OK, you Armed Guard veterans, here is a chance to put your memories to use.
A diving organization in Britain is investigating the wrecks of several Liberty ships that are in relatively shallow water off the southern coast of England. They have recovered a number of artifacts, including a copper disk about 11 in. in diameter, having twelve evenly spaced holes about 7/8 in. in diameter, plus two smaller holes near the center having rubber grommets. See a photograph of the object in question: http://www.promare.co.uk/ships/Finds/Fd_11A08Unknown.html
This object was found near a 20 mm. Oerlikon gun position on the Liberty ship JOHN R PARK, so the diving group thinks it may be part of the gun.
I originally thought it might be part of a 20 mm. magazine; see a good picture of such a magazine aboard JOHN W BROWN at http://www.flickr.com/photos/8529568@N08/5034435859. However the part of the magazine on the BROWN, clearly visible in the photograph, has eight holes, not twelve. Additionally it has a large central hole for a spindle or axle rather than the two smaller offset holes seen in the object from the PARK. Other diagrams and photographs of 20 mm. Oerlikon guns I have been able to find on the Internet seem to have the same appearance that one sees in the magazine aboard the BROWN.
Assuming the object the British divers found is actually a part of a 20 mm. Oerlikon, can any of you former gunners identify it? Or might it be something unrelated to an Oerlikon and if so, does anyone know what it would be?
Ron Carlson, Webmaster Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website www.armed-guard.com
My father [who is still alive and kicking] was a deck cadet on the John R Park and signed off of her on the trip just previous to her final voyage. Although my father was a cadet, the captian trusted him as navigator more than the 2nd and 3rd mates on the ship. So he spent much of his time on the bridge. Dad's battle station was on the Port side gun tub next to the bridge. I've shown him the photo...he believes this was a floor drain and is unrelated to the 20mm Oerlikon. I've been on both the John Brown and on the Jeremiah O'Brien, but I don't remember any similar item on the AA guns or in the gun tubs themselves.
Ron: I showed it to my friend who worked on ships (he is still searching his memory), but he suggested contacting the PBS television show called "The History Detectives". This is just the type of thing they love to investigate and you and yours could even be on television if they succeed in identifying the object for you.
I will show the photo to a friend, but meanwhile, check out Beranek, Inc., 2340 W 205th Street, Torrance, CA 90501, telephone 310-328-1458. They are a precision machining company. They may have a historial who can give a definitive answer. Just a guess.