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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: What kind(s) of radar(s) on August 1-2, 1943 patrol?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4123

Does anyone know what kind (or kinds) of radar setups the four Division leader PTs out of Rendova -- the 107, 159, 171, and the 174 -- had the night of the August 1-2, 1943 Blackett Straight patrol?

The 159 shows the SCR-517A (installed in the States, right?) in the color film of Ron 9 at Rendova, while the other three probably had the SO-A radar setup. Anyone know for sure?

I think this may have been discussed on the Forum before, but I've forgotten when, or what the answer was.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 21, 2016 - 4:24pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Drew;
I believe PT 107 had SO-A radar. We could ask John Sullivan if he was aboard at that time. For other RON's boats all SCR-517A radars were installed prior to shipment to Panama(ref: RON 9 and RON 10 photos around Brooklyn and Bayonne). Early, SO-A sets must have been shipped out as experimental units, we just have to find the documents. In the post thread below Al mentioned Tracy found one dated Oct 1943 for SCR-517A, but by 8 Oct 1943, PT 59, 60, and 61, had SO-A installed or in the process of installation. PT 48 even had SO-A Radar installed soon after.

but, here is the link to the previous post: http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=1673&pg=142&sc=20&x=0

http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=3094&pg=78&sc=20&x=0

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ted%20Walther/PT%20115%20RON%206%20Tulagi%20Harbor%20July%201943.jpg[/image]
PT 115 of Squadron Six idling out of Tulagi Harbor, July 1943. The boat sports what appears to be a newly-installed SO-type radar set atop her mast
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 22, 2016 - 8:30am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks, Ted. That's what I was looking for.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 22, 2016 - 2:41pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

On 6/11-18/1943 USS Prometheus Installed SO Radar on PT-174.

Wayne Traxel

Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Aug 2, 2016 - 2:04pm
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am

Thanks, Wayne.

It seems pretty certain three of the four radar-equipped Division leaders that night -- the 107, the 171 and the 174 -- had SO radars.

I'm just wondering if the 159 had the SCR-517A "beehive" radar, rather than the SO type, as several Ron 9 boats had the SCR-517As installed in the States.

Trouble is, I don't think the 159 is on any of the lists I've seen of the Ron 9 boats with the SCR-517A.

I'm asking this because I was thinking of eventually building a 1/72nd scale 159 model as a companion to a 1/72nd 109, and the 159 was the (109's) radar-equipped Division "B" leader.

Since I'm now in possession of Luis's beautifully-rendered 1/72nd scale SCR-517A...

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 2, 2016 - 2:37pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am