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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT658 mounted new Torpedo Aimer
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4958

Hey guys,
Just thought you may be interested to see that we have a new part mounted to make PT658 more authentically equipped. We obtained the original Mark 31 Brass Torpedo Aiming Director on loan from PT Boat Museum and Don Shannon in order to copy it and make a couple of extras for other museum boats. This is a real piece of art that was created by machinist extrordinaire' Barry Hay then engraved and painted by Bill Weaver and Ron Taylor with Paul Sturges doing the boat mounting bracket. We have 2 extras in case you know somebody fitting out a PT Boat that needs one! Anyway if you want to see more details we have many other photos of the Mark 31 director being created on our website [url]savetheptboatinc.com[/url] under the News page.

Here are the pics with the director mounted on windscreen by helm:

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 1, 2020 - 7:14pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

They really nailed it, good work guys! [:-cheers-:]

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Oct 2, 2020 - 6:15am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Jerry
The recreation of this is fantastic! My next thought was how did these survive without getting damaged in a combat zone? Iâ€™m not sure this would be considered Marine proof; Joke?

Thanks!
Jeff

Posted By: Jeff H | Posted on: Oct 2, 2020 - 6:17pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: Jun 7, 2019 - 6:00am

That is excellent work Jerry! Congratulations to the guys that put that together. You can all be very proud of that addition to your boat!
Dave

David Waples

Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Oct 2, 2020 - 9:44pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

WOW! Extraordinary....

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 3, 2020 - 11:39am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Hi Jeff H.
Yes I often wondered that myself. From speaking directly to several PT Boat crew and even 2 PT boat skippers, they all said these were rarely used on the front lines. However, some might have used them and we have pictures of them being used on some early wartime PT Boats, so we decided it should be displayed aboard the PT658. Just give us an excuse to add more guns and we will do that as well. LOL

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 10, 2020 - 12:50am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry when we spoke on the phone you had mentioned this and how thrilled you were with the end result. After looking at the photos I can see why. Might not be a bad idea to contact Ed Patrick from the Liberty Aviation Museum to see if he is interested. Makes me wish I had a boat

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 15, 2020 - 5:26am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hi Jerry!
Nice to hear from you and glad you guys are still moving forward. About your comment regarding mounting extra guns; I didnâ€™t think PT crews needed any reason to mount extra guns as long as they could beg, borrow, or â€śacquireâ€ť them!

Thanks!
Jeff

Posted By: Jeff H | Posted on: Oct 15, 2020 - 4:51pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: Jun 7, 2019 - 6:00am