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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: TO EARL RICHMOND
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1722

Hello Earl

It was decided that we would do the new project using PT-108 as the model along with the Gato Class Submarine. The suggestion came from Ted Walther and I thought it was a great idea. As we are now depicting the boat sometime in late 1943-1944, I am in hopes you will help me with the following information.

1. Type Torpedoes
2. Did she carry the SO RADAR DOME
3. Did she carry a 40mm in the stern
4. what did she carry for weapons on her bow
5. Was a regonition star painted on the day room cabin
6. any other weapons carried on deck, like extra machine guns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance Earl. I hope you will see this post and help me with these questions. Hope all is well........................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 12:38pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

HELO FRANK THAT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOUY CHOSE PT 108 FOR YOUR PROOJECT.WE ARE HONORED,. THANK YOU.I DO NOT KNOW THE TYPE OF TORPEDOS EXCEPT THAT WE HAD THWE ROLL OFF RACKS.WE HAD NO 40MM ON STERN,ONLY THE 20 MM. WE HGAD a 37mm on the bow. we had no star atop tjhe day room cabin,that i can remember. we had a 37 mm on the bow,a 20 mm on the stern,one twin 50 atop the day room cabin, one twin 50 nexdt to the coskpit. 4 torpedos and one depth charge.i know this isn,t much but iof i can, helop in any way please feel free to ask.i think geary sims will llike your choive of the 8 boat also. he has been very ill./ he reads the board when he is able.thank you again. by the way,how did you decide on the 108? earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 4:02pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Earl, thanks so much for the information. When I was thinking about which boat to use in the project, it was suggested by TED WALTHER to use your boat. Geary and I have been E-Mailing each other and he too is thrilled to learn about using your PT-108. I am honored as well to be using your boat. Will keep you posted when we reach that stage of photographs..............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 4:46pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank;
How about mixing Earl's description with the Gene Foncannon photo, meaning .50 cals on pipe tripods, looking at the photo and its angle, the other, the port .50 is not in the photo, if they had one, but it would make sense. This would give you a 37mm, 2 single .50's, the twin turret mounts, the 20mm on the stern, roll off racks and torpedoes and the SO-A radar. Since the photo is dated 25 Nov 1943, when did Earl come aboard, maybe Jan 1944???
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 4:51pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Earl

If you read this, I received a few photos of PT 108, showing the regognition star on the day room cabin roof. Is it possible you just do not remember the Star or do you feel it was painted over. Also, do you remember how the boat was painted. Was it a solid color or cammo. If you can remember anything else, please let me know as not many photos exsist of the boat.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 4:53pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Ted,
Can you post Gene's photo ?

Steve Nugent

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 6:13pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

hi guys i came aboard the 108 may/junw,1944. i was ibn error as to the star.we did have a star atop the day room.i had to go back to my "friendly fore"action report to make sure.when i was aboard we went into overhaul and,if i remember correctly,we painted ther biottom with three different kinds iof paint,.first was red laed,i think,second ocre yellow and third dark green.the side were painted light and dark green with the wavy patterns as camo.the deck was painted battleship gray along with the cockpit and day room.i don,t know who made the decision as to the painting or where we got the paint.i do not remember what the colors were prior to the overhaul./it wasn,t too long prior to my cominf aboard that she was caught in a crossfire of the japanese abd a lot of damage was done to her.she had to be towed back to base at that time.if i remember correcly there was also a 30 cal machine gun mounted in the cockpit on the wheel side but that was removed shortly after i went aboard.at one time we also tried a deck motar but that also was removed as it was too innacurate.the ready box aft dor the 20 mm was also gray.as well as tyhe radar mast and radar dome,.when we were attacked and strafed by friendly fire we,.the 105 and 319 boats were involved.most of the time at emirau we were tied up at a buoy when not on patrol.between watch ngoing to patrol station ,i remember napping atop the day room,.nest to the twin 50 base with my head on a kapok life jacket.when they were not in use we tied the straps to the holes in the small ridge on both sides of the day room toop.that is what we used to hold onto when we went from the cockpit to the stern or just standing while out to sea.we also had a life boat on the bow with rations,line and paddles inside it.this was also painted gray.seems like the paint pattern was the greens to camo the sea and the gray to camo the sky.there was also a "ridge"about two inches high around the deckfrom bow to stern with the small oblong holes in it.i think it was set in about one to two inches from the outer edge oif the deck.if i remember anything else i will post it or you can ask away earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 7:21pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

GREAT STUFF EARL! Thank you so much for sharing. It is what this board is really all about.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Mar 20, 2010 - 8:18am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Earl

I had recieved an E-Mail saying that their was a twin 50 caliber mount on the bow of the 108. Can you confirm this please. In one photo I can make out the rear handle of a fifty, which looks as though it could be attached to a bracket for another fifty, indicating a twin 50 mount. As far as the rear 20mm mount, was there a splinter shield attached to the mount, and what did you have for ammo lockers on the deck to supply the weapons for ammo. Do you remember where they were placed......................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 4:07am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

WHEN I WAS ABOARD THE 108 THERE WAS no TWIN FIFTY MOUNT ON THE BOW. I ALSO DO NOT REMEMBER A SPLINTER SHIELD ON THE AFT 20 MM., THERE wAS A GUARD RAIL TOWARDS THE COCKPIT PLACED THERE SO THAT IN THE EVENT OF GQ AND FIRING THE BARREL WOULD BE DIVERTED UPWARDS SO THART THERE WOULD BE NO ACCIDENTAL FIRING TOWARDS THE COCKPIT.I UNDERSTAND THAT,PRIOR TO BEING INSTALLED,THERE WERE SEVERAL ACCIDENTAL FIRING INTO THE COCKPIT.THIS WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC.IT WAS BY WORD OF MOUTJH.WE HAD ONE READY BOX THART WAS PLACED ON THE AFT PORT SIDE BETWEEN THE 20 MM AND THE EDGE OF THE BOAT. I THINK THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR MAGAZINES INSIDE THAT HELD APP 45 SHELLS.I THINK THEY WERE,IN ORDER,TRACER,ARMOR PIERCING AND EXPLOSIVE.HOPE SPMEONE WILL CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.NEXT TO THE 20 MM WAS A BARREL/PIPE CONTAINING WATER THAT ,IF THE BARREL OF THE GUN GOT TOO HOT WE DETACHED IT AND PLACED IT IN THIS PIPE.WE REPLACED IT WITH ANOTJHER BARREL ON THE GUN.IF IT GOT TOO HOT IT WOULD GLOW AND BE ABLE TO BE SEEN BY THE ENEMY AND ALSO COULD CAUSE A SHELL TO EXPLODE INSIDE IT.ALSO,IF A SHELL JAMMED INSIDE THE GUN BARREL WE ONLY HAD SO MANY SECONDS TO REMOVE IT BEFORE THE LIVE SHELL MAY HAVE EXPLODED.WHEN WE WERE AT GQ AND FIRING THE 20 MM WE DEVELOPED A PATTERN OF LOADING AND UNLOADING THE MAGAZINES ON THE 20 MM.I THINK THERE WAS A HANDLE ON THE MAGAZXINE THAT WE WOULD GRAB TO LIFT IT UP OUT OF THE RREADY BOX AND SWING IT UP AND BRING THE OPEN END DOWN ONTO THE GUN.WHEN THE MAGAZINE WAS EXPENDED WE GAVE IT A YANK TYO UNLOCK IT AND SWING IT UP AND DROP IT BACK INTO THE READY BOX AND GRAB ANOTHER TO LOAD.MY MEMORY IS GETTING "TAXED" HERE. BUT I THINK YOU CAN GET THE PPICTURE.

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 5:36am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Thanks Earl. I do have the correct color scheme of the boat now, and will rethink my twin 50 mount on the bow. We can make it a single fifty mount no problem. Now when you have time, I need to know if you remember where the ammo boxes were placed for the 37mm on the bow. In looking at a few of the 108's sister boats, two ammo boxes were placed directly behind the 37mm cannon. Behind that was the raft, and on the starboard side, was the 50 caliber gun. I think we have everything we now need Earl, I apprecaite your help with this project............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 7:29am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I DO NOT REMEMBER AN AMMO BOX AROUND THE 37MM ON OUR BOW.OUR GUN WAS MOUNTED ON A BASE AND WE JHAD THE CURVED RACK ABOVE THE GUN.THE AMMO WAS PLACED IN THIS RACK READY FOR FIRING.IN FRONT OR BEHIND THWE GUN WAS A HATCH THAT ENTERRED INTO THE HEAD/STORAGE LOCKER.BEHIND THE GUN WAS THE RAFT.I STILL DO NOT REMEMBER ANY OTHER GUNS ON OUR BOW OTHER TYHAN THE 37MM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS TGHERE BEFORE OR AFTER MY TIME ON THE 108.I AM GOING TO TRY AND GET TIME TO GO THRU ALL THE PHOTOS THAT PHIL COSSENTINO SENT ME BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.THEY MIGHT SHOW SOMETHING.HE CAME ABOARD JUST AS I WAS LEAVING THER 108

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 8:28am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Earl

In one of the photos I have, it shows the 108 with SO RADAR and the early MK-8 Torpedoes and Tubes. Startboard side shows what looks to be a twin 50 caliber mount set up. You can see the raft forward of the Hatch. It is possible that the twin 50 might be a single barrel set up. Shells for the 37mm had to be kept somewhere on deck I would think. We just need more photos to show these areas.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 11:39am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hi there Frank J.

Do you have this image of PT-108 and other PT boats nested alongside a tender? Link:

[url]http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/120516702.jpg[/url]

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm

HELLO PETER I HAVE SEEN THE IMAGE BEFORE. I DON,T KNOW THE DATE IT WAS TAKN BUT IT HAD TO BE EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER I WAS ABOARD THE 108.SHE MAY HAVWE BEEN REARMED ON THE BOW AFTER SHE WAS CAUIGHT IN THE DAYLIGHT RAID OR AFTER I LEFT AND SHE WAS THEN PLACED IN RON 10.THIS PHOTO WAS NOT TAKEN WHILE WAS ABOARD JHER.I UNDERSTAND WHY THE QUESTION THOUGH. I VENTURE TO SAY THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN BEFORE I WENT ABOARD???WISH PHIL WAS STILL HERE.HE COULD HAVE CONFIRMED IT.HE CAME ABOARD JUST AS I WAS LEAVING THE 8 BOAT.THANKS FOR THE QUERY. EARL

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 4:01pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

At this point unless I can get my hands on more photos, we will build the 108 boat with wha information I have gotten from Earl and others who have written to me. I know Geary has photos, and he has promised to send them at some point. In any event, the boat will be as close to the original as possible.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 4:44pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hi there again Frank J. Andruss.

Build the 108 now with the info you have on hand and when it is completed and painted *ALL* of the information you really needed will surely arrive in your inbox. That is a rule of modelling.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 6:17pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm

FRANK I WISH YOU THE BEST IN WHATEVER CONTEXT YOU BUILD HER.SHE,AS MANY OTHER BOATS,STARTED OUT ONE WAY,HAD CHANGES MADE TO HER,AND FINISHED HER TIME AS A WARRIOR..I WAS PROUD TO HAVE SERVED ,ALONG WITH THE REST OF HER CREWS,MY TIME ABOARD HER.SHE SERVED HER TIME PROUDLY AND LOST SOME BRAVE MEN.I AM SURE YOU WILL DO HER PROUD NO MATTER HOW SHE IS BUILT.SHE WILL STILL CARRY THE 108 NUMBER.THAT IS ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH HER FROM ALL THE REST. I THINK EVERY CREWMAN FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT THEIR OWN BOAT.THANK YOU FRANK.I HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HER WHEN SHE IS DONE. EARL

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 7:04pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Earl, we will do our best to make the boat as close to the original as when you served on her. I am happy to include her in my Diorama and PT BOAT EXHIBIT. When she is completed, you will be the very first to have the completed photos.............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 9:13pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am