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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: 40mm mount, in the field...
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3929

I have one decent photo showing the Bofors single on a new Elco- it has the vertical rack/cage behine the crew, for hanging ready ammo on. But a number of pics in the field seem to show that the rack was removed... better access to the ammo lockers, maybe?
Was this pretty much across the board?

Rack installed here:

[image]https://matthewsmodelmarine.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/4603_elco_labavg.jpg?w=900[/image]

Not here:

[image]https://matthewsmodelmarine.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/pt12740mmrowofboats_tif.jpg?w=842[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Oct 21, 2015 - 5:27pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

The pipe rail is actually a gun stop. It is there to stop and/or deflect the barrel when is traversing around so you don't shoot the guys in the cockpit. Same as the gun rails around the .50-call tubs.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Oct 21, 2015 - 6:06pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Sorry, I don't mean the depression rail, but the rack on the back of the 40mm mount/carriage... seen a little more more clearly here:

[image]https://matthewsmodelmarine.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/fig002.jpg?w=787[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Oct 21, 2015 - 7:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Pat;
It seems it was a boat by boat or squadron thing. Speed of access would be the only benefit I can see. In the photo you posted, you can see 40mm can ready racks mounted on the port side deck. These things happened probably as the crew size increased.

As an example most boats in RON 12 added the extra ready racks port and starboard side of the 40mm mount on the deck, removed the railing on the 40mm as well as the depression rail( the boat in your photo is an earlier boat(maybe even RON 12), so it would have originally had a 20mm depression rail/gun stop, in photos in several squadrons, several earlier boats didn't add this when converted to the 40mm mount) the depression rails on the after .50 Cal turrets and the forward turret depression rails were modified and or removed also.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Oct 22, 2015 - 7:20am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Hi Pat,
I think that waist high railing on the back of the rotating gun loaders platform was indeed used for hanging ready service ammo. In fact it holds eight clips. If you look at some examples they modified these to hold clips on both the inside and outside so they can hold 16 clips! As you correctly spotted, the rails are installed on some from the factory, but then some others at the front lines are not installed. I have noticed this as well, and think that the ones missing were converted from the (Army version) wheeled trailer model, and they were installed onto the PT Boats by converting them. Pretty sure the wheeled trailer model does not have the waist high loaders platform railing. The ones installed at the factory were purpose built for the Navy and had the loaders platform rail added at the gun manufacturer. Just a guess.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 22, 2015 - 12:14pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Hi Pat,

Like Jerry and Ted mentioned the racks in the back were factory installed. The Army version 40mm installed in the field doesn't have this feature. In the case of Ron 21 Commander Bowling outfitted his boats with 40's obtained from the Royal Australian Navy. These mounts had a lower profile and no railing behind the loading platform.

Wayne

Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Oct 22, 2015 - 2:06pm
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am

Pat;
I agree with Wayne and Jerry, I know the first New Guinea Squadrons(7, 8. 12, 18, 21, 24) did receive their 40 mm(Army model) from the US Army and Australian connections. RON 21 was the first, as CDR Bowling insisted this weapon for his Squadron.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Oct 22, 2015 - 3:46pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks guys!
Sounds like anyone planning to offer a 1:20 / 1:24 /1:16 scale 40mm set would want to include that rack, but make its fitment optional...

[:-cheers-:]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Oct 22, 2015 - 4:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Pat,

Absolutely, any left over parts can always find their way to the next project.

When can we expect can we expect these 40 mm Bofor beauties in 1/20th 1/24th and 1/16th scale?

Wayne

Wayne Traxel

Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Oct 23, 2015 - 12:57pm
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am

Well, just got in my first set, in 1:16 scale... if it works out OK, I'll spend some time on smaller versions too.

It's pretty complete, but there's room for further detailing still...

More pics at:
[url]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2478697&page=14#post33508785[/url]

[image]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/4/9/6/5/9/a8532790-32-a8435247-163-40mmInProgress.JPG[/image]

[image]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/4/9/6/5/9/a8532775-231-20151221_152844a.jpg[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Dec 21, 2015 - 1:00pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Loosely assembled... you have a big screen, I hope?

[image]http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/4/9/6/5/9/a8533316-107-20151221_191742a.jpg[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Dec 21, 2015 - 4:23pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

So, I left the rear fence on after all...

[image]http://www.matthewsmodelmarine.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/20151231_163605b.jpg[/image]

[image]http://www.matthewsmodelmarine.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/20151231_163955b.jpg[/image]

Patrick Matthews
Matthews Model Marine
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/

Posted By: Patrick Matthews | Posted on: Dec 31, 2015 - 2:30pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

SWEET . . . . . . . .

Your 3D CAD is impeccable, very nice work PAT. Like Jeff's work and your's, I'm [b][green]GREEN[/green][/b] with envy!!!!!!

Dick . . . .

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Dec 31, 2015 - 5:47pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

If I am not mistaken, in addition to the back-rail issue, the factory installation had the boxy, sloped 8-sided mount shown in the 3D photos. The field installed units that used the Army 40 mm has a slightly lower and round mount. Somewhere, I have a photo of the Army 40 mm and round mount that Al sent me while i was researching the 495 boat before building my model of it. If I can find it, I'll post it.

Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Jan 1, 2016 - 5:19am
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am