Sltg

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

About 20 years ago I draft a history of the .30 caliber SLTG. I would like to update.

I know the original cartridges were reclassified to unserviceable about the same time and the 7.62 RG cartridge was introduced. I also the 7.62 cartridge was not completely suitable.

How has it worked out? How often is the SLTG even used any more? Are there still quarterly tests?

[CWO4 Tim Hecht (SKC) (Ret)]

Bill,

I never saw it ever used onboard either VENTUROUS (except during REFTRA in San Diego on VENTUROUS), CHASE, or MOHAWK during my tours onboard. They were brought out on VENTUROUS and CHASE but I never saw it even out of the armory on MOHAWK.

On a side note, I have a .45-70 SLTG cartridge, unfired, that I got from a LT when I bought a Trapdoor Springfield from him.

[MKC Craig Thorngren (Ret)]

Bill,
The last time I saw a SLTG was in 1996 while stationed in NYC. While on the Mellon in 2002, we had a tow job up around the ice pack, and instead of the old SLTG, they had an adapter do ma hickey thingy (or some other technical nomenclature for it :D )for an M-16 that fired the shot line and weight.

Craig

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Craig,

The M16 adapter is a piece of junk. We called it a dildo in a can.

I used the .30 SLTG many times. Even fired the 15 oz from the shoulder on at least three occasions. The wind was too high to do it the "book" way and the CO wouldn't get closer.

One of my favorite targets on fishing boats was the radar.

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

MC,
Still required quarterly if you have it on board. (Just had an armory inspection and got hit on it, damn...I thought we had just fired that thing. :o )

We have the M16, definately a difference between the two. Honestly, I have only seen the 30 cal used once on a case. Can't remember where, but it was on the 180', and if I remember correctly, it went right through a window on the receiving eng. :D We did set it up once for mooring up in Anchorage, but the bolo ended up working just fine. Other than that, just seen it used for training. I have probably seen the 30 cal shot 6 times in the last 8 years.

I can imagine back in the day it was used often. Heck, maybe it's still being used. Currently our fire department has some type of line throwing gun. Again, never had to used it, but if I did, right out of the fire engine it comes and away it goes. I don't think they have much training or reservations about shooting off the gun..... :eek:

cs

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Thanks for the replies.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the invention of the projectile. It was created by a Coast Guard officer and patented by him. He turned the patent over to the Coast Guard.

Perhaps I'll get my draft out and finish it up with the informaton I have. I titled it, Beyond Arm's Reach. This is, of course, in reference to the throwing stick, the heaving line and bolo.

There have been some crazy ideas about line throwing devices over the last 125 years. Following WWII the Coast Guard experimented with the Bazooka (2.75 inch rocket).

[CWO Dana Lewis (QMC) (Ret)]

"There have been some crazy ideas about line throwing devices over the last 125 years. Following WWII the Coast Guard experimented with the Bazooka (2.75 inch rocket)."

Funny you should mention that right now Bill. While looking for some information for someone over on a Navy site, I ran across a blurb on just that very subject. It was in an issue of " ALL HANDS" probably from 1946 - 1947 era. Had a photo and a write up. Will see if I can relocate it. " Rocket Powered Line Thrower" or something like that.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Funny you should mention that right now Bill. While looking for some information for someone over on a Navy site, I ran across a blurb on just that very subject. It was in an issue of " ALL HANDS" probably from 1946 - 1947 era. Had a photo and a write up. Will see if I can relocate it. " Rocket Powered Line Thrower" or something like that.

Dana, that would be the era. I've got photos of some of the tests.

Maybe I should get this thing finished.

[BMC Ken Gouge]

We have one on board, as well as the M16 assembly. We have used it a few times. A memorable story was pulling into Mayport for TACT. Line 2 was over, but the wind was blowing and they couldn't get the stern in so we shot over 4. Pretty standard use for the gun.

When it was shot over the projectile got tangled in some telephone lines (the base guys had to come out with a cherry picker t get it down) so at the "conning officer debrief" one of our STELLAR JO's who had the con for mooring states "tell the GM1 not to shoot it so far next time..."

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Ken,

I had the SLTG handy for nearly every morning. It was on the billet board. I was also in charge of Line 2 most of the time until I made Chief. Then I had the whole fantail where I just watched the BM1. My junior GMs took over the SLTG chores.

PS I spent 2.5 years out of Mayport aboard a destroyer. Mostly out. There was a real fleet there in the mid-1960s. Three aircraft carriers, three fleet oilers, a destroyer tender, and about three destroyer squadrons -- of course, there was that cute, white, 82' that moored to the west quay of the basin.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

On the Reliance (back in 1991-1993) we always had the SLTG at the ready for all evolutions. We had a guy that could throw the BOLO heaving line pretty much just as far as the SLTG so we ended up never using it. I think that guy is a HSC now.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

On the Reliance (back in 1991-1993) we always had the SLTG at the ready for all evolutions. We had a guy that could throw the BOLO heaving line pretty much just as far as the SLTG so we ended up never using it. I think that guy is a HSC now.

He could throw it over 500 feet? Quite a heave.

We used to call Reliance - Reluctance. It seemed she never left Corpus. I know we had to cover serveral of her patrols as did Vigilant and the other 210 (I'm having a brain bubble and cannot recall the name).

[CWO Dana Lewis (QMC) (Ret)]

Bill,
Not so much an article, but three photos covering the experimental rocket powered line thrower. Check the January 1947 issue, page 19.

The March 1946 issue had a small item about Coast Guard Chief Gunnersmate James Seig, who had invented a new style linethrowing gun, and a machine gun capable of quite a few hundred rounds per minute. You might be interested, if this is new info.

http://www.navy.mil/allhands.asp

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Dana,

Thanks for the link. There is some good information in this issues. I've read many of them before.

The items "invented" by CGM Seig never got off the ground. The line-throwing gun was a modified .50 caliber model. The "machine gun" was of "bull-pup" model and never got beyond the prototype stage. It is still at the CGA.

I don't know what happened to Seig. He left the Coast Guard at the end of the war. As you can see he was a one-hash mark CGM.

[GMC Larry Muldowney]

GMCM,
WHile on the Spencer winter 2005 I used ours about 5 times during one patrol. We would try the Mk 87 adapter for the M-16 but it does not shoot as far.

Ket me put it this way The Bertholf is scheduled to get one. I have never liked the M-16 adapter and will always try to use the SLTG first
Larry