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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Accordion-like device on PT 107's twin-.50 turret guns?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4087

While looking at the nice, big HD color scan of PT 107's starboard twin-.50 turret Jeff posted, I noticed a light brown, accordion-like device under the gun's receivers, something I've never seen (or at least noticed) on a PT's twin-.50s before.

My guess is that it was some kind of covered (spring?) device to allow the heavy guns to be more easily maneuvered up or down by the gunner.

Anybody know for sure what that thing was, or how long it was used? I don't remember seeing it on photos of other Elco 80-footers.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 4, 2016 - 2:36pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Spent cartridge chutes Drew, check plate 2 here: [url]http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/pt/fifty/index.htm#pg7[/url]. I don't see them often either. I don't know if crews just took them off or if they stopped using them at some point.

Something else you don't see often is the fancy cocking mechanism seen on HB guns. Most boat's turret .50s had the plain handle that went back and forth with the bolt. Knuckles beware.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 4, 2016 - 5:01pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Ahh - so...

"Spent cartridge chute flexible tube," "Flexible ducts," "Spent cartridge and link chutes..."

Thanks Jeff, now I know!

-- Drew

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 4, 2016 - 6:11pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

You're welcome Drew. I was impressed when they put that manual up. It's got to be a rare one!

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 5, 2016 - 11:59am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

MY father was on the 107 as a gunners mate thru sept 1943 until
he went on leave stateside. Will ask him to check out this post.

Posted By: james sullivan | Posted on: May 13, 2016 - 7:44pm
Total Posts: 13 | Joined: May 21, 2013 - 10:57am

COULD YOU POST A LINK TO THE PHOTO OF THE 107 IN QUESTION thank you would like to see photo might be one we haven't seen.

Posted By: james sullivan | Posted on: May 15, 2016 - 1:03pm
Total Posts: 13 | Joined: May 21, 2013 - 10:57am

Jim,

Jeff Davidson posted some large photos a while ago here on the Forum, one of which is a color closeup shot of PT 107's starboard twin-.50 turret which shows the device I was talking about.

Go to the thread titled "4 Large Elco 80 Images" and search around, you'll find it.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 15, 2016 - 1:09pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Hello shipmates,
Higgins comes to the rescue yet again!
Here are a few that Harland Avezzie made in Mass copied an original, then the PT631 builders photos show the accordion tubes attached to them.
Jerry

Spent link chutes
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT658%202014/spent%20link%20chutes.png[/image]

Higgins Factory photos of PT631 closeup of twin 50 cal turrets shows the accordion tubes attached to the spent link chutes
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/PT631%20Higgins%20Builders%20Photos/nh71650.jpg[/image]

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 1:48am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Nice Jerry!

Hey James, give your father my regards. I've always enjoyed reading his posts. The photo is well buried in my poorly titled post, here's a link: [url]http://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/80-G-K-13000/80-G-K-13627.html[/url]. The medium size is probably the best one to show him.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 5:12am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff D;
My friend you have found a piece of PT Boat GOLD here!!!!!!!

Download the photo in TIFF, and then look very closely at the officer at the wheel.......can you tell me who that is????
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 11:15am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Is that Henry / Robert Montgomery?

Gene has several images from the same(?) series here: [url]http://pt-king.gdinc.com/PTsquadronfive.html[/url].

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 1:45pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Yep, but this is the best angle on his face that I have seen, if you look at the other photos it almost looks like he has pulled his helmet down just enough so not to get recognized. He was there for all the PT 107 photos even the Galapagos/USS Pocomoke(AV-9) photos. But this and the photo of RON 5 Officers(below), are the best.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ted%20Walther/RON%205%20Officers%20on%20Stanton%20enroute%20to%20Panama%20SEPT%201942%20Ens.%20Raymond%20Burnham%20Lt.%20Henry%20Montgomery%20Ens.%20Sidney%20D.%20Hix%20Ens.%20Joseph%20K.%20Roberts%20Ens.%20John%20D.%20Chester%20and%20Ens.%20Bryant%20L.%20Larson.jpg[/image]
September 20, 1942, Enroute to Panama onboard Joseph Stanton(L-R) Ens. Raymond Burnham, Lt. Henry Montgomery, Ens. Sidney D. Hix, Ens. Joseph K. Roberts, Ens. John D. Chester and Ens. Bryant L. Larson.
Take care,
TED
P.S. Dick Kersey and John Duckworth must have been OOD and AOOD on this day, since they are not in the photo.

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 2:48pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

"OK, but if she starts taking water, turn back -- SIR!"

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: May 16, 2016 - 3:07pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Nice catch Ted! It sure does look like him. [:-cheers-:]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 17, 2016 - 5:22am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Yelled through a megaphone:( On the movie TWE)
'IF YOU HAVE TO ABANDON, BURN YOUR BOAT AND WE WILL PICK YOU UP, PASS IT ON"

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 17, 2016 - 2:30pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Speaking of movies, Ride of the Valkyries played in my mind when I saw this unknown Elco 80' image:

[image]http://www.pt103.com/images/ptpics/Elco_80_37mm_900.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 17, 2016 - 6:57pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff;
Nice photo, looks like interdiction/VBSS.Do you have a date, boat # or RON # to go with this photo?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 18, 2016 - 8:39am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

I found that one in an album on WW2 RADIO's page: [url]http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1753320464913942.1073742456.1634742540105069&type=3[/url]. There's about 10 PT images (most with numbers visible) in it. The one I posted is cropped to 900px for posting here so grab the uncropped one too.

From the description translation:
PORT de MANILLE - 1945.
In preparation for port of manila in early 1945.
Operations of bailouts - material and soldiers etc...
Photos : Carl Mydans - LIFE Collections

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 18, 2016 - 12:13pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff;
That site has a very nice collection. Also, further down the site, is a nice selection of RON 15 and RON 22 photos at Bastia, Corsica 1944.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 19, 2016 - 9:19am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am