WWII deck gun crew setupsnakeyez |
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Senior Crew Posts: 186 Location: Chunky, MS | Subject: WWII deck gun crew setup I'm trying to clear my mind here. I know that my grandfather was part of the 5" gun crew on both the USS Sand Lance and the USS Tambor. I have video saying that he was the trainer while on board the Sand Lance, not the pointer. I know that he still manned a position on the Tambor's 5" gun, and I assumed it was as the trainer as well. On the Tambor's 12th and final war patrol, while taking part in Burt's Brooms, I have the following copied directly from Commander W.J. Germershausen's notes: "The trainer on Tambor's 5" gun received a serious leg wound from an enemy shell. He was carried below to the wardroom, which is used as a battle dressing station during gun action. This man was Robert E. Baggett, a motor machinist's mate. I sent a message reporting the casualty. COMSUBPAC ordered us to rendezvous with U.S.S. Grayson (DD435), which we did two days later. On November 18, Grayson sent over a medical officer by breeches buoy. He examined the wounded and decided they could be moved by Stokes stretcher. Having some doubts about the Stokes stretcher in the fairly heavy seas running, I sent over the wounded Japanese sailor first. He made it safely so I sent Baggett over. The healthy Jap and the doctor went over by breeches buoy." So what I'm asking here is, were there multiple crew members who manned the trainer spot on the 5" gun? Did the pointer and trainer sometimes swap positions? | ||
| Warshot |
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| WWII Sub Vet Posts: 135 | Subject: RE: WWII deck gun crew setup Usualy the two jobs were seperate and distinct. They were held by the same men until they were transferred off the boat. Never saw any "Switching". Warshot | ||
| snakeyez |
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Senior Crew Posts: 186 Location: Chunky, MS | Subject: RE: WWII deck gun crew setup Thank you for the reply Ron. Well, I can only think of 2 possibilities: 1) My grandfather mistakenly said he was the trainer at the time and was the pointer instead or 2) My grandfather took over the trainer position after Robert E. Baggett was wounded. Either way, wow, what a story! | ||
