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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: 2 men
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did any notice that a lot of the photos showing the 20 mm only shows the guy firing it?it took two to man it.one to fire it and one to place the ammio magazine onit .my first gq position was a loader.my first night aboard we went on patrol and i was assigned then to be a loader.i had to be taught on the job,so to speak.i learned fast and had tje barrel red hot,all three boats in the patrol were bracked by guns firing ftrom the beach,.it was so bad we had to open the smoke generator to cover for dthhe two boatts behind us.we got thru it ok.just wanted to memntion the

ther"guy on th e 20mm earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 6:40am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

THANKS EARL.

I BET IT WAS HARD LIFTING THOSE 20mm AMMO DRUMS UP AND ONTO THAT GUN IN THE TURRET?

WHERE DID YOU STAND TO LOAD THE GUN?

CHEERS

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 8:33am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I have one of those 20mm Canisters, which I think hold 60 rounds. It is heavy enough without any shells inside. I bet those things when full weighed at least 40-60 pounds............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 8:48am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

peter tare/the 20 mm were not in turrets.they were on mounts.i do not know ther weight ofm the magazines.never really thought about it.i think ours were loaded with .every three sjopts, tracer/amour peircing and explosive.in that order.the magAzine chest held three magAzines.you lifted the magazine out by a handkle on it/swung it up in the air and brought it down,.at an amngle, to slizde into the slot made for it on top of thhe bArrell.inn my case i srtood on ther right hAnd side of the gun.there was also a metal tube on the side of tje mount to slizde a red hot barrrwel iinroto if it got glowing too hot.we only hAd a very short tiime to twist ther jot barrel off /and drop it into the tube of water to coolit off.by glowing hot the barrel was a beacon for tyhe japanese gunners to sight in on.we haS A SPARE BARREL NEEARBY TO REPLACE THE ONE REMOVED.WE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A BARREL TO MY M,EMORY.WE ALSO HAD HOT" GLOVES TO USE IN THER PROCEEDURE.bow that you mention it they were heavy.ummmmmm.never tyhought of that.just picked up the used one on the gun/picked up tje replacvement one and dtopperd it in tyhe barrell.dropped tjhe used one on the deck and placed it back into the deck chect after gq.
hravy ?? oh well justt part of the job/i was just curioou
at one time therre was no retaining rail to stop the gun from completing a complete circle.i heard that once a gun kkepty firing all the wauy around and sjhot a skippers head off.romour or ttruth/don,t know.anyjhow the added the stop raail to keep som,ething llike that from happening.i think tjhe 20 mm only turned to stop prior to reaching the twin fifties on the sode of the cockpit.lTER I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TWIN FIFTIES ON THE SIDE OF THE COCKKPIT.NOPE/DIODNB,T SHOOT ANYONES HEAD OFF/JUST A ROUTINE RE ASSIGNMENT

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 11:41am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

THANKS EARL.

YOUR INSIGHTS ARE VERY PRECIOUS TO THOSE OF US WHO WERE NOT THERE BUT WHO STILL LOVE THOSE BOATS.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE POSTED NEAR A TURRET MOUNTED 20mm WHERE THE 20mm HAD REPLACED THE TWIN .50s. THAT IS WHY I SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN HARD TO LIFT THE MAGAZINE THAT HIGH. THEN AGAIN, IN COMBAT ADRENILINE GIVES ONE A LOT OF NEEDED EXTRA STRENGTH.

CHEERS FROM PETER

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 12:06pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Great stuff, Earl. The personal recollections are priceless.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Feb 23, 2013 - 2:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered