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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: CONCRETE BUNKER
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=782

CONCRETE BUNKER

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/FrankAndruss/Bunker-0037.jpg[/image]

How many of you PT Boaters remember this picture. It was the concrete bunker the Americans built in the defense of the Philippines. The bunker had 2 16 inch guns and was protected by 10 inches of concrete. The bunker lay just off the coast of Corrigidor. When the Island fell, the Japanese did not have the shells to operate the guns, but did set up their own smaller weapons, firing at American PT Boats and troops. This photo was taken by PT 374 as she was going by. The gun was in American hands at the time.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 12, 2008 - 9:07am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Wow...nice pic. Was it built onto an existing island? Really seems like a relic from a pre-WWII era...the old forts and gun emplacements at the opening of harbors.

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: May 12, 2008 - 3:07pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi Frank,
The picture you have is of Fort Drum and it had 14 inch guns. here is an excerpt from their website...Jerry

Fort Drum was constructed on El Fraile Island beginning in 1909 and completed in 1914. El Fraile Island was originally a Mine Control Station and a mine casemate. Fort Drum is about 7500 yards south of Caballo Island and was the most unique of the Harbor Defense forts. On the original island as a base, army engineers completed in 1914 a reinforced concrete battleship 350 feet long by 144 feet wide, the top deck being 40 feet above mean low water and 20 feet thick. Exterior walls were approximately 25 feet to 36 feet thick. Equipped with 4-14 inch M1909 Rifles in armored turrets that had the capability of shooting a 1,660 pound armor piercing shell to a range of about 19,000 yards, 4-6 inch casemated guns and 2-3 inch AA guns. There was a 60 foot fire control cage mast. The fort was considered impregnable to enemy attack.

Battery E (Fort DRUM) Comprised of Batteries by Name:

Wilson (2-14 TM guns)

Marshall (2-14 TM guns)

Roberts (2-6 CM guns)

McRae (2-6 CM guns)

Hoyle (1-3 RF gun)

Exeter (2-3 AA guns)

Here is a cool photo of it shooting

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/fortdrum2.jpg[/image]

go to their website at
[url]http://www.concretebattleship.org/[/url]

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 12, 2008 - 10:05pm
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Jerry

Thanks so much for the information on the Concrete Battleship. The information I posted was on the back of the picture, so getting this is a bonus. Do we know if it was ever removed over the years. Wallace Mcneish, who was on PT 374 remember the Japanese, who would get out there and fire at the boats. The boats would fore back, but had nothing that could hurt them. Love the shot of her firing. Thanks again..........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 13, 2008 - 7:49am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank,
If you visit the website listed on my last post, you will see that several people have visited it in 2006, and 2007. It has suffered from metal scrappers taking everything they could carry. You can visit it at your own risk since there are no lights inside and the floor is falling apart. Just look through the pictures and you will see what I mean. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: May 13, 2008 - 8:07am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm