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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: Ron 15 at Palermo
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I have seen this clip previously in black & white. Imagine my surprise at the first 30 seconds of this one ! The boat closest to the dock has a number on the torpedo tube, but I can't make it out.

[url]http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675060622_ruins-in-town_harbor-area_United-States-flags_rubble-on-street_damaged-buildings[/url]

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Feb 13, 2013 - 5:20pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Nice film footage Steve, too bad the guy didn't walk towards the bow more.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 13, 2013 - 7:41pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Based on still photos, I'm thinking it's the 209, 210 or 216 (or not).

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 13, 2013 - 9:25pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

It looks as though two of the boats at least are carrying that red stripe on the stern, and look to be painted in that Thayer Blue color scheme.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 14, 2013 - 1:38am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Yes Will, the 216 and 202 ( at least ) had numbers on the tubes at some point. Not sure what other boats might have had some there.

Here is a much clear version of the film clip.

[url]http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675061160_damaged-buildings_World-War-II_capture-of-Sicily_bulldozers-clear-debris[/url]

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Feb 14, 2013 - 5:12am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

These two clips present some tantalizing detail with regards color. In the first clip, the tube is a light blue/gray color (I don't believe it to be Thayer Blue, tho) while the other boats have dark gray tubes. The hulls and 20mm bases are very dark, much like the discontinued 5-D
(pre-war Dark Gray). The recognition stripes on the sterns vary among the boats. They appear to be white, yellow, and red.

Thanks, Steve.

Al Ross

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Feb 14, 2013 - 7:07pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

And don't forget that boat with the checkerboard stern that no one has been able to identify.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 14, 2013 - 9:30pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Al, I thought you might like it.

Will, I still have that checkerboard in mind, gotta find out which boat that is .......... someday.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Feb 15, 2013 - 7:22am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Steve;
This is a shot in the dark, but what boats were the division leader boats? What MTB DIV's formed RON 15? If this checkeboard was for formation purposes, this might be a the division leader's boat, this would make sense to me.
Take care;
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 15, 2013 - 7:53am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted,

There doesn't seem to be a particular boat that an Div Leader used exclusively. I looked at the first 100 missions and only three of the eighteen boats were never used by the SO. For whatever reason the 214 was used on 20 of the 100 missions, by far the most of any in the squadron.

The entire squadron was rarely together at the same base, maybe only two or three times in their eighteen months in the Med. That could be the reason so many different boats were chosen by a Div Leader.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Feb 16, 2013 - 7:50am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am