The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi

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
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

ť Topic: Experimental PT Boat Single .50 Cal Mount
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4230

Hi All,

I've been trying to locate photos showing any of the experimental PT Boats with the single .50 cal mounts and only have located the below photo of YP 110 (PT 8). Seems they always had them covered with canvas and it looks like the actual guns were removed prior to covering. The drawings from Higgins and Huckins only show a very un-detailed drawing representation, so not much use. Anything that folks would be willing to share would be appreciated as we gather information for the PT-3 restoration.

Thanks!
Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Mar 7, 2017 - 7:28am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Andy;
WOW!!! This is news! I knew you were doing research, but.....Your going to restore PT 3? Pass on some details.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 7, 2017 - 3:14pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Andy;
Aren't there any photos from LTjg, Robert C. Houston's collection that show this single mount?
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 7, 2017 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

All the photos of PT-3 I've seen she has twin .50's mounted each side?

Posted By: nahma | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 4:32am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Ted,

Nothing new to report since the last update April 4, 2016. I'm mostly concentrating on gathering as much information as possible on the design, construction, and testing of PT-3 and PT-4 as well as the sister boats PT-1 and PT-2. Did find out that a stuffed animal Pete the Panda was the mascot during PT-3's initial trials and that she and PT-4, when working as crash boats with the RCAF were both referred to as "jeeps", which I thought interesting.

Break - Break

The dual machine gun mounts such as the Dewandre and later Mk17 weren't used by the initial batch of US built PTs. All the covered tub photos I've seen show a single mount setup. The Higgins drawing shows a single and the June 40 BuShips report lists PT-3 with the following ordnance setup: "The ordnance equipment will consist of two 18-inch torpedoes in two stern launching tube mounts, two .50 caliber A.A. machine guns in turret mounts (one on each side just abaft pilot house". The torps are MkVII's but I have not found any information on the stern launch tubes. Photos show compressed air release, but that's about it for details. On the .50 cal mounts, I'm really finding nothing other than the original design for the turrets were too low, so they received a later extension, but nothing on the actual design, Mk series and turret ring setup. Just hoping someone in the group might have something they found. Pickins are pretty slim.

Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 1:20pm
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

I found a single ring mount in this manual but it is .30 cal.:
Machine Gun Mounts For Boats, 1943
[url]http://archive.org/details/TM9-230[/url]

Something looks odd to me in the photo of YP-110, the barrels look too long and slim to be .50 AC guns, or HBs either.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 2:31pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jeff;
That mount was used on Higgins LCP(L)'s.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 2:55pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thanks Ted, I wonder why the MK17 isn't in there?

I searched my images Andy but only found this one:

[image]http://www.pt103.com/images/ptpics/PT_008_YP110_900.jpg[/image]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 4:11pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Here's a thought... pure speculation, in which I normally am loathe to engage...but something to consider. After looking at Jeff's photo of PT 8, I wonder if the gun mount was an Army M36 ring mount. The M36 was fitted to trucks like the Deuce and a Half and appears to be fairly large. I couldn't find the dimensions of the ring, but if someone has access to the TM for vehicle mounts and someone else had the diameter of the turrets on PT3/4 and we compared them, well, who knows?

Looking at the starboard mount up close, you can make out what appears to be the ammo box on the left side of the gun and what I think may be a shell chute/deflector on the right side. This makes sense for a naval mount, as it keeps the shells from flying about and hitting important people like the guy driving the boat...

Al

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 5:18pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Thanks Jeff!

You would have thought that some sailor would have mugged a close up photo manning the .50 at some point. Still hopeful something will come up. Maybe some of the PT-6(2) photos might yield something?

Here's the PT-5 drawing showing the mount - not a whole lot to go on....

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 5:38pm
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Thanks Al! That's a great thought!

The aluminum ring on PT-5 is 54 outside diameter. I'll see if they're close. I would be willing to bet that they would have used an existing setup (speculation noted), and prior to PT's, I wouldn't think the Navy would spend much effort on something like this if someone already had something developed. Only difference might be the material (aluminum vs US Army steel?)

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 5:55pm
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Here are a couple images of the M36:
[image]http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/mg/M2/M36_truck-mount.gif[/image]
[image]http://www.cckw.org/M36_MOUNT_CATMAN_39.JPG[/image]
[image]https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.gs3br4h_E-XIYj1QjTC2jwEsD_&w=251&h=209&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7[/image]

Al

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 6:20pm
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Thanks Al, I know that even slight speculation can give you bad gut feelings.

I found 1 1973 TM that includes the M36 mount but sadly no dimensions that I could find. It does have nice drawings though. Besides the online viewer, it can be downloaded as a pdf:
TM 9-1005-245-14
[url]http://docslide.us/documents/tm-9-1005-245-14.html[/url]

I'll keep my eyes open Andy.

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 8, 2017 - 7:10pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am