBoat4.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 1:16pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Thanks Jerry for posting this absolutely awesome shot of the 658!!
A buddy of mine here in Jacksonville, Bob Lentz, loaned me his copy of the cd regarding the saga of the 658! That video blew me away! I also took the same cd to one of my model clubs meetings and everybodies and I do mean everybodies jaw dropped!! That is one amazing video, Jerry! I sure do wish there was a project like that in this neck of the woods! I'd sign up in a heartbeat!! Thanks for that shot again! That's a keeper!!!!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!
Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 1:25pm
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm