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Post by chadhill on Sept 6, 2012 0:49:59 GMT 8
Fots, where on the hill is the uncovered pad and ring? Could the pom-pom gun....?  |
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Post by oozlefinch on Sept 6, 2012 12:16:52 GMT 8
OKLA - There was a good road up the east side of the hill that started just west of RJ-43. In '87 I climbed up the NW side of the hill from Bottomside. Watta trek. In '89 I found the road & saved myself a lot of trouble. At that time it was in pretty good shape - just a few trees down on the road. Today there are a lot of washouts, but still the easiest way up to the top.
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Post by oozlefinch on Sept 6, 2012 12:18:30 GMT 8
FOTS - Do you think the pad would have been thick enough and strong enough to support the 1.1"?
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Post by fots2 on Sept 6, 2012 14:22:41 GMT 8
Chad,
I wish the uncovered pad and ring was near where the 1.1” Pom Pom was located. To find the uncovered pad, start at EG-IV-3 and walk a few paces north. (stop at the point where your next step may be your last!). At your 2:00 position about 2/3 down the hillside is the uncovered gun position. (i.e. about 2/3 the way down the hill between the top of Malinta Hill and the North Shore Road below.) You cannot see it from the top of the hill.
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Post by fots2 on Sept 6, 2012 14:23:52 GMT 8
oozlefinch,
Honestly I am not qualified answer that question. The bases of the concrete pads are buried so I do not know how thick they are. From the photos, the 1.1” Pom Pom looks to be a monster and very heavy. Dead weight is one thing but I expect recoil vibration from four guns would be an issue too.
However, having to set up the gun quickly under wartime conditions and having a ready-made concrete pad seems like an ideal thing to me.
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Post by okla on Sept 6, 2012 22:14:59 GMT 8
Hey Oozle....Many thanks for updating me in regard to the Malinta Hill road. I figured there must have been some route used to "muscle" that stuff to the upper areas. It still must have taken some hefty lifting, etc. in just getting things in place and "set up" after the traverse up the incline. Thanks again for the pertinent poop. Cheers.
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Post by fots2 on Sept 10, 2012 13:40:13 GMT 8
While looking for something else I came across a photo that you may be interested in. I assume it was taken in 1942 by the Japanese. The westward view shows a 75mm gun on top of Malinta Hill. We are looking down onto Bottomside north. The shadow on the gun tells me it is sitting under the gun shelter that we have been discussing lately. oozlefinch, notice the rounded concrete pad that the gun is positioned on.  |
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Post by okla on Sept 11, 2012 2:24:58 GMT 8
Hey Fots....I sure am not any type authority on, especially World War 1 ordnance, but something looks askew with the muzzle of this .75. Is that some sort of 'plug" in the barrel? It looks akin to a Gatling Gun, but that isn't possible. What gives??? |
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Post by armyjunk on Sept 11, 2012 5:36:03 GMT 8
Okla, this is the 75-mm Gun Model of 1917 the tube is on the bottom, recoil on top...909 procured in 1917-1919 but none saw combat in World War 1. Saw limited service in the U.S. Army after World War I and combat use in the Philippines in 1941-1942.  |
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Post by pdh54 on Sept 11, 2012 6:20:54 GMT 8
Okla, Here is another picture of the 75mm M1917  Patty |
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