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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Aft Crew Quarters on 78" Higgins?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3794

I noticed on the very cool graphic of PT 658 by Eric Baker it shows a hatch for the aft crew quarters. Was there really a rear crew quarters? I do not believe I have ever seen a picture showing this area. My uncle was a MoMM on PT 475 and it would make sense for the motor guys to bunk near the engines. Anyone have any info?

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 21, 2015 - 12:03pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

You might try viewing the PT 658 Walk-Thru video on YouTube [url]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=PT+658[/url] It has been some time since I last watched it; but I believe that he walks you thru the area in question. And if not, you'll still enjoy the tour

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Posted By: rickas | Posted on: Mar 21, 2015 - 4:41pm
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm

Thanks for the link, Rick. I have watched pretty much all the PT 658 videos but I have only seen as far back as the engine room. They did point out a mystery panel at the back of the engine room, but never have seen what is on the other side. I can't imagine having much room back there, but maybe enough for a couple of guys to bunk. Seems like it would be very LOUD in there, though.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 21, 2015 - 8:23pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Hello Steve and Rick,
Yes the PT625 Class of the 78 foot Higgins boats had an Aft Crews Quarters that sleeps 4. It has 2 berths outboard with Oval Holes cut in Bulkhead, and two canvas "Pipe Racks" that fold down inboard. They also had separate Wooden Footlockers (custom designed and built by Higgins) to stow their belongings. I always thought that the 4 man gun crew for the 40mm Bofors would naturally stay down there, since it was directly beneath their weapon, but I found out from talking to veterans who served on these boats that usually the junior "new guys" would be the ones who had to stay back there, since all the good spots up forward had already been taken by the more senior crewmen.
As for the "secret door" in the Engineroom Aft Bulkhead, that was something we added during our last repair period for ease of access and was not on any wartime Higgins PT Boats. It leads into the Aft Gas Tank Room. From there you can enter the Aft Crews Quarters as well. We use the empty space in what was the Aft Gas Tank room as a storage room for Damage Control Equipment, battery chargers, and an air compressor.
One more thing, in addition to the Aft Crews Quarters, there is room to sleep 2 more sailors in the Lazarette (Rudder Room) outboard on the very aft corners. In this way you have enough bunks to sleep 14 enlisted men and 2 officers on board the PT625 class of boat. I think the Higgins PT450 class was also laid out in a similar fashion.

I hope this helps.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 - 8:46am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Thank you Jerry for the info. It makes sense the new guys would bunk back there. Not much advantage for the MoMMs to bunk back there since there is no direct access to the engine room, Hope to make it up your way someday to check out your marvelous boat.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 - 10:32am
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Steve: After we added more guns and added more men we had a crew of twelve men and two officers. 4 guys had bunks in the lazerette but they never slept in them. Too hot in the Solomons. We all slept on cots under the bow tarp and the tarp aft of the radar mast. A few nights we had to go below during heavy rain storms. We stored our seabags and gear in our bunks..

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Mar 23, 2015 - 11:12am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

Thanks CJ!
Nothing like sleeping in the fresh air. Probably a little more headroom on the cots also. My uncle was in Ron 32 / PT 475 and was in the Solomons in December. Bet it was hot.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 23, 2015 - 2:02pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Hey Steve,
I am curious about your Original Post, You said "I noticed on the very cool graphic of PT 658 by Eric Baker it shows a hatch for the aft crew quarters." So where is this Eric Baker Graphic? I have never seen it. Were you referring to the ones done by our own webmaster Dick Washichek? If there is actually one by Eric Baker could you tell me how I might get a copy and in touch with Mr Baker? Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 24, 2015 - 2:03pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Here is a graphical view of the storage room progress and the addition of bunks in the Rudder Room.

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Mar 24, 2015 - 4:49pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Thank you for the great graphics, Dick. I had not seen anything like that before. That makes everything very clear! What a wonderful forum.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 24, 2015 - 5:45pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Just curious, when the Higgins boats received their 40mm mounts, how did that effect the bunk area in the Lazerette. I had heard they added more bracing in this area to allow for the added weight of this cannon and mount. Although I do not have a photo that shows additional bracing, it was related to me by PT-302 Crewmen, Arthur Frongello.

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 6:41am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Hey Jerry,
Regarding the Eric Baker graphic, I found it when I was putting together a tribute to my Uncle Harold Wilson for our family. Shortly after I finished it and saved it as a .pdf, my computer crashed and I lost almost all my research - including the original graphic. Luckily my sister sent me the .pdf back, so that is all I have. I would be happy to send it to - but I cannot post it here due to it being a .pdf. If I could get an email for you I would be happy to send you (or anyone else) the entire .pdf.. I did some annotations over the graphic, but that is all I have at this time. Hope this helps.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 9:16am
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Hi Steve . . .

Yes, I would love to review the material, please send me a copy. Click on my email button above.

All the best,
Dick . . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 9:27am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

Jerry - I have google searched for the Eric Baker graphic, but to no avail. I am not sure where I originally found it, but I think this link is for Eric Baker.
http://lostimagedesk.com/

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 10:42am
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Jerry - I have google searched for the Eric Baker graphic, but to no avail. I am not sure where I originally found it, but I think this link is for Eric Baker.
http://lostimagedesk.com/
info@ericbakerdesign.net

Steve Wilson

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 10:48am
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Jerry, Dick was able to extract the graphics from my .pdf. Many thanks to him for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway I now have the original .jpg graphic you were asking about, but do not know how to post it here. For a guy who lives in the Silicon Valley I am pretty non-knowledgeable about this stuff.

Steve Wilson

[red][b]Here is the image:[/b][/red]

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 2:08pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am

Thanks Steve,
OK I have seen this, it was published on Tuesday August 9th 2005 in our local Portland Newspaper,"The Oregonian" back in 2005. It was part of an Article By Ted Mahar called "PT Boats: Weapons of War" I think we have this posted to our website in the "News" section as well. I never noticed the name of the artist. Thanks again for posting it.

PT boats: Weapons of war

Daring and dashing, PT boats play a pivotal role in Pacific warfare

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

TED MAHAR

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 2:32pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Your welcome, Jerry.
I guess I did know how to post this after all, but not sure how I did it.
Anyway I am glad you have seen it before. I had never seen any kind of cut-away view like that of the boats. Still hoping to make it up your way someday to see your boat in person.Keep up the good work.

Steve Wilson

Posted By: Steve Wilson | Posted on: Mar 25, 2015 - 3:10pm
Total Posts: 27 | Joined: Feb 2, 2015 - 12:28am