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Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Mike Allard on April 29, 2009, 10:21 am
205.144.229.147

In transcribing the officer's log, I have come across many references to gun positions by their number. I know where the guns were placed on the ships, but am curious as to how they were numbered. I assume #1 was the bow gun. How were the other positions identified?

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Al Burnham on May 1, 2009, 5:39 pm, in reply to "Numbering Of Gun Positions"
69.12.238.253

On the ships I was on the 3"50 on the bow was not
numbered. The 5"51 or 5"38 were not numbered.They
were called by what they were. Some of the troop
ships were equipped with more big guns and they may have been numbered. The 20mm's were numbered.
Example as I remember and from my gunnery officers report. The most forward 20mm on the starboad side would be #1 20mm. The most forward
20mm on the port side would be #2 20mm. It wouid
follow this rotation all the way to the aft. As this is a good subject Mike you should get a lot
of responses. It makes sense if a ship had three
3"50s they must have a number. My mind ia a little foggy but I think we counted from the starboard to port.
---Al

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Roy Brown on May 1, 2009, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
98.213.15.190

Al, I believe you are correct. My battle station as loader on No. 3 20mm gun was on the forward starboard side of the bridge with No. 5 20mm gun on the same side on the aft starboard side of the bridge.
Of course, I was a Signalman, and when my watch happened to be the same time as an enemy attack my duties were that of a Signalman.
My memory also has "faded" drastically, Al. How can we get the old brain to retrieve the memories???? (Gone forever, I suppose)!
This site really HAS helped in bringing back SOME of the memories of days gone by!
Roy Brown

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Al Burnham on May 1, 2009, 11:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
67.72.98.45

At times Roy I think I have lost it all. Especially when I set my glasses down. This site has certainly bought back the memories. Reading your Jig How book also restored a lot of memory.
Note my Feb.6th.09 comments on this. On the ships
I was assigned to. I was on a 20mm as a pointer and I had various loaders. My 1st. ship I was the
pointer on #5 20mm on the aft starbosrd side of the bridge. And this was where I was at on Aug.1st 1944 in Convoy UGS-48. I was also capable
to fill other positions on the big guns if needed. This was a big factor on one trip we made
with a 12 man gun crew as the war was slowing down with Germany.
--Al

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Roy Brown on May 3, 2009, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
98.213.15.190

Al, we, too, were in Convoy UGS-48 when we we were attacked on 1 August 1944.
Did you read the account of that attack in my book?
Roy Brown

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Al Burnham on May 4, 2009, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
67.72.98.45

Yes Roy I read about this attack on Convoy UGS-48
dated Aug.Ist 1944 in your Jig How book. With my
gunnery officers report of this battle with only dates and location. And ships log with dates of Arrivals and Departures. Bells started to ring in this old nogging. But no Convoy number showed up. Thanks to Rick Pitz sharing his info with the
Ports Database. I was able to confirm that my ship was part of Convoy UGS-48 and this was one of the battles you had in your book that we both
were in. I just sent a email to you with more detail. Also note the Jig How post dated Feb.6th
,09 if you haven't yet. It's on page 2. Thanks Roy and I hope you are feeling better.
---Al

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Mike Allard on May 1, 2009, 11:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
208.148.199.134

Gentlemen---

Thank you for the replies! What you have said seems logical in that the guns on one side of the ship would be even numbered and the other odd.

Now, to throw you a curve ball...

The officer records in his log that the ROBERT J COLLIER was armed only with a 5"38 at the stern and nine (9) 20mm guns in the other positions. This then suggests a 20mm was mounted at the bow where the 3" gun would have typically been. How do you suppose this effected the numbering of the positions?

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Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions

Posted by Al Burnham on May 3, 2009, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Numbering Of Gun Positions"
67.72.98.46

Mike, The curve ball could still be a curve. The
gunnery officer had to have complete control of his gun crew and guns during battle. In a convoy
you could shoot each other up and also friendly aircraft. At times the big guns were ordered not to fire and the 20mms could. Or certain 20mms could. (This is just one example.) My guess would be if you had a 20mm on the bow it would be the #1 20mm. If the odd numbers stayed starboard it would just make the numbers higher as you went aft but using the same system. Some of the troop ships had extra 20mms plus other guns and you would think it would be easier to remember during battle starboard odd, port even. I can't answer for sure. Except for Roy's 20mm
position and my 20mm assignment on different ships, his forward starboard bridge, mine aft starboard bridge, both odd numbers.
--Al

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