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Post by fots2 on Jan 10, 2010 15:50:35 GMT 8
Interesting info there. Thanks for that.
What is an "automatic anchor" shown in Figure.14?
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Post by mgk1951 on Jan 10, 2010 19:19:00 GMT 8
Hi Fots2 The description of the automatic anchor is in the fourth paragraph of the latest post. Basically, instead of making up an anchor rope for each mine, the depth the buoyant mine was below the surface could be set into the mechanism of the mine anchor. The automatic anchor M1910 and later anchors were still in use in 1930. Pages from Manual of Submarine Mining - 1912: Regards mgk
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Post by fots2 on Jan 10, 2010 20:47:09 GMT 8
Whoops, sorry, too busy looking at the pictures I guess. Thanks for the extra info.
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Post by okla on Jan 11, 2010 0:45:48 GMT 8
Hey Fots....I was going over this thread for the second time since it was originally posted and upon viewing your pic of the USAMP Harrison my over-reactive Corregidor "geek" mind kicked into play once again with the question...."what was the ultimate fate of this vessel" ? Did she go south with other floating elements or was she scuttled along with remaining surface craft before Corregidor yielded to the Sons of Nippon? I really believe that these little nagging things that keep coming up will lead directly to my demise. Wife says it is some type of phobia or fetish that screams out for treatment. I reply, "bug off woman". She obviously is an infidel, a non believer in "the Rock" and its' power over people.
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Post by fots2 on Jan 11, 2010 1:22:26 GMT 8
Hi okla, I was not sure so I did a quick search. Here is some info and your answer. Wives just don’t understand these things… The US Army Mineplanter (USAMP) HARRISON was commissioned in 1919 and was named for General George Harrison, the first American governor of the Philippines. It maintained the minefield in the North Channel of Manila Bay (the Navy maintained the South Channel minefields from their base in Cavité), adding to the defenses of the much better-known "big guns" of Corregidor. Source of information: corregidor.org/chs_calmes/USAMP_Harrison.htmHarrison is mentioned among units cited for defense of the Philippines March 14 to April 9, 1942: "Citation of units in the United States Forces in the Philippines--As authorized by Executive Order 9075 (sec. II, Bull. 11, W.D., 1942), a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, is awarded to the following-named units" mentioning "detachments DS Army Mine Planter Harrison (American and Philippine Scouts)" She was captured, served in the Japanese Imperial Navy and was sunk by bombs in Yokosuka late in the war. Source of information: www.penfed.org/usawoa/WOHERITAGE/AMPS-Website-7Apr08.pdf
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Post by okla on Jan 11, 2010 9:12:07 GMT 8
Hey Fots....Thanks a bunch for coming up with the answer to my query about something that most folks would consider as having absolutely no significance (but we know that these type people don't know squat. Right? ) I have always been under the impression that all these small vessels, moored under the "big guns" of Corregidor, that hadn't already been sunk by Japanese bombs and bombardment from Bataan batteries, were scuttled by the Amer/Fil defenders to keep out of the hands of the enemy. I was wrong once again. What's new? ? Anyhow, I will request that Wife reads this new information, upon which time she finishes, I will inquire if she doesn't feel a sense of complete serenity and fulfillment. I can always count on you, Battery Boy, Phantom, EXO, Vic and other board gurus to keep me abreast of Corregidor/Bataan affairs. Thanks again.
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Post by mgk1951 on Jan 16, 2010 11:36:17 GMT 8
Earlier Mine PlantersPrior to the arrival of the USAMP Gen. George F. E. Harrison, mine planting operations were conducted by two vessels. These vessels were built in 1904 and would have been similar in appearance to the USAMP captured in the photograph below. The two mine planters left New York on 1st December 1908 and travelled via the Suez Canal, arriving in Manila Bay on 25th March 1909. The vessels' ports of call were Funchal, Madeira Islands; Gibraltar; Malta; Port Said; Aden, Southern Arabia; Bombay, India; Colombo, Ceylon; and Singapore. The two mine planters were the Col. Henry J. Hunt commanded by 1st Lieut. Maxwell Murray, Coast Artillery Corps and the Gen. Henry Knox commanded by 1st Lieut. Wm. E. Shedd, Jr., Coast Artillery Corps. Regards mgk
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Post by okla on Jan 17, 2010 1:17:06 GMT 8
Hey Mgk...Thanks for the additional info. The name, Maxwell Murray rang a bell in the back of my mind, so I did some Googling and methinks this is the same officer who was in command of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Dec 7, 1941. Betcha he would have been amazed, when he chugged into Manila Bay on that mineplanter, had he known that he would be a witness to the Pearl Harbor attack years later.
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Post by mgk1951 on Jan 17, 2010 17:01:45 GMT 8
Hi okla
Yes, it could be the same Maxwell Murray, the time frame is about right.
Of the USAMP Commanders, Major Frank S. Clark C.A.C. wrote in The Coast Artillery Journal, September 1929: "In those happy days, when officers were assigned by the War Department direct to organizations, the assignment to a mine company was the hall-mark of distinction, and to be a mine planter commander was to be recognized as one of the fair-haired boys of the future".
Given the above comments, the feat of sailing mine planters from New York to Manila Bay would have assured both 1st Lieut. Maxwell Murray and 1st Lieut. Wm. E. Shedd, Jr a strong pathway to promotion.
Regards
mgk
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Post by mgk1951 on Jan 31, 2010 10:48:37 GMT 8
Handling mines ashoreMines were stored ashore as a empty case without fuze. The process for delivery of loaded and primed mines to the US Army Mine Planter was as follows: - Mine cases are loaded onto a rail trolley at the Torpedo Storhouse. The trolley usually handled a number of mines in an upright although inverted position.
- The trolley was then pushed to the loading room where boxes of TNT were poured into the mine case. TNT was stored in 50lb boxes in a magazine. Some loading rooms had a hopper for loading mines.
- The trolley was then pushed to an assembly room where the fuze would be installed. Fuzes were installed into the loaded mine case away from the loading room in case of accidents.
- The loaded mines were then pushed into or alongside the Cable Tank Room where the mine was lifted into a tank of water for testing. The test usually took place after the mine has been in the testing tank for 2 hours. The test was for the operation of the circuitry of the mine plug.
- Also tested in the Cable Tank Room are the cables used to connect from the shore to the Distribution Box for each group of 19 mines. The cable from the Distribution Box to each mine was tested in the tank also.
- The loaded and tested mine, mine cables, mooring ropes, mine anchors, distribution box and floats then make their way to the mine wharf ready for loading onto the mine planter.
Diagram of the testing procedure for Submarine Cable Testing - 1912 Next episode will be on the Mine Casemate. Regards mgk
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