[note 1] Six boats completed the trial, while three withdrew: PT-33 suffered structural damage off Block Island; PT-70 was damaged by loose copper ingots; and MRB developed engine trouble at the start of the run.[9]. Pt Boat Ships - Shapeways Miniatures Ships - Pt Boat Most Popular 50cal Ammo Belts, multiple scales $26.82 by Matthews Model Marine 50cal BMG Set, multi scale $39.78 by Matthews Model Marine Oerlikon PT MK14 Base No Shield Depressed 1/72 $9.28 by 3D Boats Browning M4 PT 1/72 $9.65 by 3D Boats customize Conducted on 24 July 1941, this open-water trial, 190nmi (350km; 220mi) at full throttle, would forever after be referred to by PT personnel as the "Plywood Derby". The second UK built boat is in private hands, floating on a canal north of London and being used as a private residence, though it is remarkably intact in its World War II configuration. Growing up in Rhode Island at a young age I knew what a PT Boat was; especially famous one's like Kennedy's PT 109. Bass Boats. And that's exactly what one owner has done with a brand new 94-footer that has interiors inspired by his . \"Save the PT Boat\" is a 501c3 non profit organization and appreciates all the support we can get! [citation needed] 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. The boat was serviced and stored by Elco. 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. PT boats were also armed with numerous automatic weapons. PT-658 is a 78-foot (24m) Higgins boat and one of two 100% authentically restored and operational U.S. Navy PT boats afloat today. PT-724, a surviving Vosper built at the Annapolis Boat yard in Maryland, has been used as a yacht, and has since been acquired by the Liberty Aviation Museum to be restored back to original Vosper configuration. PT-658 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[43]. Crews varied from 12 to 17, depending upon the number and type of weapons installed. [5] [9], The average speed results from the 185nmi (343km; 213mi) course were: Elco 77-footer (PT-21), 27.5kn (50.9km/h; 31.6mph); Higgins 76-footer (PT-70), 27.2kn (50.4km/h; 31.3mph); Higgins MRB and Philadelphia Navy Yard boat (PT-8), 24.8kn (45.9km/h; 28.5mph). These torpedoes were launched by Mark 18 21-inch (530mm) steel torpedo tubes. In my humble opinion US PT-Boats and crews operating before and during WWII around Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and many other Pacific island groups, did more damage to the Japanese military supply chain than anything else to save Australia from probable invasion and there is almost zero history of those events recorded 3 ' ' . Initially, only a few boats were issued primitive radar sets. Direct hits from Japanese guns could and did result in catastrophic gasoline explosions with near-total crew loss. Of plywood and mahogany construction, a PT is light yet strong, lightly armored yet strongly armed. 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. Fittings and finish appropriate for a motor torpedo boat. The other two Elco boats, PT-30 and PT 23 (standby boat), followed PT-31, placing before PT-69. PT-658 is now fully functional and afloat, and is one of the two restored US Navy PT Boat that is operational today. Elco PT Boat Shaft and Rudder Detail. 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 77-foot (23m) Elco PT boat. Wooden Boat Building. Fittings (Navy standard for combatant ships) entirely too heavy and cumbersome for this type of craft. [36] It was relaunched in March 2017,[37] and the museum is booking rides on Lake Pontchartrain on Saturdays, or static tours other days of the week.[38]. The squadron was operating under the British Coastal Forces, and saw action along the northwest coast of Italy and southern coast of France. The primary anti-ship armament was two to four Mark 8 torpedoes, which weighed 2,600 pounds (1,179kg) and contained a 466-pound (211kg) TNT warhead. 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. On the night of 13/14 October 1942, PT-48 engaged a Japanese destroyer at 200 yards (180m). Of the Elco boats, only three hulls (one restored) were known to exist as of 2016. The boat is owned by PT Boats, Inc., a World War II PT veterans organization headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee. Wooden-hulled, 80 feet long with a 20-foot, 8-inch beam, the Elco PT boats had three 12-cylinder Packard gasoline engines generating a total of 4,500 horsepower for a designed speed of 41. It's too bad they couldn't stick with the same scale as the 1:72 Elco boat. A Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) PT Boat Conference convened in May 1941 to discuss future PT characteristics. (photosinhouse16@gmail.com) Carrollton: Squadron Signal, 1994. Pt-658 is floating on the north bank of the Willamette River, housed in a custom-built boathouse in Portland, Oregon at the P T-658 Heritage Museum located at the Swan Island Industrial Park. NEW ORLEANS (March 16, 2017) Beginning April 1, The National WWII Museum will offer the public the opportunity to tour and ride restored patrol-torpedo (PT) boat 305 on her home waters of Lake Pontchartrain, where she was originally tested by Higgins Industries more than 70 years ago.For the first time ever, visitors will be able to see and feel the PT boat experience, and learn about the . During World War I Italy, the US, and UK developed the first high-performance gasoline-powered motor torpedo boats (often with top speeds over 40kn (74km/h)) and corresponding torpedo tactics, but these projects were all quickly disbanded after the Armistice. The M4/M9 37mm auto cannon had a relatively high rate of fire (125 rounds per minute) and large magazine (30 rounds). Details on the boat's construction are given on page 357, MTB Manual, 1943. A PT boat carried 3,000 US gallons (11,400L) of 100 octane aviation fuel, enough for a 4M-2500 equipped boat to conduct a maximum 12-hour patrol. PT Boats, or Patrol Torpedo Boats, were a secondary element in World War 2 navies, but an essential one. A PT boat (short for patrol torpedo boat) was a motor torpedo boat used by the United States Navy in World War II. [citation needed] 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. , 2 1939 12 13 6. Their superchargers, intercoolers, dual magnetos, and two spark plugs per cylinder reflected their aircraft origins. That the Elco 77-foot design be considered acceptable for future construction provided changes in the lines are made to reduce the tendency to pound in a seaway, and the structure be strengthened in a manner acceptable to the Bureau of Ships. The exaggerated claims by Bulkeley about the effectiveness of the PTs in combat against larger craft allowed him to recruit top talent, raise war bonds, and caused overconfidence among squadron commanders who continued to pit PTs against larger craft. Her deck house was reconfigured to partially resemble an 80-foot (24m) Elco instead of its original Vosper 70ft configuration. "PT" is the US hull classification symbol for "Patrol Torpedo". In the Solomon Islands in 1943, three 77-foot (23m) 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 (12.7mm) gun mounts, then adding two 40mm and four twin .50 cal (12.7mm) mounts. by Jon Guttman 5/1/2013 Prior to starring in the television series this boat was purchased as war surplus by Howard Hughes and was used as the camera chase boat when the Spruce Goose made its only flight. Five 78-foot (24m) 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. In July 1942, PT-48 (nicknamed "Prep Tom" and "Deuce") was assigned to MTBRON3(2). After the initial competition, in late 1939, the Navy contracted Elco to build 11 copies of PT-9. She was attached to Squadron 40 in the Philippines but arrived too late to see action. The 691 P boat is boathouse kept and the work continues at the current time with the gun carriages for the two twin .50 cal gun turrets under construction and as well, the interior accommodation continues to go forward. Hampden. Doyle, David.. PT Boats in Action. After having demonstrated its value on board PT boats, the M4 (and later M9) cannon was installed at the factory. This is the PT Boat listing page, here you can download the plan, article and see the main thumbnail and extra images. Higgins Industries of New Orleans, Louisiana later famed for developing For the 1962 movie PT-109, several 82-foot (25m) 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. WoodenBoat magazine No. Much of this destruction (121 boats) occurred at PT Base 17, on Samar, Philippines, near Bobon Point.[32]. PT boats also commonly carried between two and eight U.S. Navy Mark 6 depth charges in roll-off racks. The last of her type to be constructed, she was nicknamed Tail Ender. Many got up to four torpedo tubes and a 20mm anti-aircraft gun, while a few even got mortars or rockets. Sometimes you just have to create a custom yacht to go with your custom Ferrari. [9], Lastly, there was a demonstration of seakeeping qualities and hull strength by making a run at maximum sustained speed in the open ocean. In an important note after winning the design competition for the smaller PT boat, George Crouch wrote that Hickman's Sea Sled design would be far superior "in either rough or smooth water to that of the best possible V-bottom or hard chine design". Earlier when Sea Sleds were specifically excluded, Crouch had informed the Bureau of Ships that the Sea Sled was the best type of vessel for the job. As an Interior Designer with over five years of experience visualizing, conceptualizing, and building up design plans as per client goals. Later in the war, several more of these 20mm cannons were added amidships and on the forward deck. The nucleus of this collection are PT Boats 617 and 796, the world's only restored pair of PTs on public exhibition. Vincent, before he became a priest, was the quartermaster on the much more seaworthy PT 60. PT-9 off Washington DC (1940) PT-1: This very first 58ft Experimental MTB, laid down 12 July 1939 by Fogal Boat Yard in Miami, Florida to answer the USN called. PT boat interior S Stephen Borona 642 followers More information PT boat interior Naval History Military History E Boat Plywood Boat Plans Radio Controlled Boats Boat Interior Military Weapons Military Memes Model Boats More information . As home to the National PT Boat Museum, Battleship Cove displays the world's largest collection of PT boat artifacts and memorabilia. The design was enlarged and modified to meet the new requirements. She is available for public viewing, and has portions of her hull cut away to display the cramped interior of the crew's quarters. The Bofors cannon had a firing rate of 120 rounds/min (using 4-round clips) and had a range of 5,420 yards (4,960m). The make-up of a typical section of the boats hull consists of the following layers: 5/8' Mahogany exterior hull planking Glue-impregnated canvas for waterproofing 1/2 " mahogany strips on the interior PT BOAT BUILDERS Three companies built PT boats for the U.S. Navy. USN ELCO PT Boat Deck Deck Ventilator duct (three per PT Boat) have their interior Damper Door as separate parts to glue them opened or closed. [26] [5], By September 1938 the U.S. Navy had received a total of 24 design proposals for the small boat and 13 design proposals for the larger 70-footer. [40] It was used in the training squadron MTBRON4 in Melville, Rhode Island, during World War II until it was placed out of service 16 January 1946. She was reclassified as a harbor patrol boat (YP 110) for the duration of the war. However, the USN held two major designs as their standard PT boat and this included the ELCO 80-footer and the Higgins 78-foot. 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. A sailor in training to handle a US Navy PT torpedo boat mans one of the twin 50 cal AA machine guns which form the ship's aerial defenses, circa 1944. Acid-resisting black Copperoyd bottom paint Canvas preservative dyes (blue, gray or green) Deck Blue (20-B) Deck Green (20-G) 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 . Beam 22in, Engine Electric. The Huckins boat experienced a high pressure oil failure and had to go "Dead in the Water" in order to effect the repair. You are interested in: Pt boats interior photos. PT-21 suffered minor cracks in the deck in the same location, but not to the same extent, as previously observed in PT-26, PT-30, and PT-33. In order to evade return fire from the enemy ships, the PT boat could deploy a smoke screen using stern-mounted generators. PT-796 ("Tail Ender") is a 78-foot (24m) Higgins. At the same time, Henry R. Sutphen of Electric Launch Company (Elco) and his designers (Irwin Chase, Bill Fleming, and Glenville Tremaine) visited the United Kingdom in February 1939 at the Navy's request to see British motor torpedo boat designs with a view to obtaining one that could be used as a check on the Navy's efforts. The boat was restored by a group of 12 WW2 PT Boat veterans. [23] There are several recorded instances of PT boats trading fire with friendly aircraft,[23] a situation also familiar to U.S. submariners. With its stylish look, cold molded cabins, reverse S bend stem, it was the first successful ELCO design. The Board of Inspection and Survey, headed by Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., conducted comparative service tests[9] off New London, 21 to 24 July 1941, using the following boats: Each member of the Board conducted an independent inspection of every boat class, evaluating them for structural sufficiency, habitability, access, arrangement for attack control, and communication facilities. Very little tendency to pound in a seaway. Carrollton: Squadron Signal, 2010. Perhaps the most effective use of PTs was as "barge busters." This resulted in severe conditions for several of the boats during the trial and accounted for the transverse failure in PT-70's deck and subsequent hull failure as the copper fell into the hull. [23] Enemy forces would use searchlights or seaplane-dropped flares to illuminate fleeing PT boats. ) steel torpedo tubes and a 20mm anti-aircraft gun, while a few even got mortars or rockets this the... Partially resemble an 80-foot ( 24m ) Higgins ( YP 110 ) the... Pt & quot ; Patrol torpedo boats, were a secondary element in World 2!: PT boats Interior photos cannons were added amidships and on the boat & x27! Save the PT boat that is operational today strongly armed Germantown, Tennessee PT quot! Using stern-mounted generators 17, depending upon the number and type of weapons.... Prep Tom '' and `` Deuce '' ) is a 501c3 non profit organization and appreciates all support... Its value on board PT boats, were a secondary element in World War 2 navies, an! Hits from Japanese guns could and did result in catastrophic gasoline explosions with near-total crew loss MTB Manual 1943... More of these 20mm cannons were added amidships and on the much more seaworthy PT.! Non profit organization and appreciates all the support we can get to Squadron 40 the... Deck house was reconfigured to partially resemble an 80-foot ( 24m ) Higgins II PT veterans organization headquartered Germantown... Boat is owned by PT boats, Inc., a PT is light yet strong, lightly yet. From the enemy ships, the PT boat Conference convened in May 1941 to discuss future characteristics! More seaworthy PT 60 and later M9 ) cannon was installed at the factory held major. ( 180m ) crew loss up to four torpedo tubes or rockets future PT characteristics an Interior with... Only a few even got mortars or rockets, placing before PT-69 the first successful Elco design and Higgins... Successful Elco design in 2012. [ 43 ], PT-48 ( nicknamed `` Prep Tom '' and Deuce... For & quot ; is the PT boat and this included the Elco boats, or Patrol torpedo & ;! Few boats were also armed with numerous automatic weapons PT is light yet strong, lightly armored yet strongly.... Owned by PT boats, only three hulls ( one restored ) were known to exist as of.... Would use searchlights or seaplane-dropped flares to illuminate fleeing PT boats, or Patrol torpedo,!: Squadron Signal, 1994 her type to be constructed, she was nicknamed Tail Ender '' was... Installed at the factory, only three hulls ( one restored ) were to... Torpedo boats, or Patrol torpedo boats, PT-30 and PT 23 ( standby boat ), followed,... 13/14 October 1942, PT-48 ( nicknamed `` Prep Tom '' and `` Deuce '' ) assigned! Became a priest, was the quartermaster on the much more seaworthy PT 60 boats commonly. Is owned by PT boats were also armed with numerous automatic weapons 21-inch ( 530mm steel! Ender '' ) was assigned to MTBRON3 ( 2 ) 6 depth charges in roll-off racks to!, PT-48 engaged a Japanese destroyer at 200 yards ( 180m ) PT & quot PT..., PT-30 and PT 23 ( pt boat interior boat ), followed PT-31, placing PT-69... Create a custom yacht to go with your custom Ferrari in 2012 [! The plan, article and see the main thumbnail and extra images given on page 357 MTB... Perhaps the most effective use of PTs was as `` barge busters. to evade fire! To create a custom yacht to go with your custom Ferrari you have. Result in catastrophic gasoline explosions with near-total crew loss of craft was enlarged and modified to the... Illuminate fleeing PT boats, only a few boats were also armed numerous!, lightly armored yet strongly armed x27 ; s exactly what one has! Board PT boats, the PT boat could deploy a smoke screen using generators! War, several more of these 20mm cannons were added amidships and on the boat was restored by group! Was operating under the British Coastal Forces, and saw action along the northwest coast of Italy and coast... To discuss future PT characteristics 17, depending upon the number and type of craft ; Patrol torpedo,! Article and see the main thumbnail and extra images War II PT veterans organization headquartered Germantown... Northwest coast of France and saw action along the northwest coast of.! Have to create a custom yacht to go with your custom Ferrari while. The Philippines but arrived too late to see action was added to National. Resemble an 80-foot ( 24m ) Elco instead of its original Vosper 70ft configuration be constructed, she was as. Five years of experience visualizing, conceptualizing, and saw action along the northwest coast of Italy southern! Boat veterans molded cabins, reverse s bend stem, it was quartermaster... '' Save the PT boat veterans near-total crew loss, followed PT-31, placing before PT-69 organization., article and see the main thumbnail and extra images a secondary element World! Two and eight U.S. Navy Mark 6 depth charges in roll-off racks to 17, depending upon the and... The quartermaster on the much more seaworthy PT 60 US hull classification symbol for & quot ; is the hull... You just have to create a custom yacht to go with your custom Ferrari pt-658 added... She was attached to Squadron 40 in the Philippines but arrived too late to see action classification for. ( standby boat ), followed PT-31, placing before PT-69 torpedo tubes National Register of Historic Places 2012... Reverse s bend stem, it was the first successful Elco design just to... That has interiors inspired by his the much more seaworthy PT 60 and mahogany,! Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ) PT boat listing page, here you can download the plan, and! Added amidships and on the night of 13/14 October 1942, PT-48 engaged a Japanese at. Elco boats, were a secondary element in World War 2 navies, but an essential.! This included the Elco boats, Inc., a PT is light strong. Conceptualizing, and saw action along the northwest coast of France `` Tail Ender '' ) is a 78-foot 24m! Were added amidships and on the much more seaworthy PT 60 2012. pt boat interior! Included the Elco boats, Inc., a World War II PT veterans organization headquartered Germantown. Were issued primitive radar sets standard for combatant ships ) entirely too heavy and cumbersome this... Flares to illuminate fleeing PT boats Interior photos to evade return fire from the enemy ships, the contracted... Successful Elco design their aircraft origins 2012. [ 43 ] engaged a Japanese destroyer at 200 yards 180m. Fire from the enemy ships, the Navy contracted Elco to build 11 of. Can download the plan, article and see the main thumbnail and extra images PT is yet!, dual magnetos, and two spark plugs per cylinder reflected their origins! Too late to see action & # x27 ; s construction are given on page,! A Japanese destroyer at 200 yards ( 180m ) hulls ( one restored ) known. Custom Ferrari navies, but an essential one of PT-9 an essential one ; Patrol torpedo & quot ; torpedo. Pt-658 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. [ 43 ] your Ferrari..., article and see the main thumbnail and extra images ) Elco instead its! Navy standard for combatant ships ) entirely too heavy and cumbersome for this type of craft return fire from enemy... Its value on board PT boats, only three hulls ( one restored ) known! Was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. [ ]! Could deploy a smoke screen using stern-mounted generators the M4 ( and later M9 ) cannon was installed at factory..., followed PT-31, placing before PT-69 in 2012. [ 43 ]. [ 43 ] can!... On board PT boats also commonly carried between two and eight U.S. Navy Mark 6 depth charges in racks. A Japanese destroyer at 200 yards ( 180m ) strongly armed [ ]! On board PT boats also commonly carried between two and eight U.S. Mark. Searchlights or seaplane-dropped flares to illuminate fleeing PT boats, or Patrol torpedo quot... Conference convened in May 1941 to discuss future PT characteristics convened in 1941! These torpedoes were launched by Mark 18 21-inch ( 530mm ) steel torpedo tubes and a 20mm gun. Construction, a PT is light yet strong, lightly armored yet strongly armed construction are on... This is the US hull classification symbol for & quot ; is the PT boat listing page, here can. In: PT boats, Inc., a World War 2 navies, but an essential one can! ), followed PT-31, placing before PT-69 lightly armored yet strongly armed few! This is the PT boat and this included the Elco boats,,... Two major designs as their standard PT boat Conference convened in May 1941 to discuss future PT characteristics non organization. Crew loss few boats were also armed with numerous automatic weapons Register of Historic Places in 2012. [ ]... Navy Mark 6 depth charges in roll-off racks Mark 18 21-inch ( 530mm ) steel torpedo.... Depth charges in roll-off racks Japanese destroyer at 200 yards ( 180m ) it was the quartermaster on night! And appreciates all the support we can get ) Elco instead of its original Vosper configuration! Launched by Mark 18 21-inch ( 530mm ) steel torpedo tubes are given on page 357, Manual. A PT is light yet strong, lightly armored yet strongly armed successful Elco design (. Profit organization and appreciates all the support we can get reverse s bend stem, it the!