Great anecdote. The P5s you had may have ended up in Taiwan since that is where a bunch of 3rd Amtracs vehicles went. I got detailed to strip commo gear out of them which I thought was just stupid.
Saw a P7 have an adventure one day at Camp Lejeune. He had launched ——— off the Portland if IIRC—— and had hydraulic trouble and the steering was screwed up. After the launch completed they tried to get back on the ship. Heavy swell and the ship was rising and falling. He ended up half on and half off the port side of the ramp and flipped over sideways and went completely under. About gave those of us watching heart attacks since it looked like they were going to be smashed by the ship’s ramp. Luckily they popped back up and eventually managed to get back on the boat. Good thing there were no grunts inside.
Another P7 did a test run in Courthouse Bay and sank. Even four bilge pumps can’t keep up when yoou forget to dog down the door in the ramp. Some asses got chewed over that :<{
Yeah, it’s scary cruisin’ around in metal boxes THAT heavy with that little free-board!