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Post by fots2 on Nov 1, 2010 13:52:29 GMT 8
Hi okla,
Thanks for the information. You guys certainly had some great toys to play with.
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Post by EXO on Nov 1, 2010 14:03:44 GMT 8
Contemplate this possibility:-
The war is over and the US is about to give Corregidor to the possession of Philippine Sovereignty. It does not wish -- for Reasons Diplomatique known only to the select few -- to be open to any suggestion that it may be supplying the new nation with operable weapons of such a size or value. Better to render the weapons absolutely unfireable, and in such a manner that they can be struck from any ordnance or accounting inventory. They are, in fact, rendered into scrap.
This scenario won't hold water if Crockett doesn't have similar damage. It's never dawned on me to check - trying to get to the truth of who is doing the scrapping can be a dangerous pastime in these regions.
It looks to me like the charges were simple placements, perhaps shaped charges, placed on top of the barrels, kept in place by the gravity of their own weight whilst the engineers took cover.
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Post by fots2 on Nov 1, 2010 14:44:12 GMT 8
I just checked, guns and spare barrels at other batteries do not have this type of damage.
Whatever the reason, I am glad that the barrels are still on Corregidor. The island would not be the same without them.
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Post by batteryboy on Nov 1, 2010 16:15:40 GMT 8
Contrary to the reports that the guns were "spiked" before the surrender, you will notice that a lot of the guns (except for the smaller caliber ones) were at least in serviceable conidtions when the Japanese took over the islands. Hearn was put back in firing condition by removing parts of Smith, Crockett had both guns in good condition despite claims that it was rendered unserviceaceble. Cheney and Wheeler suffered damages from aerial bombs and artillery hits in different parts but could be put back into action if proper attention was given. Even Grubbs, whose claims to have their barrels jumped out of the carriages were still mounted when the Japanese were inspecting the guns.
Why Wheeler had those in their barrels, we can keep on speculating.
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Post by EXO on Nov 1, 2010 16:37:27 GMT 8
Pssssss!
Did you hear that?
(The sound of the air out of the tires of my theory.)
You'd hope that people who have explosives this good would be a little bit more logical, eh?
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Post by JohnEakin on Nov 1, 2010 20:34:04 GMT 8
The plot thickens. <G>
Why would scrappers wish to burn holes in the barrels, especially near the breech and trunion? I'd think they'd be interested in making smaller pieces.
The photo looks like the hole was burned, and I can't imagine a torch big enough for that job. And an explosive would leave a different surface pattern and wouldn't go all the way through.
If it was thermite, a closer inspection - especially from the breech - should show "dripping" inside the barrel and perhaps below the exit hole. The presence of burn marks below the exit hole might indicate if the barrel was moved subsequent to the damage.
Frankly, considering the thickness of the metal, I can't even imagine a thermite grenade burning all the way through it. But if not something like thermite, why bother burning all the way through two layers of metal? Why bother with two holes in each barrel? If the object was to disable the gun, two holes all the way through was a bit of overkill.
Best,
John
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Post by fots2 on Nov 1, 2010 22:19:30 GMT 8
Hi John, Your feeling that a thermite grenade would not burn all the way through appears to be correct. I only have one photo of the inside of the barrel but NO top exit hole can be seen near the breech or further along at the trunion. A ways inside the barrel you can see some grey matter at the top but on zooming in, I see it is just spider webs. I have never actually looked how deep any of the six holes are. If scrappers did this then they were quite well equipped. Why try unsuccessfully the same way on three different barrels? Looking down the barrel near the wall. Photo taken from breech end. You ask some good questions. Another Corregidor mystery it seems.
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