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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT-161
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nteresting set up on PT-161. We can see that she is carrying a 20 mm, using the MK-12 mount in her starboard side turret. Notice the strange mount on the starboard bow for the weapon under the tarp.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 10, 2021 - 6:52am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Another nice shot . . . you've been working overtime this morning.
Thanks again, nice post.
Dick . . .
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Apr 10, 2021 - 1:12pm
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
Your welcome Dick. never saw that type of mount before
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 11, 2021 - 6:14am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
That's a very interesting picture, Frank. Thanks for posting it.
There appears to be a rectangular framework on either side of the covered weapon that might be for ammunition containers that rotate with the weapon. That would lead to an assumption of paired weapons such as twin 50 caliber machine guns, but the covered weapon doesn't seem to have the right proportions for such a setup.
Randy McConnell (Randall J. McConnell III)
Posted By: PRJM3 | Posted on: Apr 11, 2021 - 6:52pm
Total Posts: 94 | Joined: May 25, 2009 - 2:47pm
Thanks Frank. That's an interesting mount, looks a bit spindly for a .50 but it also looks like whatever is under the tarp is too big for a 30 cal..
There's a website dedicated to the Skipper of the 161 with some excellent stories of his including when they went to help rescue JFK: [url]https://evanskaren.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/a-fathers-service-pt-161/[/url]. Here's one of his stories:
[green]There were many nights we returned to base repeatedly for ammunition in strikes against Japanese destroyers and enemy barges. One night returning to Kula Gulf on New Georgia, we discovered all our ready ammunition had been exhausted. Forced to gather old ammo exposed to the elements, we suffered misfires and hung fires the rest of the night.
I will always remember my crew’s bravery that evening. In a fight for our lives with eight enemy barges, only one of our main guns remained operational. Wylan never wavered and remained on the bow firing his .50 Cal. like a madman, while our other guns were silent.
I ran to check on the other guns and caught Joe Tiberti pulling a smoking 20-mm shell out of his gun and throwing it over the side with his bare hands. Van der Heiden was ramming the 20’s out of our stern mounted gun with all the force he could muster. There were buckets of water everywhere with hot 20-mm barrels in them. The last barrel was still in place and Van was banging away on a cleaning rod trying to clear the barrel, not knowing what second might be his last as he was hammering on a high explosive round.
I ran back to check on Chase’s twin 50’s and found him working intently on a lap full of parts from both guns and whatever spare parts he could find. There were tracers flying everywhere and a few uncomfortably close to my head but Chase never noticed, except for the light they provided for him to work. I mentally crossed those guns off as Wylan’s 50 was the only gun firing except for the rifles and a Tommy gun from the remainder of the crew.
On my next run, however, those guns were all spitting fire like a vengeance. Oh, what a wonderful sound! That was the coolest exhibition of nerve that I have ever seen. I never dreamed they would have them functioning in the middle of a pitch dark firefight. I was certainly one proud skipper. It was a very satisfying feeling to witness the early dawn’s light filter over a sea as smooth as glass with a broom tied to our mast as we cruised slowly back toward our base.[/green]
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Apr 12, 2021 - 7:57am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Thanks Jeff, this makes for some great reading on first accounts
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 12, 2021 - 12:15pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Good stuff, Jeff.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Apr 15, 2021 - 4:49pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm