Updates

2009 January 23: Manuals are available at hnsa.org for the Mark 6 depth charge and the Type C release track.

The following images show dimensions for the Mark 6 depth charge and Type C release track as used on PT boats. These drawings are mostly a guess based on images and a Higgins smoke generator mounting conversion blueprint. Please confirm dimensions given here for yourself if errors cannot be tolerated. Images are for non-commercial personal use only, please obtain permission for any other use.

The tracks shown in the references I have vary in small construction differences. :

• Some had rivets holding the drop rails to the side plates while others were (welded?) smooth.
• On some the drop rails exited straight while others angled down a bit towards the water.
• The back piece was L shaped on some and C shaped on others.
• The brackets for the safety fork and pistol cap pulling chains were stamped sheet steel on some and bent rod on others.
• The (name?) plate on the tracks side was about 6" x 4" on some and about 3" x 1.5" on others.
• Some were mounted to the deck mounts with four bolts per side and others with three wing nuts.
• The deck mounting blocks were solid full width wood on some and low pads slightly larger than the track mount flanges on others.
• Some tracks had a full width block for suppport between the deck and the exits of the drop rails.

Drawings from a depth charge manual with a grid overlay:

Reference Images