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Post by okla on Jun 12, 2009 11:35:57 GMT 8
hey batts....thanks for setting me straight ala the lanyard thing on the big guns. i knew i could depend on you or one of the others at crunch time. it makes perfect sense in a electrical power failure situation to be able to "go manual". i should have figured there was a plan B. it would figure if a battleship/crusier/etc suffered a power outage that "getting the hell ouf of dodge" would take priority over firing the turrets manually. i wonder if i am correct on this point or ship gunners actually do "pull the string" if the juice should go off. what do you think or better yet...what do you know? ? thanks again for the update on my lack of knowledge on the lanyard thing. postscript...for some reason (i cant remember why) i did know that the mortars could be triggered by lanyard.
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Post by mgk1951 on Jun 12, 2009 14:08:02 GMT 8
Hi The video in the attached links is not of Corregidor, but it does illustrate 12" Mortars being fired electrically. Electrical firing was the more commonly used method. Firing was achieved by use of a magneto and electric primer. The magneto was attached to a bracket on the emplacement wall and away from the mortar. Firing the 12" Mortar with a safety lanyard was achieved with a friction primer and a lanyard, which "consists of a short Manila rope" (TM 9-456, October 17, 1942). There are other complementary videos of coastal artillery and associated plotting room at: The above youtube videos were posted by cdsgwebmaster. Regards mgk
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Post by okla on Jun 12, 2009 21:58:17 GMT 8
hey mgk....good stuff. thanks for posting. its amazing how much nitty gritty a person interested in the early 1942 saga of corregidor/bataan can pick up on this site. also amazing how many folks out there are of like mind as i am about this period of our military history.
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Post by The Phantom on Jun 13, 2009 3:39:33 GMT 8
Looking at the various photos I can't help but notice the differences in uniforms, lack of uniforms, and differences in hats, or "covers" as they may be called. I'm guessing those with white t-shirts on, are practicing with no one important watching. Although there is one picture with T shirts and formal hats that looks poised.
One photo shows all in full uniform, long sheave shirts no less. (do you know how hot that would be?) Could those be the old wool uniforms that all recruits were given no matter their world destination prewar? That picture is definitely a photo op..........
You can also notice a total lack of concern for ear drums in that time period. If you don't use your fingers, you have no protection from the tremendous blasts. what'd ya say?
So many types of "covers" in several of the photo's. Would have thought there was a regulation type? Some formal, some look like work detail models..........Any guesses as to types?
Love the pictures for all the history captured of the fellows regular life, to be studied, and understood. Good to have the facts from the master, batteryboy.
Can't believe nobody called me on the Men's room sign comment............
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Post by mgk1951 on Jun 13, 2009 14:07:15 GMT 8
Hi Matt
Here is the full description of your uncle's duties as a the Gunner on a 3" Anti-aircraft Gun M3. The description is taken from FM 4-125, Coast Artillery Field Manual, Antiaircraft Artillery: Service of the Piece, 3-inch Antiaircraft Gun, 1940. The FM covers the M1917 (all Marks) and M4 as well.
The duties read: Gunner:
Details, Post: The gunner procures a wiper of cotton waste and a can of oil: he places the wiper and oil in convenient place, removes the breech cover, assisted by No. 5 disposes of it at the designated place, and takes post to the right rear of the gun opposite and facing the breech.
(a) Examine Gun; (b) Report: (a) Assisted by No. 5, he examines, cleans, and oils the breech-block and breech mechanism, examines the chamber and bore and, if necessary, calls upon No. 1, 2, 3, and 5 for assistance in sponging and cleaning the chamber and bore. (b) He reports to the gun commander, "Breech in order" or reports any defects he is unable to remedy without delay.
Target: He opens the breech by bearing down on the breech handle until the breechblock is locked open and immediately raises the operating handle to its vertical position. He assumes a position facing the breech convenient for loading yet clear of the recoil with his feet well braced and the lanyard grasped in his right hand.
Commence Firing: As soon as the first round is placed in the loading position by No. 5 he rams the cartridge. As soon as the closing breech has knocked his left hand clear he fires the piece by pulling the lanyard with his right hand. He continues ramming and firing without shifting his position or releasing the lanyard. In case of misfire he calls, "Misfire" to the gun commander and keeps all canoneers clear of the breech while the prescribed safety precautions are taken.
(a) Suspend Firing; (b) Cease Firing (a) If an unfired round is in the gun he unloads it by bearing down on the operating handle as soon as No. 5 is ready to receive the cartridge, and remains at his post. (b) Same as Suspend Firing.
The Gunner wore a glove on the left hand and used his fist, in a vertical alignment to ram the cartidge. The semi-automatic breech closed pushing his hand clear of the breech block. This method was used to avoid catching the gunner's hand or fingers in the breech.
I hope the above is of interest. I'll scan the gun crew positions from the manual and post separately, but the image is not very clear.
Regards
mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Jun 13, 2009 14:28:36 GMT 8
Hi again Matt Here is the image from the FM. It's not the best, but gives the positions for comparison with other photos. G stands for Gunner; ES is Elevation Setter and FRS is Fuze Range Setter The other crew are numbered, however there is a AS Azimuth Setter seated in front of and hidden by FRS. Regards mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Jun 13, 2009 14:38:57 GMT 8
Hi okla
I've been a military buff since visiting the Farmborough Airshow, England in 1957, aged 5 1/2. The first major coastal defence establishment I visited was in Albany, Western Australia. A photo of one of the reinstalled guns forms my avatar at the left of this posting. The interest in the Defenses of Manila Bay is more recent. My pleasure to help and provide information where I can.
Regards
mgk
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Post by okla on Jun 13, 2009 23:01:24 GMT 8
hey mgk....keep the good stuff coming. only last evening i viewed on the History channel an interesting piece concerning the coastal/harbor defenses of Sydney, Australia. 6in pieces, casemated with all the trimmings (tunnels,etc). all ready for the japs who never came, but i gotta say, the aussies were ready. if memory serves, and it may not since i am close to 77 years of age, a japanese midget sub was sunk/beached/etc at sydney in 1942. maybe one of our gurus knows the complete facts on this. i am too lazy to search it out.
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Post by okla on Jun 13, 2009 23:14:41 GMT 8
hey phantom....i, too, was interested in the various uniforms, or lack thereof, displayed by the sweating, laboring gunners in the photos. lots of the blue fatigues that were standard issue. as you noted skivvy shirts were in vogue by many of the troops. i wonder if the "uniform of the day", depending on the scheduled activities, was trousers and skivvy tops. i have seen more than one photo of personnel in plot rooms of the big gun batteries where all concerned were wearing just the skivvy tops/trousers layout. i also have seen pics of plot room personnel with all wearing proper attire with neckties. now as to some of the views where every conceivable garb was displayed, i gotta think that the good colonel bunker was nowhere in the vicinity. gotta believe he would have demanded shoes to be "spit polished" and brass glistening. his type was and remains a sore spot with me. i served under an air force captain (regular USAF) who had been "passed over twice for promotion to major". he was on thin ice and was the ultimate "chicken dookie". gave me a DR at one time for an untied shoelace. i was a buck sergeant at time and certainly no stupid rookie, but he wrote me up just the same. not long before i shipped to korea (1952) the good captain was passed over for the third time. three strikes and you are out, so they say. being the vindictive soul that i was/am i derived great pleasure in seeing the captain pack his bags. i truly think i see a little of this type stuff in colonel bunker. again, i re-emphasize, colonel bunker may well have been an excellent combat commander. i will harp no more on the man. thanks for putting up with my rant.
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Post by mgk1951 on Jun 13, 2009 23:39:16 GMT 8
Hi okla
Three midget submarines were released from Japanese Submarine 1-21 to attack Sydney Harbour on the night of May 31st 1942. All three entered the harbour. Two were sunk and one escaped outside the harbour after sinking HMAS Kuttabul by torpedoes. The USS Chicago was one of the midgets targets. The midget that escaped Sydney Harbour was only found last year, not far out to sea.
After the midgets failed to return, 1-21 continued up the coast of New South Wales and on the night of 7-8th June 1942 exchanged fire with the two 6inch Mark VII Guns of Fort Scratchley at Newcastle. 1-21 fired repeatedly into the industrial area of Newcastle, then at one of Fort Scratchley's searchlights, before retiring to deeper waters and diving. The 6 inch guns probably bracketed around the submarine with the second firing.
Apparently, Fort Scratchley is the only Australian Mainland Coastal Fortification to have exchange fire with an enemy warship. The fort is preserved and still mounts two 6 inch guns.
Regards
mgk
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