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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
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ť Topic: Gun Bloomer
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2211

To All:

Members of the board may think this has nothing to do with PT Boats, but I'll change your mind later.

Can anyone tell me what the leather shrouds were called that covered the elevation slots in the gun mounts on the battleships? I have heard them referred to as "gun bloomers" but I would like to know how accurate that might be. They were made of a very heavy leather stock,

At least one was found floating in the Bismarck Sea following that battle, by PT 114 of Division 17. The shipmates hauled it aboard and went to work making gunbelts and cross-draw holsters for their .45-cal. pistols but first had to shave down the thickness to render the leather usable.

I could e-mail a picture of my father's rig (PT 113) to Charlie if he is willing to post it for us.

Allan

Posted By: Allan | Posted on: May 30, 2011 - 8:31am
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm

They're variously called blast bags, bloomers, or bucklers. Their purpose is to exclude blast overpressures and weather from entering the turret through the openings for the barrels.

Al Ross

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: May 30, 2011 - 9:14am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

As an aside, what kind of fabric ( or whatever ) covered the business end of the torpedo
tubes ? I assume a precaution for weather ? Was it also for the occasional flash that could be a dead give away of position ?

Happy Memorial Day to all.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: May 30, 2011 - 5:32pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Al:

Thanks for your confirmation re: bloomers.

Allan

Posted By: Allan | Posted on: May 30, 2011 - 6:48pm
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm