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Post by batteryboy on Sept 6, 2008 18:30:25 GMT 8
Drill at Battery Geary. Pit A with 12-inch M1890 Mortars. Pit B with M1908 12-inch mortars manned by Philippine Scouts during a live practice fire.
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Post by fots2 on Sept 7, 2008 0:14:35 GMT 8
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 7, 2008 6:18:12 GMT 8
Yup, already have them but thanks for posting them so that our other members and guest can see them. Interesting is the artist rendition of the direct hit that smashed Geary in May of 1942. The penetration of the 240mm shell was said to be at the weakend wall of the central magazine, rather than on top of the earth covered cement roof which the artist depicted.
The Getty images show the crew on a "drill". Notice the 12-inch practice shell on the cart. In drill practice, the crew would do all the normal routine in preparing and loading the mortar with the practice shell, then inside the 12-inch barrel is a sub caliber gun with an adapter to fit inside. (either a 37mm gun or sometimes even of lower caliber). Then when the order is given to pull the lanyard, it fires the subcaliber gun inside.
Reason for using a subcaliber gun is to save the barrel from wear and tear in normal live fire. Barrel life is up to 200 rounds - 250 rounds and to reline them would mean sending them back all the way to the US.
Battery Geary at one point in time was almost divided to be two (2) separate tactical batteries with Pit A and Pit B covering different fire zones.
Regards,
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 7, 2008 6:48:57 GMT 8
Here are additional pics at Geary: Pit A mortars with protective tarps. Delivering ammo to the battery. Clipped from a documentary video. (above and below) Captured from a Japanese documentary reel: Regards,
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Post by fots2 on Sept 7, 2008 8:19:05 GMT 8
Thanks for the information and photos Tony. picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/OL57xM3i8gSJkTltw-_UTw"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/malintahill/SMMbh8-fVoI/AAAAAAAADwg/BKiJHBo7X8I/s800/Battery%20Geary%207%20US%20patrol%201945.jpg (US patrol walking through Battery Geary) I was just wondering, if the life of a barrel life is 200 rounds - 250 rounds, why do we not see any spare mortar barrels like there are for the big guns?
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 17, 2008 11:17:22 GMT 8
Yup you are right and its also one questions that lingers in my mind that how come we cant find any spare mortar tubes. The life expectancy of mortar barrels could even be more. Why? because the muzzle velocity to fire the shell from a mortar is not as much like the long range seacoast guns.
FWIW,
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Post by chadhill on Sept 11, 2010 11:12:09 GMT 8
Here is Battery Geary, as it appeared in 1985.
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Post by okla on Sept 11, 2010 23:12:36 GMT 8
Hey Guys....Again, this is good stuff. Thanks for posting, especially the technical goodies concerning the actual firing of these monsters. Cheers.
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Post by chadhill on Oct 30, 2010 7:58:19 GMT 8
I came across this photo in "Philippine Expeditionary Force", by Gasei, published by the Japanese in occupied Manila, 1943. The caption is in Japanese, so I am guessing this 12" M1890 mortar must have been at Battery Geary and buried when the center magazine blew up, rather than at Battery Way when it was hit. Does anyone know which battery this mortar belonged to? Thanks, Chad
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Post by batteryboy on Oct 30, 2010 8:20:50 GMT 8
Its from Geary, Pit A.
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