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Topic: General Quarters |
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Bob
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2013 - 10:55am
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Trying to figure duty stations for GQ on PT 305. 10 enlisted two officers
CO and XO at the helm- 2
What exactly did the XO do? Some say he handled the throttles or directed the guns or torpedo director or was a rover or all of the above?
Quartermaster in the charthouse- 1
Motor mac in the engineroom- 1
Each dual .50 turret-2
40mm, two gunners and a loader- 3
Both 20's- 2
Now question with the 20's, did they have a dedicated loader? If so that would mean two more men. Or was there a rover? Were the 20mm operators strapped in or attached with a lanyard?
Bob |
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JBG327
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2013 - 11:51am
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Go to http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/PT-Manual/MTBM-1.html
page 64.
JG
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JBG327
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2013 - 11:54am
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Quote:
Go to http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/PT-Manual/MTBM-1.html
page 64. Does not show 40mm.
JG
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Jerry Gilmartin
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 Posted on: Jul 7, 2013 - 6:47pm
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Bob,
I copied what it says on that Watch Quarter and Station Bill
Name/Rating---- Attack ---------------------------Defense--------------- Fire
Capt -------Conn; torpedo control----- Conn-------------------- Conn
Exec------- Wheel and throttles.--------Wheel &throttles-----In charge at scene.
The CO and XO are listed along with others. By the way, I have found that on the 40mm Bofors cannon, there are usually four not three crewmen. Pointer, Trainer, First Loader and Second Loader. The Second Loader was needed to keep the first loader supplied with clips as the gun is being moved around and uses the ready service ammo on the mount. If you look in numerous photos of PT Boat crews, they usually always show 4 guys as the entire gun crew. Yes it is possible to operate with less, but if you have someone available they would be used as the second loader. I have verified this with at least 10 real PT boat crewmen as well.
Also one other thing I noticed was at least on Higgins Boats, there was room for two watchstanders inside charthouse, the Quartermaster Navigating and the other guy was either the Radio Operator or Radar Operator. I think both of them were in there being pretty busy but if they were free to leave their post and carry ammo they probably could do so.
Also I believe the Torpedoes were manned by at least 2 people standing by to manually launch torpedoes in case remote launch mechanisms failed. This would usually be the assigned TM but I am sure if he was the only TM on the boat, other rates could also help with that duty.
I am fairly certain the 20mm required two men, a gunner and a loader, for each 20mm cannon mounted. You also need a loader for the 37mm gun and a loader for the twin 50's (somebody to ferry ammo cans up from below while gunners are shooting)
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JBG327
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Posted on: Jul 7, 2013 - 7:58pm
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From: Motor Torpedo Boats, Tactical Orders and Doctrine, July 1942
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/pt/doctrine
section 6102. Battle stations.
GENERAL QUARTER-CONDITION 1
Boat captain Conn: Wheel or throttle.
Executive officer Throttle or wheel.
GM Oerlikon gun.
Tm Stand by torpedoes or depth charges.
QM Ammunition passer for .50-caliber guns.
RM Radio.
MM Engine room.
MM Starboard .50-caliber guns.
MM Port .50-caliber guns.
Sea Loader for Oerlikon-gun.
NOTE.-The above may and should be changed to utilize special aptitude or training of any man.
CONDITION 2
Watch 1
Captain Conn
RM communications and navigation
TM Wheel, torpedoes
SC .50-caliber guns
Sea .50-caliber guns
MM Engine room
Watch 2
Executive Officer. Conn
QM. Communications and navigation
GM. Wheel, torpedoes
MM. .50-caliber guns
Vacant .50-caliber guns
MM. Engine room
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Bob
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2013 - 6:38am
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So if we had
2-chartroom
2 for twin .50's
1- .50 loader
2- for 20mm's
2- 20mm loaders
2- torpedoes
1- engineroom
4- 40mm
Thats 16 enlisted men
Now lets assume that during a torpedo run that two guys are pulled off of something else and as soon as they drop thier torpedoes they could get back to another station.
That would be 14 enlisted men.
Now the quartermaster even the XO could also be a .50 loader.
That would still be 13 enlisted men
Thats 2 to 3 more than they had.
So I would think maybe 3 on the 40 and only one in the charthouse while attacking or under attack. What do you guys think?
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2013 - 8:55am
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Bob we had a crew of 2 officers and 13 enlisted men on the 242.
At General Quarters:
Cockpit; 2 officers
Charthouse: 2 men (radioman and quartermaster)
Bow 37 mm:. 2 men (gunner and loader)
2- twin 50's bow mounted in front of the charthouse: - one man (he fired both guns depending on whether a starboard or port strafe)
2 - twin fifty turrets: Two men (gunners)
One 20 mm. midships: 2 men (gunner and loader) The loader was also the torpedoman
37 mm Field artillery stern gun: 3 men (pointer, trainer and loader)
Engine room: one man (motormac)
They were a great crew. Most of us were together for 13 months. Five of us are left now. I still keep in touch with them.
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Bob
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2013 - 9:54am
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Thanks CJ, that is very helpful. The 305 had an average of 11 enlisted. Who was the loader for the twin turret .50's?
Bob |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2013 - 10:33am
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Bob,
Did the PT305 ever have a 37mm cannon on the bow? Maybe there is your explanation for the difference, I was just reading an email from Jack Duncan (PT103 crewman and a retired Master Chief) and he says the number of crew on a PT boat depends entirely upon what boat and when. As it got later in the war, more crewmen were needed to operate all the added weapons on the PT Boats as they were up-gunned.
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Bob
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Posted on: Jul 8, 2013 - 11:22am
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No 37mm Jerry. 20mm forward, two twin .50's in the turrets, 20mm midship, 40mm aft and the four roll off torpedos. Not to mention the two pole mounted single .50's at the forward torpedos.
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