PT boat
From Freepedia
A PT boat was a motor torpedo boat (hull classification symbol "PT", for "Patrol Torpedo"), a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet".
The most famous of these torpedo boats, PT-109, commanded by future United States President John F. Kennedy, was a PT-103 class torpedo boat, hundreds of which were built between 1942 and 1945 by Elco Naval Division of Electric Boat Company at Bayonne, New Jersey.
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Class history
The design competition for the PT boat was nicknamed "The Plywood Derby" and was won by Huckins Yacht Company of Jacksonville, Florida. Huckins was a tiny company, however. Despite its win, the US government instead decided to award the contract to several larger companies including Elco and Higgens.
Although the Huckins Yacht Company built a few 78-foot (24 m) boats of the PT-95 class, the 80-foot (24.4 m) Elco boats, and the 78-foot (24 m) Higgins boats became the standard American motor torpedo boats of World War II. Huckins eventually produced just 18 PT boats, none of which would see combat.
Elco
The Elco boats were the largest in size of the three types of PT boats built for US Navy use during World War II. Wooden-hulled, 80 feet (24 m) long with a 20 ft 8 in. (6.3 m) beam, the Elco PT boats had three 12-cylinder Packard gasoline fueled engines generating a total of 4,500 hp (3,400 kW) for a designed speed of 41 knots (76 km/h). With accommodations for 3 officers and 14 men, the crew varied from 12 to 14. Its full-load displacement was 56 tons.
Early Elco boats had two 20 mm Oerlikon guns, four M2 .50-caliber machine guns or four Lewis Guns, and two or four 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Some of them carried depth charges or mine racks. Later boats mounted one 40 mm Bofors gun and four torpedo launching racks. Some PTs later received rocket launchers.
In addition, many boats received ad hoc refits at advanced bases, mounting such light guns as Army Air Forces 37 mm aircraft guns and even captured Japanese 23 mm guns. The most famous example was Kennedy's PT-109 which was equipped with a 37 mm cannon that the crew had commandeered.
Although more 80-foot Elco boats were built than any other type of motor torpedo boat, other types were built by the U. S. In addition to 326 of their 80-foot boats, Elco also produced 49 of their 77-foot boats and ten 70-foot boats.
Higgens
Higgens produced 199 78-foot boats. The Higgins boats, built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana, were 78-foot (24 m) boats of the PT-71 class. The Higgins boats had the same beam, full load displacement, engine, generators, shaft power, trial speed, armament, and crew accommodations as the 80-foot (24 m) Elco boats.
Others
The Canadian Scott-Paine Company produced five PT boats for the US Navy. The British-designed 70 foot (21 m) Vosper boats, 146 of which were built for Lend Lease, fired 18-inch (457 mm) torpedoes. Since the US produced the heavier and longer 21-inch torpedoes, the US Navy wanted a larger PT boat. After experimentation, the first PT boat built in any quantity was the 77-foot (23 m) type built by Elco. These boats were used early in World War II. Total production of all types, including experimental designs, was 768. [1]
Service
Originally conceived as anti-ship weapons, PTs were publicly (but erroneously) credited with sinking Japanese warships during the early months after Pearl Harbor.
During the long Solomon Islands campaign, they operated effectively at night and at times of low visibility against Japanese naval traffic in "the Slot." Throughout World War II, PTs operated in the southern, western, and northern Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. Some served during the Battle of Normandy.
Though their primary mission continued to be seen as attack of surface ships and craft, PTs were also used effectively to lay mines and smoke screens, to rescue downed aviators, and to carry out intelligence or raider operations. In 1943 in the Solomon Islands, three 77-foot (23 m) PT boats, PT-59, PT-60, and PT-61, were even converted into gunboats by stripping the boat of all original armament except for the two twin .50 caliber (~12.7 mm) gun mounts, and then adding two 40 mm guns and four more twin .50 caliber (~12.7 mm) machine guns. LTJG John F. Kennedy was the first commanding officer of PT-59 after the conversion.
Almost all surviving Elco PTs were disposed of shortly after V-J Day. Two PTs survive in World War II configuration on static display: the Elco boat PT-617 and PT-796, a 78-foot Higgins. The two are exhibited at the PT Boat Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. These boats are owned by PT Boats, Inc., a WWII PT veterans organization headquartered in a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.
Some examples of famous PT boats:
- PT-41 - Flagship of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, based in the Philippine Islands 1941–1942 (PT's 41,31,32,33,34,35). Commanded by LT. John D. Bulkeley USN
- PT-34 - Part of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three
- PT-109 - Commanded by LTJG John F. Kennedy, USNR
Cultural Impact
The story of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three in the retreat from the Philippines early in World War II was documented in the book They Were Expendable by W.L. White, ISBN 1557509484, originally published in 1942 soon after the events depicted. Later, in 1945 John Ford made it into a notable war film starring John Wayne. One of the most famous PT boats, PT-41, was part of this squadron.
The JFK story is told in PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan, published in 1961, ISBN 0071376437. PT 109 was also a 1963 film starring Cliff Robertson. While he was President, JFK handed out PT-109 tieclasps to favored guests and associates.
The TV situation comedy, and later film, McHale's Navy was set in a PT boat squadron.
In the 1980s, a video game simulation called PT 109 was popular on early personal computers.
See also
Other WW2 torpedo boats
- Motor Torpedo Boat British
- E-boat German
