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Topic: Colours of PT Boat Depth Charges |
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PeterTareBuilder
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 9, 2008 - 3:46am
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Hi there.
I am browsing the group pictures on Photobucket looking for a photo of PT-109 tied up beside a 77' Elco some where in the Pacific Islands.
I came across a photo of PT-61 that I thought was interesting because of the colours on the depth charges on the adjacent PT boat. The bolted area on the end of each depth charge appears to be either brass or bronze. It is the same colour as the torpedo tips on another colour photo of PT-61.
I thought I'd mention this as is a neat way t o add some colour to an otherwisw drab coloured boat.
Here are the images.
Depth Charges:
Torpedo:
Cheers from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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Jerry Gilmartin
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Sep 9, 2008 - 5:56pm
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Hi Peter,
Those bolted areas that look to be bronze color are indeed bronze. They are the depth setting fuze mechanism. I have closeup photos and cutaways posted on our photobucket account. The depth setting mechanism could be turned to the different settings between 30 and 300 feet, on the outer ring nad the deep firing pointer on the inner knob could be set between 300 and 600 feet. I read in the HNSA copy of Motor Torpedo Boats, Tactical Orders and Doctrine that it was suggested they paint white bars and large numbers on the end of the can corresponding to common needed depth settings such as 50 feet and 100 feet. This was done to help see the settings at night. You can see a photo of the depth charges on this message board with those white numbers painted on them. Anyway here are some photos showing the mechanism. Jerry PT658 Portland
Here it shows the painted white numbers on the end of the can, from PT61 at Tulagi (look to the left of the machine gun tub)
Here you can see them closer just in front of his stomach
Here is a photo of the mechanism up close, note the inner and outer scales and made of bronze
Here is a drawing showing the markings clearly:
Here is a more extensive diagram showing the entire interior of the depth charge with both booster mechanism and depth setting fuze:
Jerry Gilmartin |
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PeterTareBuilder
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 9, 2008 - 7:06pm
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Hey there Jerry.
That was terrrific! I might even try painting those white markings on my eight depth charges I scratch built for my 1/32 scale Lindberg PT boat noq done up as PT-105.
Cheers from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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Posted on: Sep 10, 2008 - 8:06am
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Jerry,
Hi. Please email me offsite, thank you.
Garth
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 10, 2008 - 8:12pm
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Hi Garth,
I did not forget you, My email is on the fritz right now I will try next week when hopefully I can get it fixed. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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TGConnelly
MASTER
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2008 - 6:46am
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Well, ... take your time then. I'll be here ...
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2008 - 9:11am
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Jerry,
Thanks for posting the info and photos of the depth charge trigger plates and the pictures from the manual -- great stuff!
A minor, nitpicky point -- I believe Wayne Traxel said that Ken Prescott told him those color photos of the 61, the 109 to starboard and the other 77' Elco to port were taken at "Searlesville" in the Russell Islands, not Tulagi.
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2008 - 2:09pm
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Drew;
You are correct! As Ken has told me and Wayne, PT 109 is the boat tied up on the Starboard side of Ken's PT 61, Ken has also told me, and I believe him as per other photos, that PT 48 is tied up on the port side. This was to soon be Ken's second command, however, at the time of this set of photos, LT. Johnny ILES was the skipper of 48.
Take care,
TED
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PeterTareBuilder
New Member
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Posted on: Sep 11, 2008 - 5:08pm
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Hi Ted.
Could you give me a link to that photo? Please? I saw it some where and thought I had saved it but can not find it in my files.
Thanks from PeterTareBuilder
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Sep 12, 2008 - 6:19am
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I am talking about the photos above Peter Tare. the complete set is further back in the message board on one of Wayne's posts.
Take care,
TED
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