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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Torpedo tiedowns
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1533

I am new to the board.Loads of great storys and information.I have a r/c 330 boat which I bought in 1995 ,I started it then got sidetracked until about a month ago.On the back of the rolloff rack how were tiedowns attached I haven't been able to find any pictures.When were they removed when firing a torpedo?
Thanks George

Posted By: Browndog | Posted on: Nov 18, 2009 - 4:23pm
Total Posts: 46 | Joined: Nov 17, 2009 - 5:37pm

They weren't removed. The cables were attached to the rack on the back and their outer ends were held in place by the release mechanism. When the release lever was pulled, the cable ends were released and the pivoting portion of the cradle dropped down, allowing the torpedo to roll off.
[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/mk1.jpg[/IMaGe]

Al Ross

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Nov 18, 2009 - 6:12pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Hi George,
I have some photos that show this clearly. The torpedo was held in the rack by two wire cables. Each cable had eyes on both ends. The cable was attached on each end to the back of the rack via two eyebolts which were bolted to the angle iron bracket. The cable was led around the top of the torpedo, then through a metal link situated at the midpoint of the cable, and then back over the top of the torpedo to the other eyebolt. To release the torpedo, pulling a lever would move a retainer rod which did two actions. 1st it released the cams holding the torpedo in place 2nd it released the metal links holding the midpoint of the two cables, allowing them to open and the torpedo to roll out from below the looped cables. I have some photos here taken on PT309 and also on PT658 showing how it worked. Jerry PT658 Portland OR

PT658 forward port torpedo showing the cables and the eyebolts attached to the angle iron on the rack
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/EngroomhatchandfwdportMark13torpedo.jpg[/image]

LCDR Doug Fairbanks on PT309 with Mk13 rack directly behind him, under his elbow you can see the eyebolts and the angle iron holding the cable end.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/PT309LCDRDouglasFairbanksondeck.jpg[/image]

PT309 torpedo rack showing the links that are holding the looped cable in place
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/PT309Mk13rack.jpg[/image]

PT309 crewman releasing the torpedo by pulling the release lever, which drops the cams and releases the cable links on the outboard side of the rack
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658/PT309torpedorelease.jpg[/image]

I hope this is helpful. I think Dr Al Ross may have better drawings of the Rack itself. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Nov 18, 2009 - 6:50pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Thanks to the both of you! Very informative...

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Nov 19, 2009 - 11:34am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Thank you for the information,its just what I needed
George

Posted By: Browndog | Posted on: Nov 25, 2009 - 11:37am
Total Posts: 46 | Joined: Nov 17, 2009 - 5:37pm