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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: information
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I have a photo of a PT Boat over the words 50 TONS OF FIGHTING FURY reprinted by PT BOATS Inc. it says all proceeds go to the PT BOAT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY P.O. Box 109, Memphis, Tn. I don't see any numbers on the boat and it looks like a 60 cal and a 30 cal on her bow and some kind of AA cannon on her stern. Camo paint scheme. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.



Posted By: David Herzog | Posted on: Apr 23, 2013 - 10:30am
Total Posts: 4 | Joined: Apr 23, 2013 - 10:20am



Hi David,
Welcome to the Forum! What information are you specifically looking for? Are you wondering about where the donated money goes? PT Boats Inc is a great organization and well worth the donation. They do so much to keep the History of WW2 PT Boats, PT Boat Tenders, and the brave men who served on them alive and relevant in this fast paced modern world. Charlie Jones, the President of the organization, and Alyce Mary Guthrie, the Chairman, and Don Shannon, the Curator of PT Boats at Battleship Cove Museum, devote countless hours of their time and energy to this worthy cause.
If your question is about the particular boat number shown in the photo, I am not sure what photo you are referring to. Could you post it on this message board and maybe somebody will be able to answer your questions about the boat in particular. Just as an aside, the weapons shown are more than likely to be 20mm Oerlikon cannons, or 50 caliber twin Browning Machine Guns, or an Oldsmobile M4 37mm Automatic Cannon, and a Bofors 40mm Automatic Cannon on the stern. I hope this answers your questiions. Thanks again for joining this message board! I think you will enjoy all the bits of wisdom and experience that this board has to offer!

Take care,
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 crew
Save the PT Boat,
Portland OR

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 23, 2013 - 1:34pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm




Welcome aboard . . .
Is this the photo you are referencing?


[image]http://www.ptboats.org/pti-images/ptbi-logo.jpg[/image]





Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 23, 2013 - 2:31pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm



I think he means the old colorized postcard. [IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/pc_zps8d7da1ce.jpg[/IMaGe]

This is a 565 series boat and, for some reason, 579 comes to mind. It was also used on the cover and as the centerpiece on Bob Ferrell's
THE UNITED STATES MOSQUITO FLEET.

Al Ross



Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Apr 23, 2013 - 3:25pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm



Yes, its the 2nd pic, the mosquito fleet, just curious about the boat as i am trying to write a book. Thanks again for any and all information.



Posted By: David Herzog | Posted on: Apr 24, 2013 - 5:17am
Total Posts: 4 | Joined: Apr 23, 2013 - 10:20am



David

What do you wish to know about this boat. It served with Squadron 39, being sent to the Philippines in 1945, but did not engage the enemy. You need to be specific about what you are looking for .



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Apr 24, 2013 - 7:15am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



Weapons, left to right in picture: 37mm cannon, 20mm cannon, 5" HVSS rocket launchers (port and starboard), twin .50-cal mgs (forward turret), twin .50-cal mgs (aft turret), 40mm cannon at stern. Torpedoes are Mark XIIIs in roll-off racks.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Apr 24, 2013 - 8:52am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



I would like to know where it was built, crew size, speed, range, power plant etc. Thanks again.



Posted By: David Herzog | Posted on: Apr 24, 2013 - 11:01am
Total Posts: 4 | Joined: Apr 23, 2013 - 10:20am



The boat was built in Bayonne, New Jersey at the Elco Naval Division of Electric Boat. Being as this is a late war boat, it could have had anywhere from 14 to 17 men, which would be needed to operate the Weapons on the boat. Again as this was a late war boat, I am not certain if she had the 4M-2500 1500 HP Packard Marine Engine, or the final version which was the 5M-2500 engine, both being super-charged gasoline engines. The 5M was rated at 1850 HP, and of course carried a larger supercharger. Top speed for this heavy boat would roughly be 45 knots, if she had the 1850 HP engine. Using the 4M engine would give her roughly 41 knots.

Because of the heavy weapons installed on this boat, they needed HP output that would still give the boat the speed she needed to get away during enemy encounters. Normal patrol for the boats was roughly 12 hours, in which the boat could burn 200 gallons of gas per hour at 23 knots or so. The boats carried 3,000 gallons of high octane fuel, so you can imagine the fuel being used on a typical patrol.



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Apr 24, 2013 - 11:48am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



Thank you.



Posted By: David Herzog | Posted on: Apr 25, 2013 - 8:18am
Total Posts: 4 | Joined: Apr 23, 2013 - 10:20am