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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: 40mm Crew Positions
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Hi All,

Trying to find either a reference, or information concerning the position names of the various 40mm mount crew members, and in particular, which seat (left or right) was the Pointer and which seat was called the Trainer. Looking for the assistance in order to verify PT195 crew members in one of those tiny snap shot photos (spotter and 1st loader were easy ones , but the left and right seat...not so much...). The photo is annotated on the back and leads me to believe by the order written, that the right seat is the pointer and the left the trainer, but I want to make sure.

Thanks!
Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 8:30am
Total Posts: 267 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

TM9-252, the tech manual for the single 40mm, puts the elevating gear on the left and the traversing gear on the right. In naval terms, this would put the pointer on the left and the trainer on the right

Al Ross.

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 11:17am
Total Posts: 994 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Thanks Al!

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 11:29am
Total Posts: 267 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Guess I should have said "Thanks for the Pointer!" - it's a rainy Saturday.....

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 11:35am
Total Posts: 267 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

I always remembered PT = Pointer/Trainer, left to right.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 1:54pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Using the 40mm Bofors cannon aboard PT658 as a guide and the TM-9-252 as a guide, this is how I tell people how the gun is manned. The Pointer, who sits on the Left side of the gun, Elevates and lowers the barrel (he also controls the foot trigger to fire the gun, and is usually the unofficial "gun captain"). The Pointers gunsight looks like a Spider web. The Trainer, sitting on the right side of the gun, traverses the barrel side to side. (His sights are the 3 vertical bars). The First Loader, standing on the platform just behind the pointer, and beside loading the 4 round clips, also operates the Charging Lever and Select Fire Switch. The Second Loader usually carries more Clips to the First Loader as soon as the Ready Service Ammunition hanging on the Railing is expended. So it is normally crewed by 4 men.
Jerry

Master Chief Jack Duncan PT103 and family manning the 40mm

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/IMG_1583.jpg[/image]

Pointer is Marlene on Left of gun, Jack is Trainer on Right side of gun, Daughter Jill is 1st Loader
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/IMG_1584.jpg[/image]

Marlene is Pointer, notice foot trigger and spider sight
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/IMG_1587.jpg[/image]

Jack is trainer notice the vertical sight bars
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20G%20PT658/IMG_1585.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Oct 11, 2014 - 5:25pm
Total Posts: 1498 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm