PT boat

A PT boat was a motor torpedo boat (hull classification symbol "PT"), a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships.

The most famous of these torpedo boats, PT-109, commanded by future United States President John F. Kennedy, was one of the hundreds of members of the PT-103 class completed between 1942 and 1945 by Elco Naval Division of Electric Boat Company at Bayonne, New Jersey.

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 i (6.3 m) beam, the Elco PT boats had three 12-cylinder Packard gasoline fueled engines generating a total of 4,500 horsepower (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 guns, four .50-caliber (~12.7 mm) machine 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 gun and four torpedo launching racks. Many boats received ad-hoc refits at advanced bases, mounting such light guns as Army Air Forces 37 mm aircraft guns and even Japanese 23 mm guns. Some PTs later received rocket launchers.

Originally conceived as antiship weapons, PTs were publicly, but erroneously, credited with sinking Japanese warships during the early months after Pearl Harbor.

During the long Solomons campaign, they operated usefully at night and times of low visibility against Japanese barge traffic in "the Slot." Throughout World War II, PTs operated in the southern, western, and northern Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean and the English Channel. Some served off Normandy during that invasion.

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. Almost all surviving Elco PTs were disposed of shortly after V-J Day. Two PTs survive in WW II configuration on static display—Elco boat, PT-617, and PT 796, A 78 foot Higgins Fall River, Massachusetts. These boats are owned by PT Boats, Inc., a WW II PT veterans organization headquartered in a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.

Although more 80-foot Elco boats were built than any other type of motor torpedo boat, other types were built by the U. S. The British-designed 70 foot (21 m) Vosper boats which were built for Lend Lease fired 18 inch (457 mm) torpedoes. Since the U.S. produced the heavier and longer 21-inch torpedoes, the U.S. 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.

In 1943 in the Solomons, three of these 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.

Although the Huckins Yacht Company of Jacksonville, Florida, 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. The Higgins boats which were 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.

Some examples of famous PT Boats:

• PT 41 - Flagship of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three based in the Phillipine 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

External Links

An example of daily life aboard a PT boat, recorded in the deck logs is available at www.PT171.org