December 1, 2001 Stan Gajda visited the peaks of Pohnpei. To this day, Japanese antiaircraft and large caliber guns still remain that took massive man power to move to the tops of the peaks, and often fired upon Allied aircraft attacking the island.

Sohkes Mountains

Stan Gajda on the top at the searchlight mounting. The 127mm guns are in the dark wooded hump at right. This is the south end of Sohkes mountain (elev about 900ft) The 127mm guns are in the wooded hump to the right of the pandanus and the 6" gun is above the cliff on the extreme left. View of Kolonia and behind the mountain of Pohn Leher where we went last weekend (75mm guns) View of Takatik (airport/docks) and the causeway from the top of the mountain.

127mm Antiaircraft Guns

One of two different 127mm guns on the mountain. Upper turret and recoil cylinders Upper turret and recoil cylinders 127mm AA gun installations on top of the mountain. Overall view of the other 127mm gun installation. The frame appears to be a barrel rest for bore cleaning. Another general view of one of the 127mm guns on top of Sohkes mountain. Damage on the gun from a B-25 75mm hit. Rear view of the 127mm gun installation.

The recoil cylinders are giant shock absorbers that prevent the barrels from slamming back violently when the guns are fired. The tubes on top of the 127s are the recuperating cylinders that let the barrels return to battery in a controlled manner after the recoil stroke has reached its end. Many guns don't have recuperators, the 127s have a really massive recoil cylinder under each barrel, you may be able to pick it in the rear view I sent. Both barrels fire together of course because they are fired electrically and they belch much fire and smoke.

Six Inch Armstrong Whitworth Naval Gun

Six inch Armstrong Whitworth naval rifle on top of Sohkes mountain. Breech and mount of the AW 6" gun. General view of the 6" gun mount from inside the bunker Breech end of the 6" gun and the bunker interior with one of the ammo lockers.   The area where the ammunition fuzes etc were dismantled after the war. These are 127mm shell fuze canisters, mortar fuze canisters etc. 13mm shell case visible, shell case base plugs 127mm nose cap etc. There is a lot of this stuff just under the surface. A place I must take you to one day! The range-finder rotating base that I told you about previously.

The guns were dragged up in pieces and assembled on-site. Took the Japs months to get them up there, a few feet a day I'm told. Used Island labor mainly. And so it was for the various other guns. The two 6" guns that are on that really high hill - Kupwuriso - took them about a year to get the tubes up there. It's a hard slog just to get yourself up there you know.

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