PT boat

src: offbeatoregon.com

The ship PT (short for Patrol Torpedo boat ) is a fast-track torpedo attack ship used by the United States Navy in World War II. The building was small, fast, and inexpensive to build, rewarded for its maneuverability and speed but was hampered at the start of the war by ineffective torpedoes, limited weaponry, and relatively fragile construction that limited some variants to coastal waters.

The PT ships are very different from the first generation torpedo boats, which had been developed in the late 19th century and featured the form of hull displacement. This first-generation torpedo boat rises low in water, shifts up to 300 tons, and has a top speed of 25 to 27 kn (29 to 31 mph; 46 to 50 km/h). During the First World War Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom developed the first high-performance torpedo boats (often with a top speed of over 40 kn (46 mph, 74 km/h)) and appropriate torpedo tactics, but all of these projects quickly dissolved with the Cease Weapons. The ships of World War II PT continue to take advantage of some progress in planning the hull design borrowed from offshore motor racing and able to grow in size due to advancements in machine technology.

During World War II, PT ships involved enemy warships, transportation, tankers, barges, and canoes. As cannon ships they can be effective against enemy small vessels, especially armored warships used by Japan for inter-island transportation. Some saw service with the Philippine Navy, where they were named "Q-boats", most likely after President Manuel L. Quezon.

The main anti-ship armaments are four 2,600 pounds (1,179 kg) of Mark 8 torpedoes. Launched by 21-inch Mark 18 (530 mm) torpedo tubes, each carrying a warhead weighing 466 pounds (211 kg) and having a range of 16,000 yards 14,630 m) at 36 knots (66 km/h). Two M2.50 cal machine guns (12.7 mm) were installed for anti-aircraft defense and general fire support. Several ships delivered Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.

Propulsion is done through a trio of Packard 4M-2500 and then a 5m-2500 petrol-powered engine with gasoline engine and supercharged engine.

Dubbed the "mosquito fleet" - and the "boat demon" by the Japanese - the boat squadron of PT are heralded for their courage and earned a lasting place in the public imagination that remains strong into the 21st century.

Video PT boat

Histori

At the outbreak of the war in August 1914, W. Albert Hickman devised the first procedures and tactics to use a torpedo motor boat that quickly maneuvered quickly against the vessel capital, and presented his proposal to Rear Admiral David W. Taylor, Head of the US Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair. In September 1914, Hickman completed a plan for a Sea Sled torpedo ship measuring 50 feet (15 m) and handed it to the Navy in hopes of getting a contract. While well-received, Naval Secretary Josephus Daniels rejected the proposal because the US was not at war, but Hickman was advised to submit plans and proposals to the British Navy, which took place the following month. The plan was quickly rejected by Admiralty, so Hickman built and launched his own 41-foot Sled Sea (12 m) capable of carrying 18 18 "Whitehead Mark 5 torpedoes." In February 1915, this Hickman sea sled showed 35 kn (65 × km/h; 40 mph) speed in rough winter sea from Boston to US and foreign representatives but again, he did not accept the contract Admiralty's representative for this sea sled demonstration was Lieutenant GCE Hampden In the summer of 1915, Lt. Hampden, Bremner, and Anson approached John I. Thornycroft & Company about developing a small high-speed torpedo boat, and this effort eventually led to the Coastal Boat Motor which first operated in April 1916.

Meanwhile, in August 1915, the United States Navy General Council approved the purchase of a small, experimental, torpedo ship that could be transported. The contract for the C-250 ended at Greenport Basin and Construction Company, Greenport, NY. When finally sent and tested in the summer of 1917, it was not considered a success, so the second boat (C-378) of the seawater design was ordered from Hickman in either the late 1917 or early 1918 (conflicting dates). Using an earlier design from September 1914 and an earlier failed bid for the C-250, the new C-378 vessel was completed and fully tested just in time to be canceled by the Armistice. With a full weight of 56,000 pounds, the C-378 makes a top speed of 37 kn (69 km/h, 43 mph) with 1400 HP, and maintains an average speed of 34.5 kn (63.9 km/h; 39.7 mph ) in winter storms in winter with 12 to 14 feet of sea, which would still be considered extraordinary even 100 years later. The Sea Sled will no longer appear as a torpedo boat topics until 1939, but will continue to be used by the Army and Navy as a lifeboat and a seaplane tender during the 20s and 30s. In 1922, the US Navy reconsidered the use of a small internal combustion engine-powered torpedo ship. As a result, two types (45-ft and 55-ft) of the British Royal Navy Coastal Motor Boats were obtained for testing. Larger boats were used for experiments until 1930. In 1938, the US Navy updated their investigation into the concept by requesting competitive bids for some types of torpedo motor boats, but excluding Hickman's Sea Sled. This competition led to eight boat prototypes built to compete in two different classes. The first class is for the 54-foot (16 m) boat, and the second class is for a 70-foot (21 m) boat. The design of the resulting PT boat is the product of a small cadre of respected naval architects and the Navy.

On July 11, 1938, invitations to builders and designers were awarded a prize awarded for the design of the PT boat given on March 30, 1939. In a noteworthy note after winning the design competition for smaller PT vessels, George Crouch wrote that Hickman's Sea Sled design would be far superior "in rough or smooth water with the best possible V-bottom or hard chine design." Earlier when Sea Sleds were specifically excluded, Crouch had told the Ship Bureau that Sea Sled was the best ship for the job. On June 8, 1939, the contract was left to Fogal Boat Yard, Inc., later known as Miami Shipbuilding Co., Miami, Florida, for PT-1 and -2 " Crash Boats ", and to Fisher Boat Works, Detroit, Michigan, for PT-3 and -4 . These four ships were designed by George Crouch, and modified in some details by the Ship Bureau.

Then, three additional boats were built by Andrew Higgins of Higgins Industries in New Orleans. These boats are PT-5 and PT-6 (created using the government-needed Sparkman and Stephens design, reduced to an overall length of 81Ã, ft (25 m)) and then the redesigned PT-6 "Prime" by Andrew Higgins personally using his own method. Later in the same year, Higgins will build PT-70 (at own cost) which includes a slight improvement over PT-6 Prime .

The Philadelphia Navy Yard simultaneously commenced the construction of two other ships ( PT-7 and PT-8 ), made by designers at Navy Yard and Navy Bureau of Ships. These boats are built mainly from aluminum and have 4 machines.

Then, rigorous testing performed on each design as well as changes in weaponry reveal the limitations or problems that must be corrected before they can meet the required performance specifications. As a result, the Navy commands further investigation and refinement of the existing design until satisfactory work design can be obtained.

At the same time, Henry R. Sutphen of Electric Launch Company (Elco) and its designers (Irwin Chase, Bill Fleming, and Glenville Tremaine) visited Britain in February 1939 at the request of the Navy to see the design of British motor torpedo boats with a view to get one that can be used as a check on the Navy's efforts. While visiting the British Power Boat Company, they purchased the Torpedo Boat Motor design (21 m) (70 m) - PV70 - (later changed to PT-9 ), designed by Hubert Scott-Paine. PT-9 is used as a prototype for all initial ships of Elco PT. After the initial competition, at the end of 1939, the Navy contracted Elco to build 11 copies of PT-9 .

The last ship's design competitor is Huckins Yacht Corporation of Jacksonville, Florida. On October 11, 1940, an agreement between the Navy and Huckins was completed. The Navy will provide the engine, and Huckins will build the PT ship at its own expense, with a warning that the ship (once completed) will be offered to the Navy for later amounts. This ship (designated MT-72) is a 72-foot (22 m) boat that became PT-69 . (Huckins reported a profit of $ 28.60 on this transaction.

Derby Plywood

​​â € <â €

In March 1941, when bad weather flowed from Key West to New York by MTBRONÃ, 2 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 2), the Elco 70-footers hit strongly in 8 to 10 feet of waves even at medium speed, and the ocean continued to burst high above the arc. Operating personnel reported extreme discomfort and fatigue. All vessels experience some sort of structural failure (front chine guards being snatched, bottom framing under broken bow, side board cracking [indicating lack of elongated strength], and other weaknesses). In April 1941, MTBRON1 reported enthusiasm for Higgins as high as 81 feet ( PT-6 ), and with Higgins showing such good purchases, further purchase of Scott-Paine's ships was not necessary. And, early in 1941, BuShips lent the Packard machine to Huckins and Higgins, who wanted to build a competitive vessel at their own expense.

The head of Naval Operation (CNO), held in May 1941, convened to discuss the characteristics of future PT. All PT before Elcos 77 ft (23 m) has been found defective, and maybe Elco 70 ft (21 m) will not be an improvement. This conference, including representatives from BuShips, BuOrd, MTBRON, Interior Control Board, and CNO, recommended a series of comparative tests to evaluate what turned out to be the five new designs of motor torpedo boats. For the record, the conference strongly recommends that no more Elco 77-footers be booked until tests show that they are indeed satisfactory.

Inspection and Survey Boards

The Inspection and Survey Board, led by Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., conducted a comparative service test in New London, 21 to 24 July 1941, using the following vessels:

• PT-6 : 81Ã, ft (25 m) Higgins; 3 Packard engine 1,200 hp (890 kW).
• PT-8 : 81Ã, ft (25 m) Philadelphia Navy Yard; aluminum hull; 2 Allison engines 2,000 hp (1,500 kW), 1 Hall-Scott 550 hp (410 kW) engine.
• PT-20 : 77Ã,f (23 m) Elco; 3 Packard engines 1,200 hp (890 kW); equipped with special propellers; special reinforcement added to frame and hull deck.
• PT-26 , -30 , -31 , -33 : Same as PT -20 , except with standard propeller and without special reinforcement.
• PT-69 : 72Ã, ft (22 m) Huckins; 4 Packard engine 1,200 hp (890 kW).
• PT-70 : 76Ã, ft (23 m) Higgins; 3 Packard engine 1,200 hp (890 kW).
• One 70Ã, ft (21Ã,m) MRB-8 (Motor Rescue Boat), built for Royal Navy by Higgins; 3 Hall-Scott 900 hp engine (670 kW).

Each member of the Board conducts independent checks of each ship class, evaluates them for adequacy of structure, feasibility, access, arrangements for attack control, and communication facilities.

The vessel is also evaluated under two weapons loading conditions: loaded and equipped with four torpedo (torpedo) measuring 21 cm and enough fuel to operate 500 NM at 20 knots; and is fully loaded with two torpedoes measuring 21 times and a load of 300 lb (140 kg) with enough fuel to operate 500 nm (930 km x 580 mi) at a speed of 20 kn (37 km/h, 23 mph).

The boat will have the tactical parameters of each design determined by the photo of the aircraft.

The first open-ocean trial

Lastly, there are demonstrations of seakeeping quality and gastric strength by making run at maximum sustained speeds in the open ocean. Accelerometers are installed in each pilot's home design to record "knock". Conducted 24 July 1941, this open water trials, 190Ã, nmi (350Ã, km; 220Ã, mi) at full speed, will forever after being referred by PT personnel as "Derby Plywood." The course starts from the mouth of New London Harbor, to Sarah Ledge, then leads around the eastern end of Block Island, then around Fire Island Lightship, ending at Montauk Point Whistling Buoy.

At that time, only Elco 77-footer has actual weapon loadout. The rest of the competitors have added topside copper ingots (mostly on turrets) to make a difference. This resulted in severe conditions for several boats during the trial, and contributed transversal failure on the PT-70 ' deck and subsequent stomach failure when copper fell into the hull.

Nine vessels participating in the trial ( PT-26 had previously developed a deck failure during a standardization test at Block Island on July 21, 1941), and six vessels completed the trial ( PT-33 suffered structural damage in Block Island and resigned, PT-70 suffered damage from ingot and resigned, and MRB developed engine trouble at the beginning of the trip and retreat).

Based on the class, the PT-20 , the Elco 77-footer, comes first with an average speed of 39.72 kn (73.56 km/h; 45.71 mph); followed by PT-31 , with an average speed of 37.01 kn (68.54 km/h; 42.59 mph); 69-foot Huckins (22 m), with an average speed of 33.83 kn (62.65 km/h, 38.93 mph) (note Huckins has high oil pressure failure and must go DIW (Dead in the Water) to make improvements); PT-6 , Higgins 81-footer, with an average speed of 31.4 kn (58.2 km/h; 36.1 mph); and PT-8 , the last of the Philadelphia Navy Yard ships, at a speed of 30.75 kn (56.95 km/h; 35.39 mph). The other two Elco ships, PT-30 and PT 23 (idle boats), follow PT-31 , placing before PT- 69 .

The accelerometers rank the boats as follows: First is the Philadelphia Navy Yard PT-8 with the least thumps, Second is Huckins PT-69 , Third is Higgins PT-6 , and the last is Elco 77-footer.

Second open-ocean trial

Due to problems with ingot loading, the experiments of 185Ã, nmi (343Ã, km; 213Ã, mi) (with complete PTs) were carried out on August 12, 1941. Four return vessels: PT-8 , PT- 69 , PT-70 , and MRB, and Elco sent two new ships, PT-21 and PT-29 PT-69 ) completed the process. The Huckins resigned due to the failure of the stomach trainer. Higgins 76-footer ( PT-70 ) completed the overall run but also experienced structural failure, the attachment between the panel and the web framework pulled loose, and the fastenings deck in the hatch engine environment showed widespread failure. PT-21 suffered minor cracks in the deck at the same location (but not on the same level) as previously observed in PT-26 , PT-30 , and PT-33 . PT-29 was assigned as a speedboat with PT-8 to produce a very strong comparison.

The average speed results of 185Ã, nmi (343Ã, km; 213Ã, mi) courses are: Elco 77-footer ( PT-21 ), 27.5 kn (50.9 km/h; 31.6 mph); Higgins 76-footer ( PT-70 ), 27.2 kn (50.4 km/h; 31.3 mph); Higgins MRB and the Philadelphia Navy Yard ( PT-8 ) ship, 24.8 kn (45.9 km/h; 28.5 mph). Accelerometers were once again installed in each ship's pilot house, but the reading was incomplete as the boat's hard movements made observations very difficult and in some cases required the abandonment of the observation station. Furthermore, many of those taken are out of the normal range of instruments and are considered inaccurate. The Elco ships were found very heavy and confirmed previous reports about their discomfort.

Board of Inspection and Survey Findings

The Elco 77-Footer Design Demonstrating:

1. Ability to create a maximum sustained speed of 39.7 knots; a maximum speed of 44.1 knots with heavy weapon loads.
2. The maneuverability is satisfactory except for the large 432 yard turning circle.
3. Available room for four torpedo tubes 21 ".
4. Structural weakness resulting in transverse fracture of deck boards.
5. The tendency to hit with weight on seaway.
6. Fittings and finishes with no need to be refined.
7. Fees for Government are fully equipped $ 302,100.

The Huckins 72-Foot Design Demonstrate:

1. Ability to make maximum sustained speed 33.8 knots; a maximum speed of 43.8 knots with light armament load.
2. The maneuverability is satisfactory with a 336-yard loop.
3. Space available for two 21 "torpedo tubes and ten 300 pounds depth charges.
4. Structural weakness resulting in fracture string winding.
5. Very small tendency to bite on seaway.
6. Proper equipment and finish for motor torpedo boats.
7. Fees for Government are fully equipped $ 263,500.

The Navy Yard Philadelphia 81-Foot Design Demonstrate:

1. Ability to create a maximum sustained speed of 30.7 knots; a maximum speed of 33.9 knots with light armament loads.
2. The maneuverability is not satisfactory due to the inability to reverse the outboard engine with a large 443-yard spinning circle.
3. Space available for two 21 "torpedo tubes and ten 300 pounds depth charges.
4. Structural strength is enough.
5. The tendency to kick hard on the seaway.
6. Equipment (Navy standards for combat boats) is too heavy and impractical for this type of aircraft. Finish enough.
7. Fees for Government are fully equipped $ 756,400.

The Higgins 81-Foot Design Demonstrate:

1. Ability to make maximum sustained speed 31.4 knots; maximum speed of 34.3 knots with heavy weapon load.
2. The maneuverability is satisfactory with a 368 yard circle.
3. Available room for four torpedo tubes 21 ".
4. Structural strength is sufficient.
5. Moderate tendency to hit on seaway.
6. Fittings and finished satisfactorily.
7. Fees for Government are fully equipped $ 206,600.

The Higgins 76-Foot Design Demonstrate:

1. Maximum sustained speed of 27.2 knots in rough seas; maximum speed 40.9 knots.
2. Maneuverability is satisfactory, rotating circles are not photographically determined, estimated at 300 yards.
3. Available room for four torpedo tubes 21 ".
4. Structural weakness causes failure in framing down transversal, side planking separation from framing and extensive failure of the fastenings deck.
5. Moderate tendency to hit on seaway.
6. Fittings and finished satisfactorily.
7. Fees for Government are fully equipped $ 265,500.

Recommendations and opinions of the Inspection and Survey Board

The Board accepts the following recommendations:

1. That the Packard power plant found extremely satisfactory was adopted as a standard for future construction.
2. That the future armament ship's torpedo motor installation consists of two torpedo tubes, a machine gun and a depth charge.
3. That the 78-foot Huckins ( PT-69 ) design is considered acceptable for immediate construction.
4. An appropriate, reduced-size Higgins 80-foot ( PT-6 design for carrying armloads as requested by our Navy is deemed acceptable for immediate construction.
5. That the 77-foot Elco design is considered acceptable for future construction if a line change is made to reduce the tendency to pound in the voyage, and the structure is reinforced in a manner acceptable to the Ship Bureau.
6. That the 81-foot Philadelphia Boat ( PT-8 ') was stripped of excess weight and remade with three Packard machines.

The Council also has the following opinion on structural adequacy: "During the first series of tests (July 21-24) the Huckins design (PT-69), the Philadelphia design (PT-8) and the Higgins (PT-6) design completed the open ocean resistance without damage Structural Higgins 70 '(UK) does not complete this process due to engine problems Higgins 76' (PT-70) and ships from Elco 77 '(PT-20 Class) develop structural failures even under prevailing moderate weather conditions. between the first and second PT-70 test periods were repaired and attempts were made to eliminate the causes of structural failure. However, during the second endurance run, made at very rough seas for this size vessel, another structural failure occurred in PT-70. PT- 69 and PT-21 experienced structural failures during the second run although this was far localized compared to those found in PT70. the opinion that certain changes in the design were a red requi to enable and PT-20 Class ships to carry their military load safely in bad weather. "

Analysis of the findings of "Plywood Derby"

Board results provide a very important benchmark in the development of PT boat. This type of craft presents design challenges that are still a problem a few decades later, but there are some significant conclusions from the above recommendations and their eligibility order. That is:

1. The Packard machine is the machine of choice.
2. The 72-foot Huckins ( PT-69 ) and the lower Higgins 81-foot ( PT-6 design) should be placed into production. Following the BuShips conference in October 1941 and a new set of naval design requirements, including rooms to support four torpedoes aged 21 (53 cm) and a length limit of 82 ', the next two orders for pre-war PT vessels ( PT- 71 via PT-102 ) was given to Higgins and Huckins.
3. Although the Elco 77-footer posted the fastest pace, the seventh Elcos suffered heavy structural damage and heavy blow which caused the Board to recommend redesigns to correct this deficiency. Elco competes for PT-71 to PT-102 contract but does not win due to higher unit price. After the start of the war and significantly revising their unit costs, Elco received the next PT boat order after Higgins and Huckins. This is their new 80-foot Elco design.

Elco

The Elco Marine Division is the longest of the three types of Navy ships built for the Navy used during World War II. At the end of the war, more ships of Elco 80Ã, ft (24 m) were built (326 in all) than other types of motorized torpedo boats. The 80 foot-high wooden vessel is classified as a boat compared to larger steel destroyers, but is comparable to the size of a wooden sailing ship in history. They have 20Ã, 8 ft deep (6.30 m) beams. Although often said to be made of plywood, they are actually made of two diagonal layers 1 on (25 mm) thick mahogany boards, with a layer of glue impregnated canvas between the two. Holding all this together are thousands of bronze screws and copper rivets. This type of construction allows damage to the hulls of wooden ships to be easily repaired on the front lines by the base force personnel. Five Elco Boats are produced in the form of knock-down kits and shipped to Long Beach Boatworks to be assembled on the West Coast as part of the experiment and as proof of concept.

Higgins

Higgins Industries of New Orleans, Louisiana produces 199 78 ft (24 m) vessels of PT-71 PT-235 , PT-265 and PT-625 class. Higgins ships have the same beam, full cargo displacement, engine, generator, horsepower shaft, trial speed, weaponry, and crew accommodation as an Elco 80 foot (24 m) ship. Many Higgins ships were sent to the Soviet Union and Great Britain at the start of the war, so many lower-numbered squadrons in the US Navy were made exclusively from Elcos. United States Navy boats are organized into the Torpedo Motor Boat Squadron (MTBRON or just RON). The first Higgins ship for the US Navy was used in the Battle for the Aleutian Islands (Attu and Kiska) as part of 13 and 16 Squadron, and others (RON15 and RON22) in the Mediterranean against Germany. They were also used during the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.

Although only half the number of Higgins ships produced, it is much more enduring (seven stomachs, three of which have been restored to World War II configuration) compared to many other Elco ships. From the Elco ship, only three hulls (restored) are known to exist in 2016.

Huckins Yacht Corporation

Frank P. Huckins and its innovative Quadraconic hull design became a newcomer to the boat design of PT. Not invited to participate in the original design competition, at the end of 1940, Huckins held a meeting with Captain James M. Ireland, Head of BuShips Design, and offered to build a ship "hull sailing ship at sea", on loan terms Navy Machines Huckins and agreed to see the Huckins boat. In early July 1941, the Navy received PT-69 . After obtaining excellent test results in the Plywood Derby, the Navy awarded a contract to Huckins Yacht Corporation in 1941 for 8 ships, and then added 10 more. The design is enlarged and modified to meet new requirements. The first three of the new designs ( PT-95 via PT-97 ) were originally stored in the Jacksonville area for testing, generating some important modifications to the overall design (these ships were then assigned to Squadron 4 in 1942). Huckins eventually built only two squadrons of PT ships during World War II. Five 78-foot (24 m) vessels were assigned to Squadron 14 ( PT-98 via PT-102 ) commissioned in early 1943; and ten ships were assigned to the 26th Squadron (PT-255 via PT-264) commissioned in mid-1943. They were assigned to certain posts in the Panama Canal Zone, Miami, Florida, the Hawaii Sea Border at Pearl Harbor and Midway, and training centers in Melville, Rhode Island.

Although not used in other PT boat designs, Huckins licenses the use of its patented Quadraconic hull in its PT ship construction. He also granted permission for Elco, Higgins, and the Philadelphia Navy Yard to use its patented layered laminate, which increases the strength of the stomach, though Elco and Higgins never choose to use it on their ships. Most likely due to the delay in joining the boat program of the PT and unlike Elco and Higgins, Huckins page never provided government support to build larger facilities before the war. Artificial Huckins PT is manufactured at their civil facility at a rate of one per month. The success and ruggedness of the 78-foot Huckins ship design is demonstrated by the constant operation of the 26th Squadron ready ships and the training of the Fleetron torpedo boats in the seas around Midway and Hawaii during the last two years of the war.

Vosers and other types of boats PT

During World War II, the Vospers of Great Britain set up several shipyards in the United States to construct a 70ft (21 m) Torpedo Motor under license to aid the war effort. The boats are located in Annapolis, City Island, Miami, and Los Angeles. 146 ships, armed with 18-in torque (460 mm), built for Lend Lease, and exported to Allied forces such as Canada, England, Norway and the Soviet Union. These boats were never used by the US Navy, and only about 50 were used by the Royal Navy; largely forwarded to other countries.

In addition, the Canadian Power Boat Company produced four PTS designed by Scott-Paine for the US. This will be given to Dutch troops under Lend Lease, but returned to USN as PT 368-371.

Maps PT boat

Construction

With accommodation for three officers and 14 enlisted men, the crew varies from 12 to 17, depending on the number and type of weapons being installed. Full-load displacement at the end of the war was 56 tons.

The hull shape of Elco and Higgins PT ships is similar to the curved "hulls" found on cruise ships at that time (and still in use today): V sharp on the arc that softened to the flat bottom at the stern. A common characteristic of the curved hull type is the "rooster cock" in the back. Unlike the actual "hull" of the Huckins, planned at 10-11 knots, Elco and Higgins PT ships are intended to fly at higher speeds (PT 71 and PT-103 classes of around 27 knots, and PT-265 and 625). class about 23 knots). The Elco, Higgins and Huckins companies use a variety of lightweight hull construction techniques that include two layers of double diagonal mahogany board utilizing a layer of impregnated fabric glue between the inside and outside of the board. These boards are held together by thousands of copper rivets and bronze screws. The overall result is a very light and strong stomach that can be easily fixed on the front line when battle damage is maintained.

As proof of the strength of this type of construction, some of PT's ships survive with catastrophic battle damage and still remain afloat. For example, the front half of President John F. Kennedy in the future of PT-109 (Elco) survived for 12 hours after he was cut in half by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri . PT-323 (Elco) was cut in half by the kamikaze aircraft on December 10, 1944 in Leyte, but remained floating for several hours. PT-308 (Higgins) had been sternly shaved by a collision with the PT-304 during a night mission in the Mediterranean on March 9, 1945 and had not yet returned to the base for repairs. PT-167 (Elco) hid through the Bougainville arc on November 5, 1943, with a failed torpedo; the boat remained in action and repaired the next day.

In 1943, an investigation was conducted by the Navy to discuss planning, hull design, and fuel consumption issues. This resulted in a trial trial of Miami in November 1943 between two Higgins and two Elco ships, but no major additional modifications were made before the end of the war. During the war, Elco came up with a stepped hull design ("ElcoPlane") which achieved a significant increase in top speed. Higgins developed a small and fast 70 ' Higgins Hellcat , which had little variation on their original hull form, but the Navy refused them for full production due to increased fuel consumption and other considerations.

After the war, Lindsay Lord, who was stationed in Hawaii during the war, notes the naval plan's hull research and findings in the book Naval Architecture of Planing Hulls . This includes the design and construction of PT Hull vessels, and provides gastric test data as well as detailed analysis of various boat designs of PT.

src: 1.bp.blogspot.com

Armament

The main anti-ship guns are two to four Mark 8 torpedoes, which weigh 2,600 pounds (1,179 kg) and contain a 466 pound TNT warhead (211 kg). The torpedo was launched by a 18 inch steel tube torpedo tube (530 mm). Mark 8 torpedoes have a range of 16,000 yards (14,630 m) at 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The torpedoes and tubes were replaced in mid-1943 by four 22.5-inch (570 mm) Marks 13 torpedoes, which weighed 2,216 pounds (1,005 kg) and contained a 600 pound Torpex (270 kg) Torpex warhead. These torpedoes are carried with a lightweight Mark 1 roll-off torpedo that launches the rack. The Torpedo Mk13 has a range of 6,300 meters (5,800m) and a speed of 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph).

The PT ships are also well armed with many automatic weapons. General for all US PT ships are two machine guns M2.50 cal (12.7 mm). The initial PT ship (Elco PT20 via PT44) mounted Dewandre plexiglas-covered hydraulic rotating turret. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Dewandre tower was replaced throughout the fleet of PT ships with an open ring twin rings. The ring holder is designed by Elco and Bell, and is designated Mark 17 Twin 50 caliber aircraft. Part of Mark 17 Mod 1 and Mod 2 mount ring consists of Bell Mark 9 twin cradle. Another automatic weapon commonly mounted on a PT boat is the 20 mm Oerlikon cannon. In the early series of boats, this cannon was installed in the stern. Later in the war, a few more 20 mm cannons were added at the bottom and on the front deck.

In front of the house charts some of the previous 77-foot Elco ships (23 m) (PT20 through PT44) were twin.30 cal (7.62 mm) Lewis machine guns on a pedestal stand. Beginning in mid-1943, some boats were equipped with one or two 0.30 kal Browning machine guns on the front torpedo rack on the pedestal stand.

Sometimes, some of the frontline PT ships receive ad hoc on the front, where they install guns like 37mm guns, rocket launchers, or mortars. When these weapons were found to be successful, they were put into the boat of the PT as the original weapon. One such field modification was made to Kennedy PT-109 , which was equipped with a 37mm Army M3 anti-tank weapon fired by its crew; they untied the wheel and whipped it to the 2x8 wood laid in the bow just one night before he was lost. A larger blow from the 37mm round is desirable, but the crew are looking for something that can shoot faster than a one-shot army anti-tank weapon. Their answer is found in 37mm Oldsmobile M4 aircraft, automatic cannon cannibalized from P-39 Airacobra fighter plane crashed in Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. After showing its value on the PT ship, M4 (and then M9) guns are installed in the factory. M4/M9 37mm automatic cannon has a relatively high fire rate (125 rounds per minute) and large magazine (30 rounds). These features make it highly desirable due to the increasing requirements of PT ships to increase firepower to deal effectively with Japanese Daihatsu barges, most of which are immune to torpedoes due to their shallow drafts. By the end of the war, most PTs had these weapons.

The installation of a larger cannon culminated in the installation of a 40mm Bofors rifle on the aft deck. Beginning in mid-1943, the installation of these weapons had a direct positive effect on the firepower available from the PT boat. Bofors cannon has a shot rate of 120 rev/min (using a 4-round clip) and has a range of 5420 meters (4,960 m). This gun is served by a crew of 4 people, and is used against the target plane, as well as beach bombings or enemy fighters.

Gunboat

In the Solomon Islands in 1943, three PT 77-foot (23 m) ships, PT-59 , PT-60 , and PT-61 , converted to "PT gunboats" by stripping all original armaments except for two twin pairs of.50 kal (12.7 mm), then adding two 40mm and four twin.50 cal (12.7 mm) mounts. Lieutenant Kennedy was the first commander of PT-59 after the conversion. On November 2, 1943, PT-59 participated in rescue 40 to 50 Marines from Choiseul Island and a landing landing (LCP (R)) attacked by Japanese troops on the coast.

Towards the end of the war, starting in 1945, PT received two Mark 50 eight cell rocket launchers, launching a flat track marked average (130 mm) of Stable Mark 7 and/or Mark 10 trails with a range of 11,000 yards (10,000 I). These 16 rockets plus 16 reset they gave them as much weapon as a 5 inch (127 mm) gun destroyer. By the end of the war, PT ships had more "weapons-per-ton" than any other vessel in the US Navy.

The PT boats are also usually performed between two and eight US Navy, Mark 6 depth payloads on roll-off shelves. Sometimes they are used as the last weapon to prevent the pursuit of destroyers. The depth of the charge can be set to go at 100 feet (30 m), and by the time it explodes, the purser destroyer may be on it.

In addition, some PT ships are equipped to carry mines launched from mine racks, but these are not commonly used.

src: c8.alamy.com

Machine

With the exception of the experimental PT vessel, all US PT boats are powered by three modified marine derivatives of a 3A-2500 V-12 gasoline engine, Packard 3A-2500 V-12. Improvements to the Packard's World War I Liberty L-12 2A engine, the consecutive "M" for "marine" defined 3M-2500, 4M-2500, and 5M-2500 generations all displaying little change and more power. Their superchargers, intercoolers, double magnets, and two spark plugs per cylinder reflect the origin of their aircraft.

The Packard's license of the famous Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine for the P-51 Mustang alongside the 4M-2500 sea has long been a source of confusion. Only British-made PT-9 prototype ship brought from England to Elco to check and copy Merlin.

The 4M-2500 initially produces 1,200 hp (890 kW). It was later increased gradually to 1,500 hp (1,100 kW), enabling a speed designed 41 knots (76 km/h). The 5M-2500 was introduced at the end of 1945 to have a larger supercharger, aftercooler, and an increase of 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) power output. It can push the ship full of speeds of 45 to 50 knots (83 to 93 km/h). However, the addition of the armament further offsets the potential increase in the top speed.

Fuel consumption of any version of this machine is very heavy. A PT ship carrying 3,000 US gallons (11,400 liters) of 100 aviation fuel, enough for a ship equipped with 4M-2500 to conduct a maximum of 12 hours of patrol. About 200 US gallons (760 Ã, Â ± l) an hour is consumed at a cruising speed of 23 knots (43 km/h), rising to 500 gallons US (1,900 l) per hour at high speed. Hull fouling and engine wear can reduce maximum speed and increase fuel consumption materially.

src: www.savetheptboatinc.com

Services

The PT ships operate in the southern, western and northern Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel.

Initial use

Originally conceived as an anti-ship weapon, PT ships were openly credited with drowning several Japanese warships during the period between December 1941 and the fall of the Philippines in May 1942. Attacking at night, the crew of the PT might sometimes fail to record the possibility of a torpedo failure. Although the American Mark 8 torpedoes have problems with leaps and looping roads, it can and does manage to achieve common class targets. The Mark 3 and Mark 4 explosions did not experience the same problems as the Mark 6 explosion on the US 14 submarine Mark torpedo. The introduction of the Mark 13 torpedo to the PT ships in mid-1943 all removed the initial problems experienced by the outdated ships of PT Markus 8.

Night attack

PT usually attack at night. The cockpit of the PT boat is protected against small arms fire and flakes by steel plate. The direct gunfire from Japanese weapons can and does produce a powerful gasoline explosion with the loss of an almost total crew. They are afraid of attacks by Japanese seaplanes, which are difficult to detect even with radar, but that can easily see the phosphorous builds left behind by propellers of PT. Bomb attacks kill and injure the crew even with near misses. There are several examples noted about the fires of PT merchant ships with friendly aircraft, the situation also familiar to the US submarine crew. Some of the PT ships were lost due to friendly fire from both Allied planes and destroyers.

Initially, only a few ships were issuing primitive radar sets. The US Navy is finally equipped with Raytheon SO radar, which has a range of 17Ã, nmi (20Ã, mi; 31Ã, km). After the radar gave the Navy a distinct advantage in intercepting the enemy supply barges and ships at night. As more and more PTs are equipped with reliable radar, they develop superior night fighting tactics and use them to discover and destroy many of the enemy's targets. During the campaign of Guadalcanal and Solomon Island in 1942-1943, the ships of PT Squadron (RON) 2, 3, 5 and 6 will wait to ambush the target of the torpedo range, generally about 1,000 yards (910 m).

During some of these night raids, the position of the PT ship may have been given by flashes of light caused by the fat inside a Mark 8 torpedo tube triggered by a black powder that burned during the launch. To avoid firing back from enemy ships, PT ships can install smoke screens using aft-mounted generator. Beginning in mid-1943, the old Mark 18 torpedo tube and Mark 8 torpedoes were replaced. New Mark 1 "roll-off" torpedo launch rack (loaded with the improved Mark 13 torpedo) effectively eliminates flashes of light from oil burning, does not use any explosive to launch torpedoes, and weighs about 1,000 lb (450 kg ) less than the tube.

Enemy troops will use floodlights or kickoffs of gliders to light the boat PT.

Solomon Islands Campaign

The effectiveness of PT boats in the Solomon Islands campaign, where there is much involvement between the PT and the vessel capital, as well as on the supply of Japanese vessels dubbed "The Tokyo Express" operating in New Georgia Sound (called "Slot" by Americans), are substantially undermined by a broken Mark 8 torpedo. The Japanese were initially cautious when operating their capital vessels in areas known to have boats of the PT, knowing how dangerous they were of their own type of torpedoes, and assuming the Americans had the same weapons to turn them off. The PT boats in Guadalcanal were given credit for some drowning and success against the proud Tokyo Express. In some engagements, PT's presence is sufficient to disrupt Japan's highly escorted re-supply activities in Guadalcanal. After that, the PT mission in the Solomon Islands was considered a success.

D-Day Invasion

Some serve during the Battle of Normandy. During the D-Day invasion, PT patrolled the "Mason Line", forming a barrier against the German S-boats that attacked Allied landings. They also undertook a missile rescue and anti-shipping mission during the invasion.

Barge Attack

Perhaps the most effective use of PT is as a "barge crusher". Since both the Japanese in the New Guinea and German regions of the Mediterranean have lost many ships supplying to the Allied air power during the day, each trying to supply their troop concentrations using shallow barges at night in very shallow waters. Shallow depth means Allied destroyers can not follow them because the risk of crashes and barges can be protected by a beach battery umbrella.

The efficiency of PT ships while sinking Japanese supply barges is considered the main reason that Japan has had severe food, ammunition and replacement problems during the campaigns of the New Guinea and Solomon Islands, and has made PT ships the prime target for enemy aircraft. The use of PT torpedo boats is not effective against this sometimes heavily armed barge, because the minimum depth setting of the torpedoes is about 10 feet (3 m) and the barge only pulls 5 feet (1.5 m). To complete the task, the PT in the Mediterranean and the Pacific (and RN and RCN MTB in the Mediterranean) install more and heavier weapons capable of sinking barges. One of the captured Japanese captures depicts their fear of the PT boats by describing them as "roaring monsters, flapping their wings, and firing torpedoes in all directions."

Although their primary mission continues to attack surface and craft vessels, the PT ships are also used effectively to lay mines and smoke screens, coordinate in sea-air rescue operations, rescue shipwreck victims, destroy Japanese suicide ships, destroy a floating mine, and carrying out an intelligence or raider operation.

After the war, American military interviews with captured Japanese Navy veterans, coupled with the available partial Japanese war records, were unable to verify that all claims of sinking boat vessels were legitimate. Like many other victory claims by all parties involved (aircraft pilots, surface ships, submarines) this vague verification is partly due to Japanese military policy to destroy military records.

Repair training

In 1944, several 78-foot Higgins (24 m) ships ( PT222 , PT-283 , PT-284 , PT - 285 , and PT-282 ) were converted, released PT-59 , PT-60 , and PT- 61 for school transfer back to Torpedo Motor Boat Squadron Training Center (MTBSTC) in Melville, Rhode Island for use in training in hull improvement techniques.

src: i.kinja-img.com

Supply

The PT boat does not have a large capacity refrigerator for storing perishable food in sufficient quantities. At berth, the ship's squadron is supported by PT tender boat or basic facility that supplies crew with hot food. Since the PT ships are usually located near the end of the supply chain, their crew is shown to be clever in barter with the nearest ship or military unit for supplies and using ammunition to harvest their own fish.

src: bw-1651cf0d2f737d7adeab84d339dbabd3-bcs.s3.amazonaws.com

Ship

Many of PT's ships became famous during and after World War II:

• PT-41 , commanded by Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley, brought General Douglas MacArthur on his flight from Corregidor Island, Philippines. Bulkeley was awarded the Medal of Honor for his operations in the Philippines before rescuing MacArthur. The Masseley story inspires a book and the movie They Paid based on it. PT-41 is the flagship of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three (MTBRON 3), based in the Philippine Islands 1941-1942 ( PT-41, -31, -32, -33, - 34 , -35 ).
The
• Life magazine published an article about the captain of the PT ship in combat in Guadalcanal, featuring the exploits of Lieutenant "Stilly" Taylor, Leonard A. Nikoloric, Lester Gamble and Robert and John Searles; the article mentions many boats in MTB Squadron Two and Five (specifically, PT-36 , PT-37 , PT-39 , PT -49 , PT-46 , PT-48 , PT-59 , PT-109 , PT-115 , and PT-123 ).
• Other PT boats that gained fame during the war were PT-363 and PT-489 , the boats used by Commander Lieutenant Murray Preston to rescue the fallen pilots in Wasile Bay , off the island of Halmahera, where Preston was awarded the Medal of Honor.
• PT-109 , ordered by future President John F. Kennedy, was made famous through Robert J. Donovan's book of 1961 PT-109: John F. Kennedy in World War II and the 1963 film based on it, PT 109 .
• PT-157: Ordered by Lieutenant, junior class, William F. 'Bud' Liebenow, Crew rescued from PT-109, Details in book "FIRST-UP: Chronicles of the-157 PT"
• PT-59 : Led by Lieutenant, junior class, John F. Kennedy after the loss of PT-109
• PT-105 : Ordered by Lieutenant Dick Keresey at the time of loss of PT-109 . Keresey wrote a book of the same name.
• PT-373 : Ordered by Lieutenant Belton A. Copp was the first ship, from two boat squadrons, to enter the Port of Manila to "test defense" since the US withdrawal in 1942. General McArthur respects LT Copp and crew of PT-373 by using it to bring it back to Manila Harbor on March 2, 1945.

src: pt-king.gdinc.com

Losses

According to the book "In Close Quarters: PT Boats in the US Navy" 99 of the 531 ships PT who served during World War II disappeared for various causes.

• Accident, friendly fire, sea conditions - 32
• Rejected to prevent capture - 27
• Hit by enemy - 8
• Kamikaze - 2
• Hanged - 9
• Coastal artillery enemies - 6
• Strafed - 8
• Enemy naval weapons - 7

src: www.modelwarships.com

Residual boats

At the end of the war, almost all of the remaining US PT vessels were discarded shortly after V-J Day. Hundreds of boats were deliberately stripped of all useful equipment and then dragged on shore and burned. This is done to minimize the amount of maintenance that the Navy has to do, because wooden boats require a lot of ongoing care, and they are not considered worth doing. Boats also use a lot of high octane gasoline for their size, making them too expensive to operate for the peacetime peacetime. Much of this destruction (121 ships) occurred at PT Base 17, in Samar, Philippines, near Bobon Point.

Some (one 80 'Elco, one 72' Vosper, and three 78 'Higgins) were cut and destroyed between 1998 and 2008, leaving a total of 12 PT boats, and two experimental PT hulls in various states. improvement, happy today in the US:

PT-48

PT-48 is probably the remaining 77-footed Elco PT (23 m) ship. In July 1942, PT-48 (nicknamed "Prep Tom" and "Deuce") was assigned to MTBRON 3. The 3rd Squadron 3 was the first to arrive at Solomon and saw a heavy engagement with "Tokyo Express ". PT 48 was one of the first 4 ships to arrive at Tulagi, on October 12, 1942. On the night of 13/14 October 1942, PT-48 destroyed Japan at an altitude of 200 yards (180 m). The squadron saw action in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, and Funafuti. PT-48 is currently in need of major recovery, having been cut down to 59 feet (18 m) and used as a dinner cruise. Due to the history of this vast ship battle, after surviving for 22 months in the battle zone of Guadalcanal (more time in combat than any other surviving PT ship), a conservation group, Fleet Obsolete of Kingston, New York, acquired and brought it to Rondout Creek in 2008 for final repairs.

PT-305

One of the two fully restored and operational vessels (and the only combat veteran), PT-305 ("Half Hitch", "Barfly", "USS Sudden Jerk") is Higgins 78 -kaki (24 m) boat, assigned during the war to RON 22, and saw action against Germany in the Mediterranean Sea. Squadron 22 operates with the Royal Navy of England, and sees action along the northwest coast of Italy and the south coast of France. In June 1945, the squadron was sent to the US to be moved and moved to the Pacific, but the war ended while still in New York. PT-305 is cut down to 65 feet (20 m) to be used as an oyster seed ship in Crisfield, Maryland. PT-305 was acquired by the Defenders of America Naval Museum (DOANM), and then sold in May 2007 to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. After a long restoration PT-305 has been returned to a sailing operational vessel. Released in March 2017, and this museum booked rides on Lake Pontchartrain on Saturday, or a static tour of other days of the week.

PT-309

A Higgins as high as 78 feet (24 m), PT-309 ("Oh Frankie!") Was assigned during the war to RON22, and saw action against Germany in the Mediterranean Sea. The squadron operates under the British Coastal Troop, and sees action along the northwest coast of Italy and the south coast of France. In April 1945, the squadron was sent to the US to be moved and moved to the Pacific, but the war ended while still in New York. Coincidentally, it was named in honor of Frank Sinatra, with whom the ship's Command Officer met at the nightclub just before MTBRON 22 left New York for the Mediterranean Theater. PT-309 is located in the National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas, and restored by the Defense of America Naval Museum (DOANM) (now dead). PT-309 is restored (but non-operational) in static view of the view without the machine installed. Its external restoration was completed by the Texans in 2002, and became a high standard.

PT-459

PT-459 ("Mahogany Menace") a 78-foot Higgins (24 m) ship, was assigned to MTBRON 30 on 15 February 1944 under the command of the LCDR Robert L. Searles. MTBRONÃ,30 saw action in the English Channel as part of the Normandy Invasion. At the end of June 1945, the squadron was sent to the US to be moved and transferred to the Pacific, but the war ended while still in New York. After the war, the former PT459 was cut down to 65 feet (20 m) and greatly modified into tourist boats and fishing trawlers. He was acquired by Fleet Obsolete in June 2008 and moved to Kingston, New York for possible restoration.

PT-486

PT-486 , an 80-foot-long Elco ship (24 m), was operated on December 2, 1943. It was used in the MTBRON 4 squadron training in Melville, Rhode Island during World War II until it was placed outside service 16 January 1946. Along with the PT-557, the ship was purchased from BFM Industries (Brooklyn, NY) by Capt. George C. Sinn of Wildwood Crest, NJ on October 9, 1951 for $ 1,015.00. The ship was sold in 1952 to Otto Stocker who operated "Sightseer" as a cruise ship from Otten's Harbor in Wildwood, New Jersey. The business was then sold to Captain Charles Schumann in the 1980s. He named Schumann's "Big Blue" ship and runs its business until 2002. Remarkably, PT486 was sold to the original owner's son, Capt. Ronald G. Sinn, who in 2012 sold the boat to "Fleet Obsolete" from Kingston NY. The plan was to restore the ship to re-create the appearance of World War II.

PT-615

PT-615 , an Elco 80-foot (24 m) originally assigned to RON 42, was commissioned after the war ended. PT-615 was returned to Elco after being sold and converted into a yacht, leased to actor Clark Gable. He named the ship Tarbaby VI, and used it during the 1950s. The boat was serviced and stored by Elco. He was sold several times, and moved to Kingston, NY for possible restorations.

PT-617

PT-617 is an 80 foot (24 m) Elco boat located at the Cove Navy Warship Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was acquired from the backwaters of Florida and moved to the current location by JM "Boats" Newberry, founder of PT Boats Inc. "Boats" along with teams at the Battleship Cove Museum restored it during 1984-1989, inside and out, at a cost of US $ 1 million. The boat is owned by PT Boats, Inc., a World War II veteran organization headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee. The quality of the restoration is very high, and the boats are displayed inside the weatherproof building, in the blocks outside the water. He is available for public viewing, and has a section of his hull cut to display the crew's crew interior crew. Public visitors are not allowed in boats to help maintain their historical integrity.

PT-657

PT-657 , 78-foot Higgins (24m), has been converted into a rental fishing boat. He's in San Diego and is now named Even here .

PT-658

One of the best examples of the surviving 78 foot (24 m) Higgins ship is PT-658 , one of two 100% authentically restored US Navy ships and floating operations today. Released after gastric restorations from 1995 to 2005, located at Pier 308, Vigor Shipyard in Portland, Oregon's Swan Island Lagoon. Retained by all volunteer groups, it is supported by three Packard V12 5M-2500 gas engines and covers all weapons, electronics, equipment and accessories that are restored to emerge just as they did on the day the US Navy received the boat, July 31, 1945.

PT-658 has been added to the National Historic List of Places in 2012.

PT-724

PT-724 , a surviving Vosper built on the Annapolis Boat page in Maryland, has been used as a cruise ship, and has since been acquired by the Liberty Aviation Museum to be returned to its original Vosper configuration.

PT-728

PT-728 , a live Vosper ship built under license at Annapolis Boat Yard in Maryland, was restored in Key West, Florida. The deck house has been reconfigured to resemble an 80-foot (24 m) Hawk and not the original 70's (21 m) Vosper configuration. PT-728 was acquired by Fleet Obsolete and moved to Kingston. There PT-728 allows up to 49 tourists the chance to ride "boat PT". This boat is the only ship approved by PT Seaman Pesisir AS licensed to transport passengers, and the only design of the US-made Vosper that still exists. In spring 2012, PT-728 was acquired by Liberty Aircraft Museum of Port Clinton, OH for further restoration.

PT-766

PT-766 is an Elco 80-foot (24 m) yacht which is a "Finished Business" cruiser located in Washington DC He represents Elco's last class with significant updates to the superstructure and radar and is addressed for MTB Ron 44, but was canceled due to the end of the war.

PT-796

PT-796 ("Tail Ender") is Higgins as high as 78 feet (24 m). After the war ended the PT-796 was used in the Key West/Miami area for experimental purposes. He retired from service in the late 1950s. Shortly after he retired from service, PT-796 was used as a float during President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade to represent PT-109 , with PT -109 hull numbers painted on the arc, and some PT-109 ' s crew survived from the crew. Today, the PT-796 is located at the Battleship Naval Ship Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts in a Quonset cottage building, sheltered from the weather, and above the block. The boat is owned by PT Boats, Inc., a World War II veteran organization headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee.

Experimental ship

PT-3

Two of the PT-Boats' experiments also persist, PT-3 (built by Fisher Boat Works) in New Jersey and PT-8 . PT-3 was designed by George Crouch and used lightweight hull construction methods. A 59-foot (18 m) per barrel back (which provides increased strength to the sides and deck), a unique unique double folding board (outer mahogany board and inside board Port Orford cedar) light hull on laminated teak truss laminated, it was a "featherweight" from the design of a transportable PT boat, but was subsequently rejected by the Navy during trials in 1941 after being considered too short to carry 4 torpedoes, and capable of only launching a hard torpedo first, considered too dangerous by BuOrd. PT-3 and PT-8 are both part of Squadron 1 (RON 1) during the test period. After testing was completed, PT-3 was transferred to Canada in April 1941 under loan-lending. PT-3 served with RCAF Fleet as RCAF Bras d'Or M413 (B11

Source of the article : Wikipedia