The Elco "Thunderbolt" turret represented a significant upgrade in the firepower of PT boats, which were small, fast attack craft used extensively by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Here's a detailed overview of the Elco Thunderbolt turret and its iterations:
Elco Thunderbolt Turret Overview:
1. Design and Operation:
- The Thunderbolt was a single-person, electrically powered turret designed to enhance the offensive capabilities of PT boats.
- The turret allowed for rapid and precise aiming, increasing the effectiveness of the boat's firepower against enemy aircraft, small boats, and coastal targets.
2. Armament Configurations:
- Early Iterations:
- The initial version of the Thunderbolt turret combined two Oerlikon 20mm cannons with six M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns. This mix provided a versatile and formidable array of weapons capable of engaging various threats.
- Additional Configurations:
- Some configurations tested included four Oerlikon 20mm cannons paired with two M2 .50 caliber machine guns.
- Another setup involved solely four Oerlikon 20mm cannons, emphasizing heavy anti-aircraft and anti-surface firepower.
3. Deployment and Usage:
- The Thunderbolt turret was quickly employed on PT boats, significantly boosting their combat capabilities.
- However, these upgrades came towards the end of World War II, resulting in limited combat use. The enhanced PT boats saw some action but did not have a significant impact on the overall naval engagements due to the late deployment.
Impact:
While the Elco Thunderbolt turret represented a technological advancement in PT boat armament, its limited deployment time meant it had little opportunity to influence the war's outcome significantly. Nevertheless, it showcased the ongoing innovation in naval warfare technology and the continuous efforts to improve combat effectiveness.
This looks like a tremendous upgrade in fire power and I had never heard of it.
statistics: Posted by Rebcop — 4:42 AM - Today — Replies 4 — Views 41