Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Tugs and Towing => Topic started by: Propslip on January 14, 2014, 10:53:40 am

Title: Armed TID Tug
Post by: Propslip on January 14, 2014, 10:53:40 am
I recently bought a set of old Blueprint type plans for a TID tug. Interestingly it is armed with 2 five barred Pom-Poms, one foreside of the bridge, the other at the aft end of the accommodation. I think is may have been for US service. Certainly the US army used some TIDs in WWII at D Day etc. The plans are stamped Humber Ship Plans. Interestingly the drawer is John E Skin... (rest obliterated, maybe Skinner), 132 High Street, Southend, less than a mile from were I am sitting. Anyone have any information?
                                              Propslip
Title: Re: Armed TID Tug
Post by: gingyer on January 14, 2014, 11:28:42 am
Propslip,
an interesting model by the description, but are you correct in the armament???
the quad pompom were pretty big on destroyers and cruisers never mind mounting on a tug....
could it of been the old .5" Vickers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_.50_machine_gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_.50_machine_gun)
they were removed from service aboard destroyers by 1943/44  having been replaced with 20mm Oerlikens
so would of been lying about and a good bit smaller than a pompom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_2_pounder_naval_gun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_2_pounder_naval_gun)

the barrels look similar in design but not size
will be watching the build with interest   :-))
Title: Re: Armed TID Tug
Post by: TailUK on January 14, 2014, 11:58:52 am
This may an important find, historically, as I've never heard of an armed TID before.
Could you post a pic? I'd agree with gingyer that it more likely to be a quad mount vickers than a pom-pom (to be honest I've never heard of a five barrel pom-pom either. They were usually 4 or 8, the infamous " Chicago piano")  Quad vickers were mounted in vertical line with ammo drums mounted on the outside of the mount. 
Title: Re: Armed TID Tug
Post by: Propslip on January 14, 2014, 12:08:08 pm
I have now studied these plans more carefully. The lines & general layout are classic TID, just somewhat larger. I guess a variant of a TID, that may not have even got built. On the plan it says :
PREFABRICATED TID CLASS STEAM TUG LINES PLAN
US DESIGN 1000HP OCEAN GOING
(TID SHORT FOR TIDDLER)
Other details are Length 100 Feet
                         Beam 24.5 Feet
                          1000HP
   3/8 Inch to 1 Foot. (1/32 I guess)

Title: Re: Armed TID Tug
Post by: TailUK on January 14, 2014, 12:16:07 pm
TIDs were 65ft by 17ft so it would be considerably bigger than a box standard TID.  This may be a an American attempt at a "Super TID!"  The TID design was ingenious and the American are never ones to let a clever idea go to waste.