The April Coffee 'n Tea Thing - No Foolin'

[Major 2]

Ditto

I am following the plight of the USS Olympia in hopes they will preserve and display her properly.
She is the last of the US Navy's Spanish-American War fleet.

[Major E A Sterner]

Mornin Y'all, Coffee and Hot water are on ,Going to a shoot,Have a good one.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Hit some for me, Major

35 and sun here

Gotta go out in a bit and take care of the kingdom, then wrestle with the drain hose of the new washer. It's being a PITA.

Had to go out twice yesterday evening, complaints of a huge dog loose in the park( Mastiff type), and then we had some kids fooling around in the RV area.

M2, I've seen some photos of PT's being burned on beaches in the Phillipines at one point. Been a few years, though


Del, My shooting partner(RIP) swore by those 300's. He had at least three of them that I can remember including his last truck

[Major 2]

Thank you for the Joe... 69° now we'll see 90 ° today

[Texas Lawdog]

Thanks for the Cawffee this morning. We are expecting nasty weather in the next 24-48 hours, it should get interesting tonight. I have been to the Nimintz Museum several times, but not lately.  I would like to see the PT boat.

[Arcey]

Mornin'.

Lookin' at sixty sumthin' 'n clear. Right nice. Guessers sayn' the rains should be here in time ta mess up Thursday's OFSDAR thing. Rats.

Thanks for the thought, Maj, 'n the info, Buck.

Already got the housewife stuff goin'. Wanna get that out the way 'n go out ta enjoy the weather. Ain't been ta the CG inna few days. Seein' I missed an eagle 'dog fight' twix HK (top, white tail) 'n a dirty bird a couple days ago.



Aquainted with Jim, 'nuff ta be ok with postin' an image of his ever now 'n again.

[Texas Lawdog]

The girls are sleeping in the back and I have the Cawffee all to my self. It is going to be a two pot morning. The wind is blowing a little, but it is still somewhat humid this morning. No breakfast until the girls get up.

[Delmonico]

Andrew Jackson Higgins was some what of a local boy, born in Columbus about a hour NW of here.   

[Blair]

Buck,

It is my understanding that because of the wooden hull construction of the PT and a lot of the American made Landing Craft, the Navy decided they would not hold up well in Moth Ball storage like a steel hulled boat.
Many were burned like the photos you have seen. Some were left to rot away and others were given to the Country nearest to where they were being used.
My best,
Blair

[Silver Creek Slim]

Morning y'all.
Thanks fer the coffee, Major.

Signed a contract yesterday for a mound septic system. The soil here failed the perc test for a conventional system. Difference in price is $5K and $14K.  The current leach field is pooling above ground. 

Rained overnight.
'Tis 37 and overcast. "
Blustery. Light rain likely in the morning...then rain showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. East wind 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent."

Slim

[Major 2]

Due to Marine Growth on the hulls, rampant in the S. Pacific islands, the boats were slowed greatly.
Design and powered to run 42-43 knots wide open, they could not meet the speed.
Many could not even out run Japanese destroyers.
Most were stripped, and just the hulls were burned at wars end. High Maintenance, condition and logistic's being the main reasons to not send them home. 
   

At 45.5 Knots, Elco was the swiftest in trials, ( thought the Huckins in the same trials proved more maneuverable and smoother at plane )

Another misconception was the construction said to be ply-wood , was in fact mahogany planking laid diagonally with early an forerunner to Silastic impregnated duck layer between inner & outer diagonal planks fastened over Ribs  with brass or bronze screws.

[Texas Lawdog]

"They Were Expendable" is one of my favorite war pictures.

[The Trinity Kid]

Morning y'all.

The whole Naval ship thing bothers me.    Especially the USS Forrestal.   Oh well, that's why I'm going in the Air Force, though they are doing stupid things involving A-10s and F-35s...  Bureaucracy is that way, I suppose.  (steps down from soapbox)

Have church this morning, then afterwards going to grandma's house(grandma is not there anymore   )  to deliver some dog food, and maybe pop off a couple .45s.  Uncle needs to keep busy somehow.

--TK

[Blair]

Lawdog,

One of my favorites too. And it don't hurt that it is a John Wayne flick either.

There are several very good documentaries on the History and evolution of the Small Surface Attack Boats that we have come to know as the PT or "Motor Torpedo Boat".
As I am viewing some of these older US Navy documentaries, I'll try to remember to write down the listings and post them here.

It is kind of sad to see just how "Expendable" some of these thing in Military Service were!

There seems to be enough interest in this subject to perhaps start another topic. Similar to the subject under this thread known as "Aircraft"?
My best,
Blair

[Major 2]

If you built it , they will come 

I'll be there anyway 

PT's or MTB's , Mosquito Boats Squadrons, PBR's and Swift Boats are a passion for me....

I have number of Books about WW II service, and some Brown Water Navy,  Alpha boats PBR's & Swifts 

[Texas Lawdog]

I have a friend from College that served a couple of tours in the "Brown Water Navy".

[Blair]

Major 2,

I am not sure if I can post contact info for some of these documentaries on this forum.
If it is ok by you, I will see if I can send you the info by e-mail. Perhaps, this will work out better? I don't know?
I am watching a documentary on WWII Sub War fair at this time... trying to find a way to get back into the PT documentaries I mentioned.
We can see if I can e-mail the WWII Sub documentary on to you?

I actually like this WWII Naval War fair stuff a lot. I tend to focus on Naval Air, because that is what my job/Rating was during my stay in the Navy, Aviation Ordnance. (1969 to 1973)
My original Squadron was commissioned on Jan.10 1942 as VT-4. Torpedo Squadron-4 stationed aboard CV-4, USS Ranger.
My best,
Blair

[Texas Lawdog]

My first love is restoring and maintaining WW2 Combat Air Craft. I am a Life Member of the CAF and I am an active member.  My Dad was a pilot in WW2, he served with the 12th AF, serving in North Africa and the entire Med area. His outfit was the reorganized Tokyo Raider outfit. He is the main reason that I joined the CAF.

[Major E A Sterner]

Hit some for me, Major

Buck, I was doing great but ended up with 1 miss because of a squib in 2nd pistol on stage 4... I didn't think fast enough to pull 1st pistol out after grounding the other one and loading 1 round to make up for the miss.

[Texas Lawdog]

You still did Purdy good.