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Post by batteryboy on Sept 19, 2008 13:59:43 GMT 8
Who is this guy anyway?
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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 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 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 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 batteryboy on Sept 5, 2008 11:40:25 GMT 8
Tom,
Battery G, 59th CA was assigned at Caballo Island (Fort Hughes) during the siege. It may be possible that they were brought back as POWs to Corregidor after the surrender.
Regards, Tony
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 1, 2008 21:24:09 GMT 8
Since the topic also involves early aviation in Manila, here are a few photos that maybe of interest: The first Filipino passenger in an aircraft was an Igorot Chieftain named "Gagaban". This happened in Feb. 12, 1912 when the pilot Lee Hammond offered to take the chieftain aloft in a Red Devil bi-plane over Luneta Park during the Manila Carnival of the same year. Two photos of a Curtiss Seagull on the beach at Tambo, Paranaque about to take in the waters of Manila Bay. Regards,
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 1, 2008 20:57:15 GMT 8
Here is a picture of the old Baloon Hangar ...and in 2000, we found the remains of the hangar. Only the concrete "H" beams remain. You can see the "H" beams on the sides of the opening of the hangar. FWIW,
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 1, 2008 20:51:55 GMT 8
Here's a photo of Battery Koehler during the retaking in 1945 Cheers,
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Post by batteryboy on Sept 1, 2008 14:54:59 GMT 8
Fort Frank played a key role in counter battery fire against Japanese artillery position in Cavite but in return was aslo one of the favorite targets of the Japanese. Since batteries Crofton and Greer were facing seaward, the fort had to rely on the eight (8) 12-inch M1908 mortars and the the four (4) 155mm GPFs of Battery Frank North and a few 75mm field guns. to fire back at the Japanese. The Japanese sent 10 of their 240mm howitzers to Maragondon - Halag and Bo. Sapang areas and bombarded Forts Frank, Drum Hughes and Mills. Frank got a terrible beating but still they fired back.
When Bataan fell in April, the 240mm howitzers were then transferred to the peninsula to be used for Corregidor but Frank still got fire from Japanese 150mm guns, howitzer and few more smaller caliber guns, still the Mortars of Battery Koehler fired back together with the 155mms. Just before the surrender of Corregidor, on May 5, Battery Crofton's 14-inch gun repaired from spares from Battery Greer, fired against Japanese batteries in Bataan as a final act of defiance against the Japanese.
Will post a little more information and photos later on.
Cheers,
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