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Post by The Phantom on Jan 4, 2009 7:18:33 GMT 8
Not a problem mapmaster. The condition of the mortar is amazing as an example of the Spanish type. I will do some research when there and visit it again. As to the trees I will be there soon to look for myself also. Maybe I can buy some wood carvings made from them at Tesoro's or some other handicraft store...........maybe a wooded cathedral or 2.
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Post by mapmaster on Jan 5, 2009 8:19:11 GMT 8
Hi This week, I was given a guided tour of the Fort of San Antonio Abad in Manila. This fort displays two Spanish cannon, which are probably the same or a similar model to those photographed just off North Dock, Corregidor. These cannon are 8" RML Cast by Sir W. G. Armstrong & Co. England. Both show some damage caused by machine gun fire and shell splinters. However, they are preserved and nicely displayed. This fort is situated in the grounds of the Central Bank of the Philippines via Roxas Boulevard. It is well worth a visit. It is possible to view from Monday to Saturday. Anyway, the above photograph displays the breech of these old Spanish cannon, which from a distance look somewhat similar to the US 12” Mortars. Regards mapmaster
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2009 10:47:41 GMT 8
I guess 'only the Phantom knows for sure' ;D I give up... I think you mean that "Only 'the Shadow' knows for sure.".. ;D
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Post by fots2 on Feb 9, 2009 11:00:14 GMT 8
He is the 'Phantom', not the 'Shadow'.
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Post by batteryboy on Mar 6, 2009 18:18:42 GMT 8
Alright, now just to muddle the water some more on the number of 12-inch mortars in Corregidor, I just found out that Battery Geary had a spare M1890 12-inch mortar tube. So that brings the total number of 12-inch tubes to a bakers dozen. Here is the breakdown:
Battery Way = four (4) 12-inch tubes still in place. Total = 4 Battery Geary - Pit A: two M1890 tubes still in place. two tubes scrapped by the Japanese. One found its way at North Dock and upon loading to the barge, it went straight thru the wooden floor and sank the barge with it. (as witnessed by the POWs who were loading it). The other tube made its way to the banks of the Pasig River. Total = 4 - Pit B : three (3) tubes in the battery: two by the left most magazine (one underneath), the other by the roadside. The fourth tube was blown to the left parapet where it remains today. Total =4
Plus the confirmed spare barrel (tube): that makes a total of thirteen (13) 12-inch mortar tubes.
There was a plan to transfer the M1908 mortars of Pit B of Battery Geary to Battery Way and transfer Ways M1890 to Geary so that Battery Geary would have standardized on M1890 for the two pits. This would allow them to have a standard fire control system, firing tables and materials and parts. However the plan was scrapped when the hospital was built near Battery Way.
FWIW, Tony
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Post by fots2 on Mar 9, 2009 21:21:31 GMT 8
That is good information Tony. Does the 13th tube still exist somewhere? I did see the other six tubes in the locations you mentioned. I spent a couple hours around Battery Geary three weeks ago. One thing I noticed that was a little unusual was graffiti scratched into one of the magazine walls dated May 21, 1942 (I was hir May 21, 1942 Galos Roger). Since that date is over two weeks after the US surrender, perhaps a US soldier on a Japanese clean-up detail left his mark. Does anyone know anything about that name? Now here is some useless trivia for everyone. How many 12” mortar shells are still at Battery Geary? Answer One stood up on display by the road in front of the destroyed centre magazine. One still in the tube of a mortar (north-west corner of Pit A) One in a rectangular hole in front of the magazine to the north of Pit A One near the tube under the collapsed roof of the magazine to the south of Pit B. There may be more I am not aware of. Photo of the 4th shell listed above. Note the green Swiss Army knife for size reference. John
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Post by batteryboy on Mar 11, 2009 15:40:33 GMT 8
John, the 13th mortar tube may have been scrapped. What is interesting about the 12-inch shell is the copper band on the base of the shell still exist! Usually these items are the first ones removed by the scrappers. 2nd to be removed would be the windscreen (upper half of the shell). Now that is an intact shell. Thanks for sharing
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Post by fots2 on Mar 13, 2009 16:26:11 GMT 8
Tony, does the upper half of a shell serve any other purpose than a windscreen? For the record, here are photos of all four shells at Battery Geary today. One stood up on display by the road in front of the destroyed centre magazine. One still in the tube of a mortar (north-west corner of Pit A) One in a rectangular hole in front of the magazine to the north of Pit A One near the tube under the collapsed roof of the magazine to the south of Pit B.
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Post by batteryboy on Mar 14, 2009 12:04:03 GMT 8
Hi John,
The shell on display outside the battery looks like the old deck piercing model but it can also be a "shot" shell, meaning it does not have any explosive but just cast steel to penetrate the wooden decks by its sheer weight.
I will need to confirm the loaded shell. This is one of those that had a flat cylindrical head in its nose.
The other rusted shell is an armour piercing shell.
And lastly the one with the intact copper band is most liklely a 670 HE shell. (but again, let me check)
When there was a shortage of HE shells (more suitable for land targets), Col Bunker instigated the use of "Chilean fuses" , this was to remove the delay pelet of the detonating fuse used in deck and armoured piercing shells (the had some explosive charges but not as much as HE shells) so that it can detonate upon impact t ground without burying themselves to deep in the ground.
Identifying shells can be tricky. Some look the same as HE and DP and can only distinguished by their original markings and colors.
Cheers,
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