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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
wet boat basin
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A look inside Elco's wet boat basin where the boats would be towed to this area to complete sub assembly. Items such as ammo boxes, weapons systems, torpedo racks and other assembly would be done here. By having this wet boat basin it would free up the main assembly area of Building 21. Notice the large over-head doors which were mainly kept closed. This wet boat basin was heated in the cold winter months. Up to 6 boats could be worked on in here. After completion in the wet boat basin the boats were taken to the boat basin in front of Building 21 for dock side start up
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 7, 2021 - 1:27pm
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Thanks Frank, for posting this image. I can't remember seeing this particular shot. Keep them coming. Your library is vast!
Dick . . .
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Mar 8, 2021 - 11:43am
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
Thanks Dick I sure will
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 9, 2021 - 6:13am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
I love that shot, thanks Frank. It shows some of the last Elco 80's to have the Mod 0 version of the Mark 17 .50 twin mount. You can tell them by the ring above the top of the turret that is slightly less in diameter than the top of the turret. There is little in the way of references for the Mod 0 mount so I was very happy when someone I was recently discussing the Mod changes with discovered a Higgins turret drawing (courtesy of Dick Washichek) that laid out the dimensions for the brake ring. The discoverer is none other than world famous author, good guy, and interesting man of the world Frank D Johnson.
I've noticed that the later brake rings have a generous radius at the bottom edge so it appears to have gone through a modification itself:
Frank also noticed that the brake ring appears in an Elco turret bracket drawing, again courtesy of Dick:
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 9, 2021 - 6:58am
Total Posts: 2203 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Good eye Jeff.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 9, 2021 - 10:42am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Looks like overhead steam heaters with blowers in the ceiling.
Former crew member of the Big Blue Sightseer ex-PT 486
Posted By: Gerry McGovern | Posted on: Mar 16, 2021 - 5:52am
Total Posts: 81 | Joined: Oct 7, 2016 - 1:47pm
Your correct they had heat blowers for the cold winter months
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 18, 2021 - 5:49am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
At first when I read Gerry’s comments, the “Dyslexic” me, only read heaters and my thought went immediately to the Elco heaters on the 80-foot boats, aft of the day-room starboard of the engine room hatch. My thought ended with, we have had very little comment on them (even though, part of the original design) other than being removed for the boats going to the Pacific.
Thanks for the photo Frank.
Dick . . .
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Mar 19, 2021 - 2:10pm
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
One interesting bit about the boat heaters is that PT 103-162 boats were designed to use the forward sections of the throttle rod covers as a duct from the heater to the supply duct. I'd guess this is why the forward sections were taller on these early 80' boats:
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Mar 20, 2021 - 8:12am
Total Posts: 2203 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Your welcome Dick. I always loved this photo of the boats in the wet boat basin. It is the only one that I have ever seen.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 20, 2021 - 9:39am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am