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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Higgins boat planking differences(early war, late war)
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I was looking over pictures of pt-309, 305, and 459 and noticed that they have planking that is angled all the way across the hull.
I then compared pictures of pt-658 and 796 and noticed that the late war higgins has planking that is straight across the hull.
What was the reason for this change?
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/ptboat/PT-459/pt459-bow-side.jpg

http://funds.gfmcdn.com/444731_1369478593.4092.jpg

ThePTboater




Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: May 3, 2016 - 9:55am
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm



Good Question.

That was just another update that Higgins did to the hull construction most probably due to the increase in weight of all the stuff they were putting on these later boats. The double diagonal is a British construction thang which makes production quicker, can use less skilled labor (source Peter Du Cane) and uses a layer of glued canvas in between.Vosper and later BPB (George Selman's design) used triple planking on the bottom with an added longitudinal for strength.

Traditional American construction is either double longitudinal (no canvas needed in between just glue, lighter construction, takes skilled craftsman) or longitudinal on top of a diagonal with canvas/glue in between. Both the US methods provide good longitudinal strength. The Higgins and Huckins bottoms were always this later US method. Elco stuck with their UK double diagonal construction. More in depth discussion is contained in Lindsay Lords, Naval Architecture of Planing Hulls.



Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: May 3, 2016 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 259 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm



Thanks for the info Andy, I could see how some priorities in construction could change thought a constantly changing war.
I did fascinate me though, initially I didn't notice the planking difference.
ThePTboater



Posted By: ThePTboater | Posted on: May 5, 2016 - 6:07pm
Total Posts: 136 | Joined: Jan 17, 2016 - 1:28pm



It comes in handy when trying to identify unidentified photos of boat undersides since the wood planking will sep the Higgins from the ELCO builds.



Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: May 8, 2016 - 2:01pm
Total Posts: 259 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm