query: what did pt stand for in pt boats

pos: PT boat PT boat A PT boat (short for "patrol torpedo boat") was a torpedo-armed fast attack craft used by the United States Navy in World War II. It was small, fast, and inexpensive to build, valued for its maneuverability and speed but hampered at the beginning of the war by ineffective torpedoes, limited armament, and comparatively fragile construction that limited some of the variants to coastal waters. The PT boat was very different from the first generation of torpedo boat, which had been developed at the end of the 19th century and featured a displacement hull form. These first generation torpedo

pos: John F. Kennedy 23, 1943: It was a patrol torpedo (PT) boat used for training while Kennedy was an instructor at Melville. He then led three Huckins PT boats—"PT-98", "PT-99", and "PT-101", which were being relocated from MTBRON 4 in Melville, Rhode Island, back to Jacksonville, Florida, and the new MTBRON 14 (formed February 17, 1943). During the trip south, he was hospitalized briefly in Jacksonville after diving into the cold water to unfoul a propeller. Thereafter, Kennedy was assigned duty in Panama and later in the Pacific theater, where he eventually commanded two more PT boats. In April 1943, Kennedy was assigned

pos: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) Woendi on 8 September 1944. "Willoughby" tended patrol torpedo boats (PT boats) at Mios Woendi from 9 September 1944 to 12 October 1944. During that time, the New Guinea campaign was gradually coming to an end; PT boats operating from Mios Woendi were finding slimmer pickings to choose from in regard to Japanese barge traffic. All combat patrols from Mios Woendi finally ceased on 16 November 1944 when the Japanese evacuation from New Guinea had been completed. "Willoughby" was part of the burgeoning force of PT boats and their tenders that had grown as the World War II in the

neg: PT boat exploders on U.S. submarines' Mark 14 torpedoes. Introduction of the Mark 13 torpedo to PT boats in mid-1943 all but eliminated the early problems that PT boats had with their obsolete Mark 8s. PTs would usually attack at night. The cockpits of PT boats were protected against small arms fire and splinters by armor plate. Direct hits from Japanese guns could and did result in catastrophic gasoline explosions with near-total crew loss. They feared attack by Japanese seaplanes, which were hard to detect even with radar, but which could easily spot the phosphorescent wake left by PT propellers. Bombing attacks

neg: PT boat did not complete this run because of engine trouble. The Higgins 76' (PT-70) and boats of the Elco 77' (PT-20 Class) developed structural failures even under moderate weather conditions prevailing. In the interval between the first and second test periods the PT-70 was repaired and an effort made to eliminate the causes of the structural failures. However, during the second endurance run, which was made in a very rough sea for this size boat, structural failures again occurred in PT-70. PT-69 and PT-21 experienced structural failures during the second run though these were much localized as compared with those found

neg: PT boat the Fogal Boat Yard, Inc., later known as the Miami Shipbuilding Co., of Miami, Florida, for "PT-1" and "-2" "Crash Boats", and to the Fisher Boat Works, Detroit, Michigan, for "PT-3" and "-4". These four boats were designed by George Crouch, and modified in some details by the Bureau of Ships. Then, three additional boats were built by Andrew Higgins of Higgins Industries in New Orleans. These boats were "PT-5" and "PT-6" (built using government-required Sparkman and Stephens design, scaled to an overall length of ) and then "PT-6 "Prime"" which was redesigned by Andrew Higgins personally using his own

neg: PT boat PTs fully fitted out) was conducted on August 12, 1941. Four boats returned: "PT-8", "PT-69", "PT-70", and MRB, and Elco sent two new boats, "PT-21" and "PT-29". During this trial, boats faced heavier seas, as high as . All except the Huckins ("PT-69") completed the run. The Huckins withdrew due to bilge stringer failure. The Higgins 76-footer ("PT-70") completed the entire run but also suffered structural failures, attachments between planking and web frames pulling loose, and deck fastenings in the neighborhood of engine hatches showing extensive failures. "PT-21" suffered minor cracks in the deck in the same location (but not

neg: PT boat boats during World War II. Five 78-foot (24 m) boats were assigned to Squadron 14 ("PT-98" through "PT-102") which was commissioned in early 1943; and ten boats assigned to Squadron 26 (PT-255 thru PT-264) which was commissioned in mid 1943. They were assigned to specific outposts in the Panama Canal Zone, Miami, Florida, the Hawaiian Sea Frontier at Pearl Harbor and Midway, and a training center in Melville, Rhode Island. Although not used in any other PT boat design, Huckins licensed the use of his patented Quadraconic hull in his PT boat construction. He also granted permission for Elco, Higgins,

neg: PT boat damage to the wooden hulls of these boats to be easily repaired at the front lines by base force personnel. Five Elco Boats were manufactured in knock-down kit form and sent to Long Beach Boatworks for assembly on the West Coast as part of an experiment and as a proof of concept. Higgins Industries of New Orleans, Louisiana produced 199 boats of the "PT-71"/"PT-235", "PT-265" and "PT-625" classes. The Higgins boats had the same beam, full load displacement, engines, generators, shaft horsepower, trial speed, armament, and crew accommodation as the Elco boats. Many Higgins boats were sent to the Soviet

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three On 11 March 1942, the remaining boats of the squadron transported General Douglas MacArthur and several high-ranking officers from Corregidor to Mindanao, an act which earned every member of the squadron the Silver Star. "PT-32" was abandoned during this mission, reducing the squadron to three boats: "PT-41", "PT-34", and "PT-35". These three boats were based at Mindanao until mid-April 1942, where two of them ("PT-41" and "PT-34") attacked the , scoring at least one hit. This was to be the squadron's last action: "PT-34" was destroyed by Japanese aircraft, "PT-35" had to be scuttled to avoid capture, and "PT-41" was

neg: Battle of Leyte Gulf operating off Bohol when it made contact with the approaching Japanese ships. The PT boats made repeated attacks for more than three-and-a-half hours as Nishimura's force streamed northward. No torpedo hits were scored, but the PT boats did send contact reports which were of use to Oldendorf and his force. Nishimura's ships passed unscathed through the gauntlet of PT boats. However, their luck ran out a short time later, as they were subjected to devastating torpedo attacks from the American destroyers deployed on both sides of their axis of advance. At about 03:00, both Japanese battleships were hit by torpedoes.

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-346 jacket so he could survive and treat the wounded. Factors that contributed to the incident included an influx of new pilots who lacked experience in recognizing PT boats, poor communications between the planes and PT boats, and the fact that the incident occurred in an area of the Pacific which was the "line of demarcation" between Nimitz and MacArthur’s Pacific commands, which meant that coordination of reports between the two commands did not always occur. A formal inquiry into the incident was conducted and improvements instituted as a result of the tragedy. United Press. “U.S. Planes Sink 3 U.S. PT

neg: PT boat and "PT-61" for transfer back home to the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center (MTBSTC) school in Melville, Rhode Island for use in training in hull repair techniques. PT boats lacked a large capacity refrigerator to store sufficient quantities of perishable foods. While docked, PT boat squadrons were supported by PT boat tenders or base facilities which supplied boat crews with hot meals. As PT boats were usually located near the end of the supply chain, their crews proved resourceful in bartering with nearby ships or military units for supplies and using munitions to harvest their own fish. Many PT

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 the final form that Motor Torpedo Boats would take by the end of World War II. "PT-658" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 2012. Of three PT boats listed on the National Register, she is one of 2 maintained in operating condition. "PT-658" was one of a group of PT boats assigned to MTB Squadron 45 in April 1945, for transfer to the USSR under Lend-Lease. By the time she was completed on July 30, 1945, this transfer had been cancelled. "PT-658" was transported to Bremerton on the deck of "LST-375" from New Orleans

neg: Japanese submarine I-17 convoy and four of the eight escorting destroyers were sunk. The Japanese in lifeboats, rafts and in the water were strafed by planes and PT boats. "I-17" was directed to the area. On 5 March two PT boats, "PT-143" and "PT-150", discovered "I-17" with three lifeboats full of survivors from the Bismarck Sea battle. The submarine was taking them on board. "I-17" crash dived as the PT boats strafed and fired torpedoes at her. The PT boats then sank the lifeboats with machine gun fire and depth charges. Several hours later, "I-17" resurfaced and picked up 33 surviving soldiers. The

neg: PT boat late 1950s. Shortly after her retirement from service, the "PT-796" was used as a float during President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade to represent "PT-109", with the "PT-109" hull number painted on the bow, and several of "PT-109"'s surviving crew members manning the boat. Today, "PT-796" is located at the Battleship Cove Naval Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts in a Quonset hut-style building, protected from the weather, and up on blocks. The boat is owned by PT Boats, Inc., a World War II PT veterans organization headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee. Two of the experimental PT-Boats also still survive, "PT-3" (built

neg: PT boat a high pressure oil failure and had to go DIW (Dead in the Water) in order to effect the repair); "PT-6", the Higgins 81-footer, with an average speed of ; and "PT-8", the Philadelphia Navy Yard boat last, at . The other two Elco boats, "PT-30" and "PT 23" (standby boat), followed "PT-31", placing before "PT-69". The accelerometers ranked the boats as follows: First was the Philadelphia Navy Yard "PT-8" with the least pounding, Second was the Huckins "PT-69", Third was the Higgins "PT-6", and last were the Elco 77-footers. Due to the problem with ingot loading, a trial (with

neg: PT boat Elco. She was sold several times, and moved to Kingston, NY for possible restoration. "PT-617" is an Elco boat located at the Battleship Cove Naval Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. She was obtained from the backwaters of Florida and moved to its current location by JM "Boats" Newberry, the founder of PT Boats Inc. "Boats" along with the team at Battleship Cove Museum restored her during 1984–89, inside and out, at a cost of US$1 million. The boat is owned by PT Boats, Inc., a World War II PT veterans organization headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee. The quality of the restoration

neg: Battle of Cape St. George boats spotted four of the Japanese ships on their radar just after midnight; however, the PT boats mistook the Japanese vessels for friendly forces and hove to further ashore. Two of the Japanese ships subsequently attacked the PT boats, firing on them and attempting to ram "PT-318". They failed to score any hits, though, while one of the PT boats, "PT-64", fired a torpedo which missed its target. Afterwards, the Japanese destroyers steamed west towards Cape St. George. Around 01:41, Kagawa's two screening destroyers were picked up by radar by Burke's destroyers, which had moved into position between Cape St.

neg: PT boat and they were not considered worth the effort. The boats also used a lot of high octane gasoline for their size, making them too expensive to operate for a peacetime navy. Much of this destruction (121 boats) occurred at PT Base 17, on Samar, Philippines, near Bobon Point. A few (one 80' Elco, one 72' Vosper, and three 78' Higgins) were cut up and destroyed between 1998 and 2008, leaving (a known) total of 12 PT boats, and 2 experimental PT boat hulls in various states of repair, surviving today in the U.S.: "PT-48" is possibly the last surviving Elco

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-346 USNR. "PT-347" had become stuck on a reef during a night patrol to intercept enemy barges and destroy shore installations off the coast of Rabaul in Lassul Bay, located off the northwest corner of New Britain Island in New Guinea. (The waters of the Pacific were not well charted and during World War II, more PT boats were lost to reefs than to enemy fire.) At 0700, "PT-350" was attempting to dislodge "PT-347" from the reef, when two American Marine Corsair planes mistook the PT boats for Japanese gunboats and attacked. Taking heavy fire from the planes, "PT-350" shot down

neg: Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines to Bataan in launches and boarded their PT boats there. While his family boarded, MacArthur spoke to Major General George F. Moore, the commander of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. "George", he told him, "keep the flag flying. I'm coming back." "PT-41" departed at 19:45 on 11 March and joined the other three 15 minutes later. A navy minelayer led the PT boats through the protective minefield in single file. The boats then assumed a diamond formation, with "PT-41" in the lead and "PT-34" bringing up the rear. If attacked by the Japanese, "PT-41" was to flee

neg: PT boat on PT70. The Board is of the opinion that certain changes in design are required to enable PT-69 and boats of the PT-20 Class to carry safely their military loads in rough weather." The Board results provided very important benchmarks in the infancy of PT boat development. This type of craft presented design challenges that were still issues decades after, but there are some significant conclusions from the above recommendations and their order of merit. Those are: The Elco Naval Division boats were the longest of the three types of PT boats built for the Navy used during World War

neg: PT boat rescue operations, rescue shipwreck survivors, destroy Japanese suicide boats, destroy floating mines, and carry out intelligence or raider operations. After the war, American military interviews with captured veterans of the Imperial Japanese Navy, supplemented by the available partial Japanese war records, were unable to verify that all the PT boat sinking claims were valid. Like many other victory claims by all parties involved (aircraft pilots, surface ships, submarines) this unclear verification was due in part to the Japanese military's policies of destroying military records. In 1944, several Higgins boats ("PT222", "PT-283", "PT-284", "PT-285", and "PT-282") were converted, releasing "PT-59", "PT-60",

neg: PT boat showing such good seakeeping further purchase of Scott-Paine boats was unnecessary. And, in early 1941, BuShips lent Packard engines to both Huckins and Higgins, which wanted to build competitive boats at their own expense. A Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) PT Boat Conference held in May 1941, convened to discussed future PT characteristics. All PTs prior to the Elcos had been found defective, and it was probable the extended Elco would not be an improvement. This conference, including representatives from BuShips, BuOrd, MTBRONs, Interior Control Board, and CNO, recommended a series of comparative tests to evaluate what turned out to

neg: Operations Ginny I and II placed in the security party instead. First Lt. Russo still commanded the shore party and First Lt. Paul J. Traficante for the security party. A contingency plan was developed i.e. if the team were unable to complete the mission in time, they would return to the shore to be picked up by PT boats. If the PT boats were gone, the team would find a safehouse, hide out there and wait for the PT boats to pick them up the next night. On March 22, the OSS Operational Group (OG) team boarded the two U.S. Navy PT boats and the

neg: PT boat boats became famous during and after World War II: According to the book ""At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy"" 99 of the 531 PT boats that served during World War II were lost to various causes. At the end of the war, almost all surviving U.S. PT boats were disposed of shortly after V-J Day. Hundreds of boats were deliberately stripped of all useful equipment and then dragged up on the beach and burned. This was done to minimize the amount of upkeep the Navy would have to do, since wooden boats require much continuous maintenance,

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 prevented from reinforcing their garrison, though he was not on station till 12:30 a.m. All four Japanese destroyers would evade his grasp, as they arrived one hour early, before Burke had reached his post. The resulting battle would become the largest use of PT boats in the war, and the results would not be promising for the future use of PTs against Japanese destroyers. On August 1, fifteen PT boats, "PT-109" among them, motored from the PT base on Rendova around 6:30 p.m. on strict but cursory orders from Rendova's top brass, Commander Thomas Warfield. The combined PT task force,

neg: PT boat into the hull. Nine boats participated in the trial ("PT-26" had previously developed deck failures while conducting standardization trials off Block Island on July 21, 1941), and six boats completed the trial ("PT-33" suffered structural damage off Block Island and withdrew, "PT-70" suffered its damage from the ingots and withdrew, and MRB developed engine trouble at the start of the run and withdrew). By class, "PT-20", the Elco 77-footer, came in first with an average speed of ; followed by "PT-31", with an average speed of ; "PT-69", the Huckins boat, with an average speed of (note the Huckins experienced

neg: PT 109 (film) "It's just a question of whether there's too much of it". In the film, the "PT 109" and all other PT boats are depicted as being painted in the same standard gray paint scheme used by larger warships of the US Navy. Although many 78' Higgins and 80' Elco PT boats were likely delivered from the manufacturer in such a paint scheme, all historical records indicate that the real "PT 109" and the other boats in its squadron were painted in a dark green paint scheme in order to better blend into their daytime anchorages or moorings adjacent to island

neg: PT boat Mark 1 roll-off style torpedo launching racks. The Mk13 torpedo had a range of and a speed of . PT boats were also well armed with numerous automatic weapons. Common to all US PT boats were the two twin M2 .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns. Early PT boats (Elco PT20 through PT44) mounted Dewandre plexiglas-enclosed hydraulically operated rotating turrets. Almost immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Dewandre turrets were replaced on the entire PT boat fleet with open ring twin mounts. The ring mount was designed by both Elco and Bell, and designated Mark 17 Twin 50

neg: PT boat in mid-1943, the old Mark 18 torpedo tubes and Mark 8 torpedoes were replaced. The new Mark 1 "roll-off" torpedo launcher rack (loaded with an improved Mark 13 aerial torpedo) effectively eliminated the telltale flash of light from burning grease, did not use any form of explosive to launch the torpedo, and weighed about less than the tubes. Enemy forces would use searchlights or seaplane-dropped flares to illuminate fleeing PT boats. The effectiveness of PT boats in the Solomon Islands campaign, where there were numerous engagements between PTs and capital ships, as well as against Japanese shipborne resupply efforts dubbed

neg: Raymond P. Shafer on PT boats. He participated in over 80 combat missions during World War II on PT boats as commanding officer of PT-359 and later as executive officer of Squadron 27. As Squadron XO, Shafer sailed aboard PT-375, one of the first PT boats to penetrate the defenses of Manila Bay. Shafer earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, as well as the rank of lieutenant during his tour in the Pacific theater. Shafer returned to Meadville after the war and entered private law practice. His political career began in 1948 when he was elected district attorney of Crawford County.

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 Motor Torpedo Boat "PT-658" is a "PT-625"-class Higgins PT boat, built for the United States Navy during World War II. "PT-658" is a prime example of US Navy Motor Torpedo Boat development during World War II. "PT-658" was in the last group of four boats delivered from the 36-boat contract NObs-1680, October 1944 for "PT-625" to "PT-660". Delivered and accepted on July 31, 1945, she was fitted with all of the latest armaments and design modifications as a result of lessons learned from previous contracts and battlefield experience. In this way, "PT-658" is a showcase of

neg: Japanese submarine I-17 following day, "I-17" rescued another 118 soldiers and 4 sailors. She then sailed to Lae and disembarked her 155 passengers. On 24 May 1943, south off Noumea . "I-17" sighted the 10,169 ton Panamanian flagged tanker "Stanvac Manila". The tanker had six PT boats on board as cargo. At 0407, "I-17"s torpedo hit the tanker, flooding the engine and fire room and disabling all power and communications. At 12:05 "Stanvac Manila" sank, taking "PT-165" and "PT-173" with her. At about 13:00 the destroyer arrived and towed three of the surviving PT boats, "PT-167", "PT-171" and "PT-174" to Noumea. The remaining

neg: USS Wachapreague (AGP-8) four months, until the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 that ended World War II, "Wachapreague" operated from this bay, tending MTBRon 36 PT boats while they in turn conducted daily offensive runs up the coast of Borneo. In the course of these operations, the PT boats sought out and destroyed Japanese shipping at Tawao, Cowie Harbor, and Noneokan, Dutch North Borneo, shelling and rocketing shore installations. As the Japanese later attempted evacuation by small boats and rafts, the PT boats netted some 30 prisoners-of-war. In addition to these tasks, the PT boats assisted tank landing ship tank (LST)

neg: PT boat agree to look at the Huckins boat. In early July 1941, the Navy accepted "PT-69". After obtaining excellent testing results at the Plywood Derby, the Navy awarded Huckins Yacht Corporation a contract in 1941 for 8 boats, and later added 10 more. The design was enlarged and modified to meet the new requirements. The first three of the new design ("PT-95" through "PT-97") were initially kept in the Jacksonville area for testing, resulting in several important modifications to the overall design (these boats were later assigned to Squadron 4 in 1942). Huckins ended up building just two squadrons of PT

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT 796 riverine operations. In 1961 she participated in John F. Kennedy's inauguration repainted as . The boat was placed out of service on 7 July 1970, and signed over to PT Boats, Inc. Restored to her original configuration, and has been displayed at Battleship Cove since 14 August 1975. Motor Torpedo Boat PT 796 PT-796 is a 78-foot PT boat built by Higgins Industries of New Orleans in 1945. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 as one of a very few surviving PT boats, which were built in large numbers during World War II. She is part of

neg: Electric Launch Company 1930s with 30-foot to 57-foot Veedettes and Flattops. During World War II, Elco formed the Elco Naval Division in Bayonne, New Jersey. Nearly 400 Elco PT boats were produced for the U.S. Navy. After experimentation, the first PT boat built in any quantity was the 73-foot type. Later 77-foot and 80-foot types were built. More 80-foot Elco boats were built than any other type of US motor torpedo boat. Perhaps the most notable 80-foot PT boat was PT-109, commanded by future president John F. Kennedy. In the film "PT 109", the "Elco" script logo can be seen on the cockpit

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 by the crew in 2014 include authentic IFF dipole antennae on the chart house and radar mast, and a US M2 60mm mortar on the starboard side of the bow. Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 Motor Torpedo Boat "PT-658" is a "PT-625"-class Higgins PT boat, built for the United States Navy during World War II. "PT-658" is a prime example of US Navy Motor Torpedo Boat development during World War II. "PT-658" was in the last group of four boats delivered from the 36-boat contract NObs-1680, October 1944 for "PT-625" to "PT-660". Delivered and accepted on July 31, 1945, she was

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-41 speech in Terowie, Australia. After MacArthur's party left Mindanao, "PT-41", along with the two remaining PT boats of the squadron ("PT-34" and "PT-35"), established a new base of operations at Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, supporting the American military forces defending Mindanao and the nearby islands from the invading Japanese throughout late March and early April 1942. After a torpedo attack in concert with on the on April 9, 1942, "PT-41" became the last remaining PT boat of the squadron ("PT-34" was sunk in the aftermath of the attack and "PT-35" was burned at Cebu). With no more torpedoes available for

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 Seamen Andrew Jackson Kirksey and Marney were killed instantly, and two other members of the crew were badly injured and burned when they were thrown into the flaming sea surrounding the boat. For such a catastrophic collision, explosion, and fire, there were few men lost when contrasted to the losses on other PT boats hit by shell fire. "PT-109" was gravely damaged, with watertight compartments keeping only the forward hull afloat in a sea of flames. "PT-169", closest to Kennedy's craft, launched two torpedoes that missed the destroyer and "PT-162"s torpedoes failed to fire at all. Both boats then turned

neg: Battle of Blackett Strait PT boats from four sections, not a single hit was scored. In the battle, only four PT boats (the section leaders) had radar, and they were ordered to return to base after firing their torpedoes on radar bearings. When they left, the remaining boats were virtually blind and without verbal orders, thus leading to more confusion. Patrolling just after the section leader had departed for home, "PT-109" was run down on a dark moonless night by the Japanese destroyer , returning from the supply mission. The PT boat had her engines at idle to hide her wake from seaplanes. Conflicting

neg: Blackett Strait to intercept the "Tokyo Express" supply convoy on 2 August. In what National Geographic called a "poorly planned and badly coordinated" attack, 15 boats with 60 available torpedoes went into action. However, of the 30 torpedoes fired by PT boats from four sections, not a single hit was scored. In the battle, only four PT boats (the section leaders) had radar, and they were ordered to return to base after firing their torpedoes on radar bearings. When they left, the remaining boats were virtually blind and without verbal orders, thus leading to more confusion. Patrolling just after the section leader

neg: PT boat operational U.S. Navy PT boats afloat today. Relaunched after hull restoration from 1995 to 2005, it is located at Pier 308, Vigor Shipyard in Portland, Oregon's Swan Island Lagoon. Maintained by an all volunteer group, it is powered by the three Packard V12 5M-2500 gas engines and includes all weapons, electronics, equipment and accessories restored to appear as they did the day the US Navy accepted the boat, July 31, 1945. "PT-658" was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. "PT-724", a surviving Vosper built at the Annapolis Boat yard in Maryland, has been used as a

neg: PT boat used as a last-ditch weapon to deter pursuing destroyers. The depth charge could be set to go off at , and by the time it exploded, the pursuing destroyer might be above it. Additionally, a few PT boats were equipped to carry naval mines launched from mine racks, but these were not commonly used. With the exception of the experimental PT boats, all U.S. PT boats were powered by three marine modified derivations of the Packard 3A-2500 V-12 liquid-cooled, gasoline-fueled aircraft engine. Improvements upon Packard's World War I Liberty L-12 2A engine, the successive "M" for "marine" designated 3M-2500, 4M-2500,

neg: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) of their monumental voyage of 1,200 nautical miles (2,222 kilometers). At Kossol Roads, the PT boats fueled from the tenders, while the tenders in turn fueled from accompanying oilers. On the second leg of the trip, the PT boats fueled at sea from the tenders, a difficult task but a necessary one if the PT boats were to arrive off Leyte with their fuel tanks full and ready to go. The PT boats arrived at Leyte Gulf on the morning of 20 October 1944, the first day of the landings on the western beaches of Leyte proper, and commenced patrols

neg: PT boat as well as in the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. Originally conceived as anti-ship weapons, PT boats were publicly credited with sinking several Japanese warships during the period between December 1941 and the fall of the Philippines in May 1942. Attacking at night, PT boat crews may have sometimes failed to note a possible torpedo failure. Although the American Mark 8 torpedo did have problems with porpoising and circular runs, it could and did have success against common classes of targets. The Mark 3 and Mark 4 exploders were not subject to the same problems as the Mark 6

neg: U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay reef. She was abandoned and destroyed. "PT-34" entered undetected and sunk a transport that was off-loading supplies. She then came under heavy fire but managed to escape undamaged. "PT-32" was then ordered into Subic Bay and attacked and hit a light cruiser on 1 February. On 17 February, "PT-34" made a final but unsuccessful attack at Subic Bay after which all PT boats were ordered to leave the Philippines. To protect Subic Bay, the Japanese garrisoned Fort Wint with anti-aircraft artillery and automatic weapons but did not repair the American guns nor build permanent fortification. The Japanese then started shipbuilding

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Philippine Distinguished Conduct Star, and the Silver Star during his command of the squadron, making him one of the most decorated U.S. naval officers of World War II. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three was a United States Navy squadron based at Cavite, Philippines, from September 1941 to mid-April 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley and made up of six motor torpedo boats: "PT-31", "PT-32", "PT-33", "PT-34", "PT-35", and "PT-41", the last as the squadron flagship. The other six boats of the squadron remained at

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three was a United States Navy squadron based at Cavite, Philippines, from September 1941 to mid-April 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley and made up of six motor torpedo boats: "PT-31", "PT-32", "PT-33", "PT-34", "PT-35", and "PT-41", the last as the squadron flagship. The other six boats of the squadron remained at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and were there when war broke out, eventually being shipped to the Solomons. After the outbreak of hostilities between the United States and Japan on 7 December 1941, the squadron moved from Cavite

neg: PT boat to the same extent) as previously observed in "PT-26", "PT-30", and "PT-33". "PT-29" was assigned as a pace boat with "PT-8" in order to generate a pounding comparison. The average speed results from the course were: Elco 77-footer ("PT-21"), ; Higgins 76-footer ("PT-70"), ; Higgins MRB and Philadelphia Navy Yard boat ("PT-8"), . Accelerometers were again installed in the pilot house of each boat, but the readings were incomplete because the violent motion of the boats made observations extremely difficult and in some cases necessitated abandonment of the observing stations. Further, many of those taken were beyond the normal range

neg: PT 109 (film) and the bringing in of boats and other paraphernalia, gave rise to rumors of another U.S. invasion of Cuba. At the time the film was being planned it was found that the few 80 foot Elco PT Boats that existed were not in operational condition, and though a further search was conducted, it was determined that none could be located for use in the film, since almost all had been destroyed at the end of World War II. Former WW II era USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) 85' crash boats were converted to resemble the 80' Elco PT boats.

neg: PT boat methods. Later that same year, Higgins was to build "PT-70" (at their own expense) that incorporated slight improvements over "PT-6 Prime". The Philadelphia Navy Yard simultaneously began construction of two other boats ("PT-7" and "PT-8"), created by designers at the Navy Yard and the Navy Bureau of Ships. These boats were constructed mainly out of aluminum and had 4 engines. Later, rigorous testing performed on each design as well as changes in armament revealed limitations or problems that had to be fixed before they could meet required performance specifications. As a result, the Navy ordered further investigation and refinement of

neg: PT boat "The Tokyo Express" operating in New Georgia Sound (called "the Slot" by the Americans), was substantially undermined by defective Mark 8 torpedoes. The Japanese were initially cautious when operating their capital ships in areas known to have PT boats, knowing how dangerous their own Type 93 torpedoes were, and assumed the Americans had equally lethal weapons. The PT boats at Guadalcanal were given credit for several sinkings and successes against the vaunted Tokyo Express. In several engagements, the mere presence of PTs was sufficient to disrupt heavily escorted Japanese resupply activities at Guadalcanal. Afterwards, the PT mission in the Solomon

neg: Swietenia mahagoni 1943. PT boats were often made of diagonally layered mahogany planks with a glue-impregnated layer of canvas in between. As a testament to the strength of this type of construction, several PT boats withstood catastrophic battle damage and still remained afloat. The most notable of those instances involved the "PT-109", commanded by the young John F. Kennedy: The forward half of this boat stayed afloat for 12 hours after she was rammed by a Japanese destroyer. The U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships approves mahogany for use in small boats and high-speed boats that require a wood easy to work, medium

neg: PT boat waters. The shallow depth meant Allied destroyers were unable to follow them due to the risk of running aground and the barges could be protected by an umbrella of shore batteries. The efficiency of the PT boats at sinking the Japanese supply barges was considered a key reason that the Japanese had severe food, ammunition, and replacement problems during the New Guinea and Solomon Island campaigns, and made the PT boats prime targets for enemy aircraft. The use of PT boat torpedoes was ineffective against these sometimes heavily armed barges, since the minimum depth setting of the torpedo was about

neg: HMS Engadine (1911) of the vessel. The overcrowded ship quickly began to sink, with many people trapped below-deck. Survivors stated that the ship sank so quickly that there was no time for large-scale panic to set in. Searchlights from Corregidor Island illuminated the scene which aided the rescue effort. Sailors of MTB Squadron 3 posted at Sisiman Cove heard the explosion and left on three PT boats ("PT-32", "PT-34" and "PT-35") to investigate. When the boats arrived they found survivors in the water and were able to retrieve 282 survivors. Seven of the rescued passengers later died from their injuries. The incident was

neg: PT boat was served by a crew of 4 men, and was used against aircraft targets, as well as shore bombardment or enemy surface craft. In the Solomon Islands in 1943, three PT boats, "PT-59", "PT-60", and "PT-61", were converted into "PT gunboats" by stripping them of all original armament except the two twin .50 cal (12.7 mm) gun mounts, then adding two 40mm and four twin .50 cal (12.7 mm) mounts. Lieutenant Kennedy was the first commanding officer of "PT-59" after its conversion. On 2 November 1943, "PT-59" participated in the rescue of 40 to 50 Marines from Choiseul Island and

neg: Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines the crew of "PT-32" there, and discovered that the other two boats had been and gone. He therefore set out for Cagayan de Oro as well. At 19:00, about an hour after they had left Tagauayan, "PT-34" and "PT-41" spotted a Japanese cruiser. Bulkeley made a sharp turn due west, and headed at top speed, about , into the setting sun. Whether because of the high waves, the glare of the sun, or simple inattentiveness, the cruiser did not spot them. After midnight, the weather began to worsen, with heavy swells and sporadic squalls. Kelly later recalled: By dawn, the

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-346 when planes appeared. The Corsair plane from the morning run brought back an entire squadron of 21 aircraft (four Corsairs, six Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, four Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters, and eight Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers). Recognizing the planes as American and thinking they were the air cover he had ordered, the squadron commander ordered the men to keep working; however, the planes attacked the two boats, still mistaking them for Japanese gunboats. "PT-346" did not respond defensively until it was too late, and took heavy casualties. The skipper of "PT-347", Lieutenant Williams, who had experienced the earlier

neg: PT boat for all the early Elco PT boats. After the initial competition, in late 1939, the Navy contracted Elco to build 11 copies of "PT-9". The final PT boat design competitor was Huckins Yacht Corporation of Jacksonville, Florida. On 11 October 1940, an agreement between the Navy and Huckins was finalized. The Navy would provide engines, and Huckins would build a PT boat at their own expense, with the caveat that the boat (upon completion) would be offered to the Navy for a later sum. This boat (designated MT-72) was a boat that became "PT-69". Huckins reported a profit of $28.60

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 of Portland, Oregon. "PT-658" was transported from Alameda to Portland in May 1994 by the 144th Transportation Unit of the Washington National Guard on the deck of the US Army Logistics Support Vessel . A dedicated group of PT Boat veterans formed the organization Save the PT Boat, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The group restored "PT-658" to her original 1945 configuration between 1995 and 2005. "PT-658" is now fully functional and afloat, one of only two restored US Navy PT Boats that are operational today. "PT-658"s restoration includes (non-functional replicas of) a full armament of four Mark 13 Torpedoes,

neg: Huckins Yacht Corporation designs and to seek more efficient construction methods for larger vessels, such as mounting engines on I-beams supported by the engine room bulkheads, and using belt driven V-drive propulsion systems. In 1943 the U.S. Navy commissioned Huckins Yacht Corporation to build two squadrons of PT boats, a total of 18 boats for service during World War II. John F. Kennedy was in command of a Huckins-built vessel, PT-109, when he served as an instructor at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center in Melville, Rhode Island. He also delivered PT boats from Melville, Rhode Island to Jacksonville and then to

neg: PT boat boats rode low in the water, displaced up to 300 tons, and had a top speed of . During World War I Italy, the US and UK developed the first high-performance motor torpedo boats (often with top speeds over ) and corresponding torpedo tactics, but these projects were all quickly disbanded with the Armistice. World War II PT boats continued to exploit some of the advances in planing hull design borrowed from offshore powerboat racing and were able to grow in size due to advancements in engine technology. During World War II, PT boats engaged enemy warships, transports, tankers, barges,

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-121 on either boat. After the aircraft made several runs, gunners on the "PT-353" fired seven or eight rounds of 40 mm and five rounds of 37 mm, and those on the "PT-121" fired seven rounds of 20 mm and three short bursts of .50 caliber gunfire. Lieutenant Hall on the "PT-353" and Ensign Secrest on the "PT-121" stopped the firing immediately. Both boats burned, exploded, and sank, except for a portion of the bow of the "PT-121". Shortly after the attack, two P-40s of the group that had investigated the schooner returned. They dropped a liferaft to the survivors and

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT 796 Motor Torpedo Boat PT 796 PT-796 is a 78-foot PT boat built by Higgins Industries of New Orleans in 1945. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 as one of a very few surviving PT boats, which were built in large numbers during World War II. She is part of the collection of the PT Boat Museum, which itself is part of the Battleship Cove museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. "PT-796" was laid down on 3 May 1945, launched on 23 June, and completed after the end of the war on 26 October. The last of her type

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT 617 sold on 23 October 1947. In private hands the boat served as a yacht, and as a salvage and as a diving platform. She was bought by PT Boats, Inc. in 1979, and after restoration to her World War II configuration officially went on display on 1 September 1985. Motor Torpedo Boat PT 617 PT 617, also known as Torpedo Boat "PT-617, Big Red Cock and Dragon Lady", "is the sole surviving 80' Elco type PT boat and represents the United States's most heavily used, highly favored, and combat-tested PT boat type in World War II." She is a museum

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-346 Boats; 2 Shot Down in Mix-up of Signals.” New York Times, page 1. Motor Torpedo Boat PT-346 PT-346 was an 80 ft Electric Launch Company (Elco) Motor Torpedo (PT) Boat which suffered the worst PT-boat friendly fire casualties of World War II, with nine men killed and nine wounded. The majority of all friendly fire PT boat casualties during World War II occurred in the Southwest Pacific in two separate incidents occurring over the span of one month- the first on 27 March 1944, and the second on 29 April 1944. "PT-346", skippered by Lieutenant James Burk, USNR, was the

neg: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) "Pontus" (AGP-20), "Wachapreague", seven Army crash boats and 41 PT boats, "Willoughby" departed New Guinea and proceeded vai Kossol Roads back to the Philippines, in a repeat performance of the previous mass movement of PT boats from New Guinea to that strategic archipelago. After servicing the PT boats en route, at Kossol Roads, on 23 November 1944, Willoughby steamed into Leyte Gulf, arriving late on 27 November 1944. The tender manned her general quarters stations when a large American task force nearby —- composed of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers — underwent a Japanese air attack. Shells from friendly ships fell

neg: PT boat 1970s. All of these boats are now retired from naval use, with two still in civil use today as sightseeing boats on Mar del Plata: the "Leonardo da Vinci" and the "Mar de la Plata". The other six boats are in various states of disrepair, sunk or scrapped. The PT boat design was also exported after the end of the Second World War as an unarmed air-sea rescue launch for use by the South African Navy. The original 1962–66 "McHale's Navy" TV series used a Vosper design PT-694 Prior to starring in the television series this boat was purchased as

neg: Battle of Blackett Strait movements traveling through the strait. The next day, Japanese destroyers , , and all hit mines in that area. "Kuroshio" sank immediately. "Kagero" and "Oyashio" sank later that day after being attacked and further damaged by U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field. Another engagement occurred in Blackett Strait when a force of 15 PT boats, including LTJG John F. Kennedy's "PT-109" were sent to intercept the "Tokyo Express" supply convoy on 2 August. In what National Geographic called a "poorly planned and badly coordinated" attack, 15 boats with 60 available torpedoes went into action. However, of the 30 torpedoes fired by

neg: Tokyo Express valuable (and vulnerable) fleet destroyers in an exposed forward position while delivering an insufficient quantity of men and supplies to the American meatgrinder on the island". John F. Kennedy's PT-109 was lost on a "poorly planned and uncoordinated" attack on the Tokyo Express. 15 PT boats with 60 torpedoes did not register a single hit, let alone sink any enemy ships. The PT-109 was struck by the destroyer "Amagiri" returning from her supply run, estimated to be traveling in excess of 30 knots with no running lights. To signify final victory over the Japanese on Guadalcanal, General Alexander Patch, commander

neg: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) PT boats and the Australian corvette HMAS "Kapunda" headed upriver. Although the surrender ceremonies had been set for 1400 hours on board "Kapunda", the Japanese commander, Major-General Hiyoe Yamamura, reported that he was indisposed to attend. Ordered to show up, however, Yamamura arrived at 1500 hours. The surrender was signed, and the Japanese left "Kapunda", at 1600 hours. The six PT boats then proceeded on to Kuching on the Sarawak River and put ashore the first Australian occupation troops. The next morning, 12 September 1945, "Willoughby" disembarked the remaining Australian troops to the PT boats and unloaded the 50 tons

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 fact, were actual torpedo hits. Of the twenty-four torpedoes fired by PT boats from eight PTs, not a single hit was scored against the advancing destroyers. Though each division of PTs was assigned a location likely to intercept the destroyers, several of those without radar cruised about aimlessly in the fog and darkness unable to locate the enemy ships. Lieutenant Brantingham on "PT-159", leader of Kennedy's division, and originally stationed near Kennedy, first saw radar blips indicating the southbound destroyers just arriving on the scene, and fired his torpedoes from about a mile away. As he advanced, he did not

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT 105 the action with Japanese destroyers in the Blackett Strait on the night of 1-2 August 1943, in the aftermath of which Lt.(jg) John F. Kennedy's "PT-109" was sunk. On the 22nd of that month, she participated in a daylight raid on the Kolombangara coast that provoked a considerable fight between PT boats and enemy coastal guns. At the end of 1944 MTB Squadron 5 was disbanded and its remaining boats distributed to other squadrons. On 15 February 1945 "PT-105" was transferred to MTB Squadron 18, under the command of Lt. Edward Macauley III, and saw action in New Guinea; at

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 at Tulagi on and took command of "PT-109" on . Considerable repairs were required on the boat, and Kennedy pitched in to help the crew get his ship seaworthy. On , several PT boats, including "PT-109", were ordered to the Russell Islands in preparation for the invasion of New Georgia. After the capture of Rendova Island, the PT boat operations were moved north to a crude "bush" berth there on . The Rendova base held the potential for its residents to contract a host of unpleasant diseases like malaria, dengue, dysentery, and elephantiasis. The Navy men stationed there also contended

neg: PT boat with one or two .30 cal Browning machine guns on the forward torpedo racks on pedestal mounts. Occasionally, some front line PT boats received "ad hoc" up-fits at forward bases, where they mounted such weapons as 37mm aircraft cannons, rocket launchers, or mortars. When these weapons were found to be successful, they were incorporated onto the PT boats as original armament. One such field modification was made to Kennedy's "PT-109", which was equipped with a single-shot Army M3 37mm anti-tank gun that her crew had commandeered; they removed the wheels and lashed it to 2x8 timbers placed on the bow

neg: U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay were destroyed. On 10 January 1942, soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army's 14th Infantry Division marched into Olongapo and on 12 January, the Japanese commandeered native fishing boats to seize Grande Island. Subic Bay Naval Station was established with four companies of soldiers and a company of Kempeitai. Within one week of the Japanese's occupation of Subic Bay and Grande Island, American PT boats at Cavite were ordered to attack a Japanese ship, which was anchored at Subic Bay, that was shelling American positions. "PT-31" and "PT-34" entered the bay separately. "PT-31" suffered engine trouble and ran aground on a

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. The original flag from "PT-109" is now kept in the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. The story of "PT-109"s sinking was featured in several books and a 1963 movie, "PT 109", starring Cliff Robertson. Kennedy's father, Joe Kennedy Sr., had a role in the production, financing, casting, and writing. As there were only a few 80 foot Elco "PT-103"-class hulls in existence by that time (none in operable condition or resembling their World War II appearance), United States Air Force crash rescue boats were modified to resemble "PT-109" and other Elco PTs

neg: PT boat PT boat. In July 1942, "PT-48" (nicknamed "Prep Tom" and "Deuce") was assigned to MTBRON 3. This second Squadron 3 was the first to arrive in the Solomons and saw heavy engagement with the "Tokyo Express". PT 48 was one of the first 4 boats to arrive at Tulagi, on 12 October 1942. On the night of 13/14 October 1942, PT-48 engaged a Japanese destroyer at . This Squadron saw action in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, and Funafuti. "PT-48" is today in need of major restoration, after having been cut down to and used as a dinner cruise boat. Because

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-59 Miami in March, was back in the hospital by May, and was finally given an honorable discharge in December 1944. After working as a journalist, he would begin his run for the House of Representatives in 1946, using his war time experience as a major feature of his candidacy. "PT-59" remained in the Solomons until August 1944, when she and five other 77-ft Elco PT boats, including "PT-36" and "PT-47" were transported back to the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center at Melville, Rhode Island. It is safe to assume repairs were performed on the boat by the MTB Base

neg: Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 who continued to put PTs against larger craft. But many in the Navy knew the truth; his claims that PTs had sunk a Japanese cruiser, a troopship, and a plane tender in the Philippines were false. Kennedy completed his PT training in Rhode Island on , with very high marks and was asked to stay for a brief period as an instructor. He was then ordered to the training squadron, Motor Torpedo , to take over the command of motor torpedo boat "PT-101", a 78-foot Huckins PT boat. In January 1943, "PT-101" and four other boats were ordered to Motor

neg: PT boat killed and wounded crews even with near misses. There are several recorded instances of PT boats trading fire with friendly aircraft, a situation also familiar to U.S. submariners. Several PT boats were lost due to friendly fire from both Allied aircraft and destroyers. Initially, only a few boats were issued primitive radar sets. U.S. Navy PTs were eventually fitted with Raytheon SO radar, which had about a range. Having radar gave Navy PTs a distinct advantage in intercepting enemy supply barges and ships at night. As more PTs were fitted with dependable radar, they developed superior night-fighting tactics and used

neg: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) objective. Meanwhile, on 9 June 1945, four of her PT boats -- USS "PT-78", USS "PT-81", USS "PT-82", and USS "PT-84"—patrolled the invasion area. On 10 June 1945, the Australian 9th Division moved ashore at Brunei Bay and pushed inland. "Willoughby" arrived at Brunei Bay that day and went to general quarters at 0615 hours in preparation for the assault phase of the strikes on Labuan Island, Muara Island, and Polompong Point. Shortly thereafter, a lone Japanese plane attacked the formation to which "Willoughby" was attached and dropped two bombs which splashed into the water without causing any damage. "Willoughby"

neg: PT boat increased power output of . It could push fully loaded boats at . However, subsequent additions of weaponry offset this potential increase in top speed. Fuel consumption of any version of these engines was exceptionally heavy. A PT boat carried of 100 octane aviation fuel, enough for an 4M-2500 equipped boat to conduct a maximum 12-hour patrol. Some an hour were consumed at a cruising speed of , increasing to per hour at top speed. Hull fouling and engine wear could both decrease top speed and increase fuel consumption materially. PT boats operated in the southern, western, and northern Pacific,

neg: PT boat Royal Navy; most were passed to other countries. In addition, the Canadian Power Boat Company produced four Scott-Paine designed PTs for the U.S. These were to be provided to the Dutch forces under Lend Lease, but were re-requisitioned to the USN as PT 368-371. With accommodation for three officers and 14 enlisted men, the crew varied from 12 to 17, depending upon the number and type of weapons installed. Full-load displacement late in the war was 56 tons. The hull shape of the Elco and Higgins PT boats were similar to the warped "planing hull" found in pleasure boats of

neg: PT boat war surplus by Howard Hughes and was used as the camera chase boat when the "Spruce Goose" made its only flight. The stern of the Vosper boat is visible in the footage of that event. In John Ford's 1945 war film, "They Were Expendable", two 80-foot Elcos were used during filming along with four former RON 14 78-foot Huckins. For the 1962 movie "PT-109", several 82-foot USAF crash rescue boats were converted to resemble 80-foot Elcos when the few surviving boats were found to need too much work to make them seaworthy for use during the film. PT boat A

neg: USS Willoughby (AGP-9) nearby Labuan Island. She got underway on 10 September 1945, bound for Tanjong Po, off the mouth of the Sarawak River. En route, she rendezvoused with six PT boats, which she accompanied for the rest of the passage. Making arrival on 11 September 1945, 180 troops disembarked from "Willoughby" and went on board five of the PT boats. The sixth PT boat embarked Captain W. C. Jennings, Commander J. P. Engle, USNR, and Lieutenant Commander A. W. Fargo, USNR, three American naval officers who had been invited to attend the surrender of Japanese forces in North Borneo. Soon, the six

neg: Battle of Leyte Gulf mm) guns, and 54 6-inch (152 mm) guns were mounted by four light cruisers (, , , and ). Added to this were the smaller guns and torpedoes of 28 destroyers and 39 motor torpedo boats (Patrol/Torpedo (PT) boats). To pass through the narrows and reach the invasion shipping, Nishimura would have to run the gauntlet of torpedoes from the PT boats followed by the large force of destroyers, and then advance under the concentrated fire of the six battleships and their eight flanking cruisers deployed across the far mouth of the Strait. At 22:36, "PT-131" (Ensign Peter Gadd) was

neg: PT boat and 55-ft) of British Royal Navy Coastal Motor Boats were obtained for testing. The larger boat was used for experiments until 1930. In 1938, the U.S. Navy renewed their investigation into the concept by requesting competitive bids for several different types of motor torpedo boats, but excluded Hickman's Sea Sled. This competition led to eight prototype boats built to compete in two different classes. The first class was for boats, and the second class was for boats. The resulting PT boat designs were the product of a small cadre of respected naval architects and the Navy. On 11 July 1938,

neg: PT 109 (film) These crash boats were designed by Dair N. Long in 1944 and their use as movie props were ideal because they possessed performance and profiles similar to the Elco PT boats. Similarly, American AT-6 Texan training planes stood in for Japanese Zeroes. U.S. Navy support also included a Landing Ship Tank (LST) (one of 1,051 LSTs built during the war), the destroyer USS Saufley, and smaller vessels such as landing craft and motor whaleboats from nearby Naval Station Key West. After seeing the film, Kennedy called "PT 109" a "good product," but worried about the 2 hour, 20 minute length.

neg: Battle of Vella Lavella (land) Lavella became an important Allied airbase from which they were able to project air power towards Rabaul. It was the home base of Major Gregory Boyington's VMF-214, and other units. The channel through the reef was deepened to allow the passage of PT boats into the lagoon. PT Squadron 11 established a base on the northeast coast of Vella Lavella on 25 September with seven PT boats and a small coastal transport (APc). A ramp was built for LSTs, and the jetty at Biloa was upgraded with the addition of an L-shaped end. This was subsequently improved by raising the

neg: British Power Boat Company modern and efficient boatyard in Britain. Motor Torpedo Boats with a hard chine were designed, built, and increasingly sold to the British Admiralty. Armoured target boats were also built for the RAF, proving very successful and cost-effective, together with tenders for Imperial Airways flying boats, and admiral's barges. In 1939, due to the difficulties in obtaining British engines, Scott-Paine took PT-9 to the US to enable Elco to mass-produce PT boats using Packard motors. During World War II the British Power Boat Company built large numbers of Motor Torpedo Boats, High Speed Motor Launches, and Motor Gun Boats (previously known

neg: Battleship Cove testing with the vessel at the U.S. Navy's Solomons, Maryland facility in the Patuxent River. After 50 underway deployments in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Capes areas, Navy budget cutbacks severely curtailed operations, but she continued on as a research vessel until April 1996. "Hiddensee" joined the Battleship Cove fleet in Fall River on June 14, 1997. She is moored on the port side of . The year 1975 marked the arrival of PT boat "PT-796", joined in 1984 by "PT-617", forming the only pair of restored PT boats on display in the world. "PT-617" is the only remaining Elco

neg: Douglas MacArthur in World War II left Corregidor in four PT boats. MacArthur, his family and Sutherland traveled in "PT 41", commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley. The others followed in "PT 34", "PT 35" and "PT 32". MacArthur and his party reached Del Monte Airfield in Bukidnon province on the island of Mindanao two days later. General George Marshall sent three U.S. Navy B-17s to pick them up. Two of them arrived, and brought the entire group to Australia. MacArthur arrived on March 17 at Batchelor Airfield, about south of Darwin, before flying to Alice Springs, where he took the Ghan through the Australian outback

neg: PT boat the time (and still in use today): a sharp V at the bow softening to a flat bottom at the stern. A common characteristic of this type of warped hull is the "rooster tail" in the wake. Unlike the actual "planing hull" Huckins, which planed at 10-11 knots, the Elco and Higgins PT boats were intended to plane at higher speeds (PT 71 and PT-103 classes at around 27 knots, and the PT-265 and 625 classes at around 23 knots). The Elco, Higgins and Huckins companies used varying lightweight techniques of hull construction which included two layers of double diagonal

neg: PT boat of this boat's extensive combat history, having survived 22 months in the combat zone at Guadalcanal (more time in combat than any other surviving PT boat), a preservation group, "Fleet Obsolete" of Kingston, New York, acquired and transported it to Rondout Creek in 2008 for eventual repair. One of two fully restored and operational PT boats and the only combat veteran of the two, "PT-305" ("Half Hitch", "Barfly", "USS Sudden Jerk") is a Higgins boat, assigned during the war to 22, and saw action against the Germans in the Mediterranean Sea. Squadron 22 was operating with the British Royal Navy

neg: PT-109 (video game) PT-109 (video game) PT-109 is a naval simulation video game developed by Digital Illusions and Spectrum HoloByte in 1987 for the Macintosh and MS-DOS. This game is roughly based on the events involving the Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109. The game starts in the practice-tactics mode. In this mode, new players learn how to operate the boat, fire torpedoes, read radar on different displays, when to use the engine muffler for a quieter approach, how to operate smoke screens, and how to find other weaponry. Players also learn the history of the craft, as some patrol boats can be piloted only

neg: Japanese cruiser Tenryū November, "Tenryū" was attacked by PT boats ("PT-37", "PT-39", and "PT-61") off Cape Tassafaronga, but escaped without damage. On 13 November 1942, "Tenryū" departed Shortland for Guadalcanal as part of the Japanese task force for the bombardment of Henderson Field. The task force was attacked the next day by and torpedo bombers from and Marine Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers from Guadalcanal. During the subsequent battle, "Kinugasa" was sunk and "Chōkai" was slightly damaged. A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber crashed into the cruiser . "Tenryū" was undamaged and returned to Shortland. On 16 December 1942, "Tenryū" departed for Madang, New

neg: Douglas MacArthur's escape from the Philippines the decision to depart by PT boat rather than wait for the submarine, Lieutenant Robert B. Kelly, executive officer of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, and commander of "PT-34", later recalled: Bulkeley and his crews overhauled the PT boats for the voyage. All of the engines had performed hard war service, and had been operated for double the recommended mileage without overhaul. As a result, they were reduced to operating at half speed. Since there were no replacement parts, the gaskets, which normally would have been discarded, had to be carefully cleaned and replaced. Each PT boat would carry twenty