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Post by roland1369 on Oct 28, 2015 14:32:41 GMT 8
i failed to elaborate in the descriptiom of the subcaliber and excaliber reasons for the lack of breech rings and blocks on the tubes. The 1 pounder used in the 6 tru 14 inch disappearing guns and the 75 MM M1916MIIA1 utilized in the 14 inch M 1910Mi gun, as well as the 75 mm tube used in the 12 inch mortars utilized a cartridge case which did not use a percussion primer but one which was activated by the standard seacoast primer in the firing mechanism of the parent guns breechblock This breech block, breech plug in US Coast Artillery nomenclature, became the breech block and firing mechanism of the subcaliber weapon. The exception of ccourse was the excaliber weapon of the 12 inch M1917 barbette carriage which had its own recoil system, breech ring,breech block, and firing system. Its ammunition was percussion fired. The most likely candidates for the subcaliber weapons mounted on the 50 caliber mounts for beach defense would be the 37mm subcaliber gun M1916 mounted above the tube on an M1 subcaliber mount om the 155 MM M1918 GPF, an on an M5 subcaliber on the M 1917 field guns also used for beach defense on Corregidor. As These excaliber guns each had a recoil system, breech ring, breech block, and a relatively low muzzle velocity of 1276 fps and a low weight of 88 pounds a modified 50 caliber mount could handle it. As the standard 37 MM M1916 gun on the wheeled carriage was in use in the Philippines at the time standard HE was available in quantity. Please note that in my previous post It stated the the 75 MM subcaliber was used with the M1906 gun. The correct use was with the M1910 MI. My error, the pitfalls of relying on a 69 year ageing memory.
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Post by roland1369 on Oct 24, 2015 23:42:35 GMT 8
Great article. I would correct some erroneous info from page 1 The 12 inch mortars used a 75 mm sub-caliber tube which was a slightly modified 2.95 inch mountain howitzer barrel as used in the Phillipines. The 37 MM or 1 pounder subcaliber was used in the 6,10,12, and 14 inch M 1910 disappearing guns. The 12 inch M 1917 barbette guns of Batteries Smith and Hearn used an excaliber weapon of 75 MM which was mounted above the gun. This tube was a modified 75 MM m1916 field gun. One of these 75 MM subcaliber tubes is on display at the coast guard station on Corregidor. The 2 M1907 14 inch disappearing guns used a 75 MM tube M1916MIIA1 which was also a slightly modified M1916 field gun barrel. All of the projectiles fired from these were solid shot and contained no explosive or fuze. The reason for the shift to 75 MM was a constant complaint about the splashes of the 37 mm being to small to spot. One thing which I have noted is a reference to adapting the i pounder subcaliber tubes to beach defense by mounting them on .50 browning MG tripods. I find this questionable as the 1 pounder subcaliber had no breech ring or breechblock. In order to make use of them they would have had to fabricate both. The same would hold true about the 75 MM as well as a more substantial carriage.
In addition I want to thank Karl for his generous and knowledgeable help during the last CDSG tour.
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Post by roland1369 on Oct 22, 2015 9:16:46 GMT 8
Karl, what I have always found interesting about the Pasig river photo is the smaller gun next to it. The recoil cylinders, barrel, and elevating rack look like the upper portion of the US 3 inch AA gun m 1918. As I have seen a document listing a secondary assignment of one of the Disappearing Batteries as these guns as late as early 1941 there is a good possibility that they were still present in the Phillipines and at least some were captured by the Japanese.
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Post by roland1369 on Jul 21, 2015 22:07:11 GMT 8
I just joined your excellent organization. I have been a member of the Coast Defense Study Group since 1986 and have published several articles in their Journal on CD Radar, the Armament of Fort Drum, and Coast artillery Subcaliber training weapons. I visited Corregidor on the CDSG 20014 tour where I became aquainted with Karl and several of your members. I am one of the "teckies" of the group and have assembled documentation and a fair knowledge of the technical aspects of the weapons and fire control operations of the service and would be glad to assist in answering technical questions.
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