Being a docent on board of the American Victory, we have many visitors and shool children,we are trying to keep our history alive. I am a retired 2nd Mate from the Dutch merchant marine suvivor of WW II, did not start sailing untill 47. We need a suggestion on how we are able to demonstarte the defense to our visitors, we have the gun tubbs on the bridge but they are empty. Anyone is able to suggest were how when or who is able to find either a demo to show the kids and the general public?
Thanks in avance
Fred
Re: Oerlikons,
Posted by Tim Mc Hugh on December 24, 2010, 10:26 am, in reply to "Oerlikons, "
Go on You-tube. There are a couple in private hands you see being fired from trailers and pickup trucks etc. Then add lots and lots of sweet talk. good luck!
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Ron Carlson on April 26, 2010, 1:09 pm, in reply to "Oerlikons, "
Fred,
I can see how this would be a problem. I suppose you can't just go down to your local gun shop and buy a World War II 20mm machine gun.
The best possible solution would be to contact the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard and see if they have any such weapons in surplus and would be willing to loan or give one to AMERICAN VICTORY. This is how SS JOHN W BROWN obtained all of its weapons (eight 20mm, three 3-inch/50, one 5-inch/38), but that was years ago and we had a retired Coast Guard admiral, now deceased, who arranged for them at the time. (And no, sorry, we don't have any extras.) I would have no idea where to start now.
There is an organization known as the Historic Naval Ships Association (https://www.hnsa.org/), of which AMERICAN VICTORY, JOHN W BROWN, and many other historic ships are members. The Executive Director of the Association, Jeffrey Nilsson, sends out a monthly e-mail memorandum to member ships, announcing matters of concern or interest. The current memorandum, for example, mentions that LST 325, located in Evansville, Indiana, is looking for replacement parts missing from a twin 40mm gun mount they have aboard. It is very likely that someone associated with AMERICAN VICTORY receives this memorandum. Your organization could announce its need in one of these memoranda and see what happens. Contact the Historic Naval Ships Association at http://www.hnsa.org/mail.htm or e-mail Hnsa01@aol.com.
A less satisfactory solution would be to obtain good-quality photographs or drawings of typical Oerlikon guns, enlarge them to poster size, seal them from the weather, and place them in or near one of your gun tubs. There are a lot of images online, of varying degrees of quality and usefulness. Here are a few I found quickly enough:
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard website www.armed-guard.com
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Al Burnham on April 30, 2010, 3:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Oerlikons"
Fred, Thanks for your work and efforts to preserve our history. The SS Red Oak Victory located in Richmand, Ca. is in the process of restoring. And it was stripped of everything. On my last trip there they had all of their 20mm but most were not in place. And they were looking for a 5 inch 38. And were having problems locating one. They might be able to help you and you might be able to help them. Their web site and phone is listed on this web site under ships. Good luck, Al
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Frtan Kent on April 30, 2010, 10:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Oerlikons"
Everything changes, I know, but in the years after the war a great number of Liberties were tied up in the Reserve Fleet, many of them in Suisun Bay up the Sacramento River from San Francisco. I wouldn't make book on it, but I seem to recall that many of those ships were mothballed with their guns in place. How to check this out, I have no idea.
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Harvel Arnold on May 1, 2010, 10:10 am, in reply to "Re: Oerlikons"
I took Frans hint Suisan Bay googled mothball fleet and found this site. Google National defense reserve fleet suisan bay. It says the NDRF has athourity to lend or give historic artifacts to to worthy maritime heritage organizations Did not find any info as to how to get in touch with them . Maybe Ron can help . There is a list of inventory but I can't tell if there are any Liberty ships left there. There are some listing date of const. in the 1940s Hope this helps good luck .
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Fran Kent on May 6, 2010, 5:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Oerlikons"
Further to my earlier, I am advised by an authoritative source that there are no longer any ships in the Reserve Fleet -- not at any of the three sites -- with guns still in place. I was given the name of another person who might be helpful, though, and I am going ahead with the search. More later, I hope.
-- Fran
Re: Oerlikons
Posted by Fran Kent on May 7, 2010, 1:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Oerlikons"
I have the following message, received in response to an inquiry. You might want to contact him for some other sort of help, possibly in locating a wartime training film.
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I regret that the Naval History & Heritage Command does not have any 20mm guns available at the moment. Those in our collection are all currently on loan with other organizations.
Frank V. Thompson Head, Curator Branch Naval History & Heritage Command Frank.Thompson@navy.mil.