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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: PT 596 armoured covers for the windows?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=473

Dear Sirs,
In the spring I started building the 1:35 Italeri model of PT 596. It ha s been resting on a shelf for some time now because I couldn't get the information I needed about the box-shaped objects that cover the two front windows of the pilothouse. At first I thought these were simply sunblinds of some sort (to keep the light in or out)but somone came up with the suggestion that these are actually armoured covers to protect the windows against shrapnel and bullets. My question is whether the latter explanation is correct and I would also appreciate it if someone could provide me with a photo or drawing that clearly shows what these covers actually looked like (I only possess photos in which these covers are obscured or simply to distant to see what they really look like). Thanking you in advace.

Kind regards,

Arjan Wiskerke

Posted By: Arjan Wiskerke | Posted on: Oct 5, 2007 - 5:54am
Total Posts: 162 | Joined: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:04pm

Arjan - Line drawings in the Lambert/Ross book ALLIED COASTAL FORCES label the covers as "light traps"......

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 5, 2007 - 10:15am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Thanks Will for your reply. You do have a subtle way of saying that the armour cover theory is boloney. You should realize however that there are not many PT-experts around in Holland so this might give rise to some weird theories. Anyway you answered the first question about the function of these covers and I'm grateful for that. I still hope someone else could provide me with a useful reference photograph though. I can only hope that Will didn't imply (by giving me the title of the Lambert/Ross book) that I should buy this book and stop pestering you people.

Kind regards,

Arjan

Posted By: Arjan Wiskerke | Posted on: Oct 5, 2007 - 11:21am
Total Posts: 162 | Joined: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:04pm

Arjan

Many of us on this message board have a long History of helping people to find out the many facets of PT BOATS. Will Day is one of those people. By him telling you about the book in no way means that he is implying anything other then giving you good sound advise. Please do not imply that you are pestering anyone. We on this Board all love PT BOATS and the History behind them. We are very willing to help you find an answer, but sometimes one must be patient. Will is correct. The covers on the Chart House Windows were put on to deflect the light coming from inside the Chart House and defuse the glare so that the light would not shoot straight out over the Ocean. I will check my photographs to see if I have a closer view of them.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 5, 2007 - 3:17pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Thanks a lot Frank for your reply. You are right, I am too impatient (I have been a PT-fan for some years and I have quite a few questions nobody in Holland is able to answer.This is why I joined this forum and at long last the answers to my questions seem to be within reach). Your elaborate explanation makes it clear why the covers were shaped in this manner. Another question I would like to raise concerns the position of where the A-frame,supporting the mast, is attached to the deckhouse.(I know this is an awful sentence) I have the feeling that on the Italeri kit this position is not properly aligned in relation to the mast itself. I may be wrong (or I may happen to have bought a first production-run model which has this mistake) because I have not come across this point in any of the reviews I read about the kit. (I also leafed through some topics related to this kit in previous forum discussions and again no mention was made of this point).

Kind regards

Posted By: Arjan Wiskerke | Posted on: Oct 6, 2007 - 1:21am
Total Posts: 162 | Joined: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:04pm

The so called windows that had these "covers" were helpful in allowing some ventilation into the chartroom while underway. Their primary function was to difused light from the chartroom from being seen from the outside.
These covers had basffles in them that were staggered so that light which travels in a straight line cannot pass thru.
While laying to when we reached our stationed location ,it was a hot hell cooped in the chartroom with all the heat generated from the radio equipment and the radar. We quartermasters and radiomen stood 2 hour watches as opposed to the rest of the crew who stood 4 hour watches.

Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Oct 7, 2007 - 5:04pm
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am

The word baffles was mispelled in the previous post. My fingers hit the a and s keys at the same time LOL

Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Oct 7, 2007 - 5:31pm
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am

Thanks a lot Russell for your most interesting contribution. So apart from a black out function, these covers (what, in fact,is the proper technical term?)also had a ventilation purpose .Am I right in assuming that the baffles you mentioned were made of metal? This latter function also makes me wonder if the glasspanes (which were there in earlier PT-boats) had been removed completely. Your account of what conditions were really like in those pre-airco days is also most interesting .You must realize by now that I'm the type of person who responds to an answer by asking three more questions. (one fool may ask more than ten wise men can answer) Once more Russell thanks a lot!

Kind regards,

Arjan

Posted By: Arjan Wiskerke | Posted on: Oct 8, 2007 - 2:05am
Total Posts: 162 | Joined: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:04pm

Arjan, I cannot positively tell you what they were made from I believe they were wooden. There wasn't much metal on the boats except for the armament.
I also cannot tell you if there were glass panes nad they were knocked out on our boat, or whatever. Those details were not of any concern at that time LOL.

Posted By: Russell Pullano | Posted on: Oct 8, 2007 - 9:25am
Total Posts: 131 | Joined: Oct 23, 2006 - 7:31am

Thanks for your reply Russell. I appreciate your efforts to answer my silly questions. I can also imagine that you had other things on your mind in your active service days.

Kind regards,

Arjan

Posted By: Arjan Wiskerke | Posted on: Oct 8, 2007 - 10:01am
Total Posts: 162 | Joined: Dec 22, 2018 - 12:04pm