Wacht am Rhein The photo above shows Lt. Gen, George S. Patton Jr., (right) chats with Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe and Lt. Col. Steve Chappuis (center), after awarding them both the US Army Distinguished Service Cross for their defense of Bastogne. Note the front entry of the Chateau Rolle in the backdrop with that typical white window frame, as still exists. According to the book, General Patton was very pleased to come over to the chateau and saw the charred remains of the German Tanks that were knocked out by the 101st Airborne Division during the attack on this US Army Command Post on Christmas Day 1944. (photo taken by Capt. Joseph Pangerl, December 30, 1944).
Note Note the round base for the starboard torpedo tubes adjacent to the aft director. Both sets of tubes were jettisoned; you can imagine they were anxious to get rid of excess weight!
Just curious. Do you have a source for that? The Damage Report only mentions the starboard mount being jettisoned. As well as a good quantity of ammunition, some fuel and 20 cases of potatoes.
The photo was taken sometime during 5 November, 1944, as the Zuni is alongside assisting with dewatering operations - so about 36 hours after torpedoing. The ship would be repaired and upgraded, which lasted until very early October, 1945. About 11 months since torpedoinh.
A sentence in Friedman's cruiser book is a bit ambiguous: "In December 1944 the captain of the USS Reno argued that the tubes jettisoned after battle damage should be replaced by two quadruple 40mm guns..." I assumed that meant both sets of tubes had been jettisoned at the time. Thanks for the correction.
The top aircraft is Thunder Mug 42-40246. All 4 aircraft were survivors of the August 1,1943 Operation TIDAL WAVE mission to Ploesti. Joisey Bounce was originally named UTAH MAN.
Here's a picture of the port side showing the 40's and tube mounts. I'll let you guy's figure what's what Looks like a pile of ruble to me. Well that didn't work as planned: CONTENTdm Hot Da@# the link does work.
Because it is a pile of rubble. The torpedo explosion tossed the #6 40mm mount on top of the port torpedo mount. Parts of the #6 40mm wreckage were cutoff a tossed overboard.
Thanks for the source. As the available photos of the port side seem to show the tubes still there, but in the photos at Ulithi they are gone. I had always presumed the port torpedo mount was removed at Ulithi.
Ahh...I Downloaded from the blue box at top of page & it was .pdf. just checked from phone and the image is a .png, but 1.03mb
I plan on going back through the USNA site to see what other goodies they have for download. Also want to compare damage reports to see if USNA's are better quality than those i grabbed off the old USN Damage Control website that is long gone(renamed and reconstructed, but the damage reports were left out)
I'll see your Vespa and raise you one Willys ! The M38A1C carried a 106mm recoilless rifle and had a special windshield to accommodate it.
75 Squadron has a Magpie as its unit squadron symbol - "Seek and Strike" There are two reasons why THIS is my squadron. 1. Because its based in Katherine and Darwin and will be the first the enemy sees of Australia in a war. 2. Because my beloved AFL Collingwood is also called the Magpies and shares the same insignia. 75 Squadron has painted it's "steeds" I suggested to the RAAF web site that they make these hornets the new precision team for Australia...