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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: Picture of 103 Class PT In Action
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2677

Hello All:

Due to the nature of the work, there are very, very few photos of PT's in action and making a run on a target. I've never seen one, so far as I can recall. There are several paintings, but none that I've seen that represent the 103 Class PT in a 100% accurate configuration. I really like the Elco poster of the Barge Busters but theer are problems with that one, too- in my view. Only five men are accounted for of a crew of eleven. Given one man in the engine room and perhaps a radioman in the chart house, there should be four more on the attack side of the PT with small arms. Also, the mast is in the raised position, which the New Guinea PT's (early boats, at least) did not use. And the twin-50's show only a single tracer line coming from each.

Is anyone aware of a truely accurate 103 Class PT picture or painting in the public domain in an attack mode? I sure would like to access one- particularly one doing the barge work..

Allan

Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Jul 6, 2012 - 4:37pm
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm

Hi Allan,
I found a couple but not quite what you were wanting to see. Jerry PT658 Portland

PT143 Bill Skades crew shelling beach

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143shorebombardment.jpg[/image]

PT143 shooting at something

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143sterngunsfiring40mmnamedBetty-1.jpg[/image]

More PT143 small arms practice

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/BillSkadeRON8PT143targetpracticesmallarms.jpg[/image]

Not sure what Squadron shooting at Biak Island (NH photo 80-G-256496)

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/80-G-256496StrafingBiak17Aug44Island.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 7, 2012 - 1:33am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hey Jerry:

Good pictures all. I had not seen them prior. Thanks for the post. You're right though- I am searching for something that would show the entire boat in a so-called "action shot". Not sure that one exists. Elco's advertising paintings do a great job but take a few "liberties"- I think they might call it "artistic license".

Maybe someone will come through with a suggestion or ideas as to where an actual picture might be found, but I'm not very hopeful.

Thnaks again, Jerry, for your post.

Allan

Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Jul 8, 2012 - 6:35am
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm

Allan,

It's not barge work, but have you seen the artwork on the cover of Victor Chun's book, Volume II, which shows the 124 in action ?

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jul 8, 2012 - 6:56am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

I notice in the pic of the 143 that the 40mm is named "BETTY". I wonder how common it was back then to do that.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 8, 2012 - 7:23am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Hi Will,
I see that the PT127 (crewman Bob Douglas photo) had named their 40mm "Claire" Jerry

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/PT127RJDon40mm.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 8, 2012 - 12:52pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Steve:

I have not but wll check it out. Thanks.

Allan

Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 - 6:10pm
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm

Allan;
Once again NOT barge work, but PT's in action, strafing oil refinerey's in Borneo 1944-1945.
Take care,
TED

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=56d_1338154688

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 11, 2012 - 7:11pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Allan;
Update: film is dated Jan-1-1944. But I believe this is incorrect. I believe it is really June-July 1945 and possibily boats from RON 10 and RON 27, as Miri, Jesselton, and Kudat strafing attacks were around this time frame.
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 11, 2012 - 7:34pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

How about the scene in PT-109 where they use the .50 cal, guns and the 20 mm to fight off Japanese aircraft? The boat in that film sure does look like an early war Elco PT-103 Class boat.

Check out the footage about 25:25, 27:25, 35:15 in this film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUc0NCGsSzs&feature=related

About the 30:00 - 31:20 mark it shows a torpedo being loaded into a tube and the tube being traversed outboard and the chrage being inserted into the torpedo tube firing chamber. Great detail of the traversing gear and locking pin.

Hope this helps.

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: Jul 11, 2012 - 8:21pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm