The PT Boat Forum
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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: Higgins Depth Charge Array
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1282

A quick note of interest, well at least to myself -

In an earlier post "[blue]PT 302 Ron 22[/blue]", Jerry Gilmartin had posted three photos of PT 302 in a reply to Arthur Frongello. In one of the photos a boat identified as PT-294 was in the foreground. While taking a close look at the boat I discovered the array of depth charge racks that until then, I had only seen on a Higgins engineering drawing not in any photos I recall viewing. The Higgins drawing was identified as PT Series: PT-265 - 276 & PT-289 - 294. You will note the racks I identified in the photo as 6 small rack and 3 larger racks on each side. The small racks hold two charges approximately 10" dia x 16.5" long, while the larger racks hold two charges approximately 16.75" dia x 28.5" long. The later probably being the more common "can" size we normally see.

I've also included two drawings, the racks and boat configuration.

Dick . . .

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/DepthRacks.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/HigginsLayout-01.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Webmaster/Depth-Charge-Rack.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 10, 2009 - 12:38pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Hey Dick,
You have a good eye for details. I never noticed those racks before in the photo for what they are. I did want to correct your previous post, the PT 294 is the boat way in the background, over the tops of the sailors heads standing on the pier. I can actually make out the number on the boat in a blow up of that picture. I am not sure what the number of the boat is that is in the foreground of the photo. Thanks for pointing it out at any rate.

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 12, 2009 - 9:40am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hi Jerry . . .

Thanks for the correction on boat numbers - I myself didn't see the PT-294 in your original photo until I took a hard look - a wham-to-the-head, there it is plain as day. I had though originally you'd mistyped background meaning instead foreground. Okay, okay . . .

Aa a note on the following Higgins series showing this double depth charge rack configuration: The bottom drawing title block notes "R.P.T. 265-276 & 289-294 Double Depth Charge Racks. These boats were clearly scheduled for Russia by the R.P.T. designation and were transfered by lend-lease Nov & Dec 1943. The Soviet Navy (according to Polmar/Morison's PT Boats At War) would later classify them as "unfit" and destroy them in 1954 (unverified), except for four of them which were sunken during war.

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 12, 2009 - 12:59pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Off topic, but some interesting depth charge to mine laying modifications for the type C rack can be found here:
[url]http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/PTs/1943PTMinelayer.html[/url]

Does anybody know if these were ever implemented?

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 1:28am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff . . .

Great link, thanks a million.

Dick . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 1:46am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Glad you liked it Dick, the website owner does a great job sharing the hard research work he does. I like the plans because of the actual dimensions given for the base rack although it means I have to update the current plans I have posted that were based on the Higgins smoke gen conversion plan at the LA site.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 4:20am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Hey Jeff and Dick,
I know the German S-boats (E-boats) were very successful in being used to lay mines during WW2, but I have always wondered if the US Navy or the British ever used PT Boats to lay mines? I am very unfamiliar with that aspect of their use, although I know that plans were drawn up. So maybe I could get the rest of the board to answer up, did we ever use our own PT Boats to lay mines? I always wondered......Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 8:24pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm