Wanted: Naval Gun

[Vince Brennan]

This is a pretty savvy bunch, so I'll ask this here.

Anyone have a line on a small item we need for Tamaroa's (http://www.tamaroa.org) re-fitting back to her 1943 equipment and profile... a minor item but a major di-fu-cul-tie:

A 3"/50 deck gun w/ or w/o deck mounting, from MK18 thru MK22. (Check the attic.)

We had a line on one but the owners (a VFW post that shall remain nameless) decided that they'd rather keep it as the birds had become accustomed to roosting in the muzzle and they didn't want to disturb them.

We'd pick it up - I really don't think that a commercial trucker would have much of a sense of humour about THAT bill of lading, especially given today's atmosphere, but we can come and get it (unless it's in Australia, of course).

OK... that HAS to quaify for "one of the year's strangest", but if any group knows, it's probably youse lot, innit?

In addition to that, ANY gear you may have gathering dust - dewatering pumps, helmets, shackles, "you-name-its" and et-ceteras would be most gratefully received. We have a small "war-chest" to cover such things but live on donations. (One nice person sent us some brass "awning hooks" that had completely stumped him as to what they were.... we knew, and we'll be using them this summer!)

Tamaroa will be homeported in West Point VA (just east of Richmond) as soon as we get Coast Guard clearance for the move down from Baltimore and will be a "living history" museum similar to the USS New Jersey and USS Alabama.

[Rick_NJ]

I would recommend checking with the US Navy's Historical Branch. They are the ones in charge of lending ships out to museums and related hardware.

Equipment in front of VFW's is on loan and is checked regularly by the historical branches of the military for its wearabouts. Its a major issue for a VFW to dispose of equipment with out prior approval from the controling authority(think jail time).

The Navy is going to have something similar to the US Army regulation 870-20. http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r870_20.pdf. which regulates control and loan of these types of items.

Rick

[Phillip Allen]

I know where a 3" 38 open mount is sitting...in a junk yard

[paladin]

Phillip...got any idea how much it weighs?......if it's the right item...and could it fit on a flatbed trailer to be towed by a F-250 ford truck....diesel...

[Thorne]

You can try contacting the Kirtlan family in California, saw a naval gun in their equipment yard a few years ago...

http://www.kirtlanssilverbend.com/?p=contact

[Phillip Allen]

I was lost at the time I saw it...it's in southern Missouri close to the Arkansas border. I'll try to talk to the ex girlfriend who was with me at the time and see if she can remember. I think I could drive to it but it would take a whole day...

[paladin]

I will be heading to okiehoma by way of Fort Smith sometimes after the christmas holidays...nephew will probably drive hid extended cab truck...I think it's an F250, with diesel engine and he drags heavy farm trailers around with it...

[Paul Pless]

...nephew will probably drive hid extended cab truck...I think it's an F250, with diesel engine and he drags heavy farm trailers around with it...

Well if putting one of these in the bed don't repell tailgaters, nothing will.:D

http://lactose.homelinux.net/pix/hawaii03/1.oahu/bigdscf0192.jpg

[paladin]

can we get some live rounds for fire practice...most of the barrels have cold plugs in them......

[Phillip Allen]

Well if putting one of these in the bed don't repell tailgaters, nothing will.:D

http://lactose.homelinux.net/pix/hawaii03/1.oahu/bigdscf0192.jpg


looks like a submarine mount...

[johngsandusky]

Rehabbing the Tam? Good for you. She was still in service when I was, during the 80's. I saw her at Governor's Island NY, and I think in Florida too. The Navy and the CG still had brand new 3"50sthen, in storage since WWll. We put a new one on Decisive. I don't know if they'd be willing to part with one. best wishes, I'll visit one day.

[Bob Cleek]

Having some experience with the Naval Sea Systems Command ship donation program, I would suggest that you make some good connections with a few flag level officers here and there and have them pull a little "juice" for you. ANYTHING can be found and obtained if you have enough pull. Ordinance can be loaned or donated under the program to restore museum vessels. Go to the Navy and Coast Guard and start searching. There will be one somewhere that isn't being used. Also, check out Marad (U.S. Maritime Administration). Their "mothball fleets" ("Ready Reserve Fleet) are full of just about everything you need to equip a ship if you can find somebody to authorize your taking it. The mothball fleet is periodically culled, with older hulls sold for scrap when newer ships come in. It is amazing what is in some of those old ships. When the Jeremiah O'Brien folks were tricking her out, they came across WWII vintage mothballed ships with whole compartments welded shut (part of the mothballing process). When opened up, they were chock full of equipment, mess gear and so on. It's out there. Make some connections with some rank and doors will swing open.

[Peter Eikenberry]

Good to hear you are rehabbing the Tam. I was on the Campbell out of St George, STaten Island, and we tied up next to her. I have some pics of the Tam some where. I don't know where you can get a 3 inch 50 but I sure fired enough of them. (I was an FT) Any way try the Defense Logistics Agency. They may know where you can get one. There must be a moth balled navy ship somewhere that has one or two to spare.

[Don Z.]

Wait a minute! Didn't Cleek tell us he just scored a new lathe? Just a little bit of bar stock, some time with the lathe, and Bob's your uncle...

[Bob Cleek]

Actually, that lathe they used to turn 16" barrells for the Iowa Class guns used to be down at Hunter's Point. Maybe it's still there!

[paladin]

yup...and since they dunno need to fire it, the lands and grooves need only to be machined a couple or four inches down the muzzle....:D

[Vince Brennan]

WHY DO YOU NEED THAT?

It like having another hole in your head.....
Assuming you meant the gun tself, it's to bring Tamaroa's profile back to specs as well as to have one aboard for the kids to clamber about ... I don't think we're planning any more revolutions at present. :D

It would be nice to be able to fire a salute on occasion, but I don't think that the Gov't would approve of a live gun aboard her, so.....