How many PT boats were sunk during 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.
Did a PT boat ever sink a submarine?
How many ships did PT boats sink in WW2? PT-59 (more on her later) is credited with sinking Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarine I-3 on December 9, 1942 near Guadalcanal. PT-37 and PT-40 sank destroyer IJN Teruzuki on the night of 11–12 December, barely three months after the Japanese had put her into service.
Could a PT boat sink a battleship?
No capital ship was sunk in WW2 by a motor torpedo boat/PT boat but one Dreadnought Battleship was sunk by an Italian motor torpedo boat in WW1. SMS Svent Istavan of the Austro Hungarian Navy a Dreadnought of 21000 tons was torpedoed and sunk by the 30 ton torpedo boat MAS-15 the sinking was filmed.
What happened to all the PT boats after WW2?
At the end of World War II, the expense of returning PT boats to the United States from overseas was considered prohibitive, so most boat were stripped of useful materials and burned.
Was PT 73 a real PT boat?
The real PT-73 was a 78-foot Higgins boat assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 13, which saw service in the Aleutians and in the Southwest Pacific theater. On 15 January, 1945 it ran aground, and was destroyed to prevent it falling into enemy hands.
Was the PT-109 ever found?
The wreck of PT-109 was found by Robert Ballard in 2002 in 1,300 feet of water in Blackett Strait between Gizo and Kolombongara Islands in the Solomons, not far from where it was rammed by the Japanese destroyer IJN Amagiri at about 02:27 on August 2, 1943.
Did US PT boats sink any Japanese ships?
PT-59 (more on her later) is credited with sinking Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarine I-3 on December 9, 1942 near Guadalcanal. PT-37 and PT-40 sank destroyer IJN Teruzuki on the night of 11–12 December, barely three months after the Japanese had put her into service.
What was the largest ship sunk by a PT boat?
USS McCawley (APA-4). 9000 tons attack transport, sunk off Guadalcanal after being accidentally torpedoed by US torpedo boats.
How many PT boats still exist?
Today, just four combat-veteran PT boats still exist in the United States; of those, only PT-305 is fully restored and operational, complete with original-model engines.
How fast was a WWII PT boat?
Engines. PT-109 was powered by three 12-cylinder 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) Packard 4M-2500 marinized aero gasoline engines (one per propeller shaft), with a designed top speed of 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph).
What replaced the PT boat?
Their role was replaced in the U.S. Navy by fast attack craft.
Did the Japanese have PT boats in World War II?
In the book “Japanese Destroyer Captain” CMDR Hara wrote that the Japanese were envious of the US 40-knot PT boats, and by the end of the war, the Japanese had developed a PT boat, but it was only capable of 25 knots.
Why did the Navy burn the PT boats?
The U.S. Navy ended up destroying most of its PT boats because the light wood from which they were made could not be stored for future use as could the steel used in decommissioned warships. Before being scrapped the PT boats were first stripped of their valuable armament.
Did the Germans have PT boats?
The German torpedo boats of World War II were armed principally, if not exclusively, with torpedoes and varied widely in size. They were not small schnellboote (known to the Allies as E-boats) but small seagoing vessels, the larger of which were comparable to destroyers.
Can you still buy a PT boat?
Currently, PT, a yacht brand has 6 yachts available for purchase on YachtWorld. This collection encompasses 0 newly built vessels as well as 6 pre-owned yachts, with all listings, handled by yacht brokers, primarily concentrated in United States and Canada.
Were PT boats used in Europe?
Built in New Orleans by Higgins Industries, the patrol-torpedo (PT) boat PT-305 was a critical asset for the US Navy during World War II, serving in European waters from 1944 to the end ofthe war.
Were PT boats used in Vietnam?
All Patrol Torpedo boats were taken out of service immediately after WWII and either scrapped or sold (minus armament), A variety of light patrol and river craft were used in the Vietnam war including the well-known PBR (Patrol Boat River) pictured below, but no PT Boats.
Were there PT boats in Europe?
By the last patrol on the night of April 28, 1945, American PT boats had been fighting in the coastal waters of North Africa, Italy, and France for two years. During that period, they fired 354 torpedoes, claiming 38 vessels totaling 23,700 tons sunk.
How did JFK's boat sink?
JAMIE RICHARDSON: Our topic today involves the 75th anniversary of the destruction of JFK's patrol torpedo boat, the PT-109, and the ensuing rescue of its crew. During the night of August 1 into the second in 1943, the 80-foot boat was struck in the South Pacific by a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri.
Did all of the crew of PT-109 survive?
Two crew members were never seen again, but 11 who survived, all wearing life vests, managed to board what was left of PT-109. One had been badly burned and couldn't swim. Lieutenant Kennedy, who had suffered a ruptured spinal disk in the collision, had swum and towed him to the boat.
Is the PT-109 story true?
On August 1, 1943, a Japanese destroyer rams an American PT (patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109, slicing it in two. The destruction is so massive other American PT boats in the area assume the crew is dead. Two crewmen were, in fact, killed, but 11 survived, including Lt.
Which U.S. ship sank the most ships in ww2?
With 33 ships sunk, the USS Tang sank the most tonnage of shipping in World War II for the United States.
What happened to JFK's PT boat?
Kennedy assumed command of an 80-foot, 40-ton Elco motor torpedo boat (MTB) at Tulagi in the Solomons. His command of PT-109 lasted less than four months, ending on the night of 1–2 August when the boat was cut in two by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri in Blackett Strait—the waterway that connects Vella and Kula gulfs.
Are there any ww2 PT boats still around?
Two PT boats built by Vosper survive in the UK. And two of the boat exported to the Argentine Navy are in use as tour boats, the remaining Argentine Navy PT boats are not seaworthy, been scrapped or been sunk.
Where are PT boats any good?
PT boat action during World War II is well documented in history books and popularized in movies. Serving in multiple theaters, PT boats effectively and consistently challenged their adversaries. These fast ships, manned by courageous sailors, fought magnificently against long odds.
What is the most famous PT boat?
Lieutenant John F. Kennedy's encounter with a Japanese destroyer on the night of August 1, 1943, may be the most famous small-craft engagement in naval history, and it was an unmitigated disaster.
How many PT boats were built during World War II?
Two basic and distinctly different types of PT Boats were built for combat with the predominant PT, the 80-foot long "Elco" boat, and the slightly smaller 78-foot long "Higgins” boat. By the end of World War II, 399 Elco PTs had been built. Higgins built 199 or 205 PTs, depending on which figures are used.
How many PT boats did us build?
A total of 690 PT boats were built between 7 December 1941, and 1 October 1945. WW II PT Boat Manuals available at the Historic Naval Ships Association Web Site: Know Your PT Boat, 1945. This is an introduction to PT Boats for crews' in training.
How fast would a PT boat go?
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 knots. With accommodations for 3 officers and 14 men, the crew varied from 12 to 14.
Were PT boats made of wood?
One of the most notable types of wooden crafts was the PT or Motor Torpedo Boat. This small, fast craft would race at the enemy to launch torpedoes before making a hasty retreat. The complex curves of the boat's hull would have been very difficult to manufacture from steel.
Did a PT boat ever sink a submarine?
How many ships did PT boats sink in WW2? PT-59 (more on her later) is credited with sinking Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarine I-3 on December 9, 1942 near Guadalcanal. PT-37 and PT-40 sank destroyer IJN Teruzuki on the night of 11–12 December, barely three months after the Japanese had put her into service.
What was the fastest ship in WW2?
Le Fantasque was powered by two Rateau-Bretagne geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 74,000 metric horsepower (54,000 kW; 73,000 shp), which would propel the ship at 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph).
How many engines did PT boats have?
They were constructed of mahogany planks glued and screwed together on the ribs. The three 12 cylinder engines were derived from the “Liberty” aircraft engine and could drive a PT boat at up to 40 knots with a range (at cruising speed) of 550 nautical miles.
What was the PT boat nickname?
One such type of boat are the PT boats of WWII. Nicknamed “Devil Boats” by the Japanese, these small torpedo boats helped the U.S. Navy in its war in the Pacific. In 1938, the U.S. Navy realized its need for a mobile attack boat. PT's or Patrol Torpedo Boats were small, fast vessels that could be used for scouting.
What happened to all the PT boats after ww2?
At the end of World War II, the expense of returning PT boats to the United States from overseas was considered prohibitive, so most boat were stripped of useful materials and burned.
Did PT boats have radar?
The PT Boats during World War II were equipped with radar which helped in locating and destroying enemy ships. "One thing that was exciting about our boats, we all had radar," said Czekanski.
Was the PT-109 ever found?
The wreck of PT-109 was found by Robert Ballard in 2002 in 1,300 feet of water in Blackett Strait between Gizo and Kolombongara Islands in the Solomons, not far from where it was rammed by the Japanese destroyer IJN Amagiri at about 02:27 on August 2, 1943.
Did U.S. PT boats sink any Japanese ships?
PT-59 (more on her later) is credited with sinking Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarine I-3 on December 9, 1942 near Guadalcanal. PT-37 and PT-40 sank destroyer IJN Teruzuki on the night of 11–12 December, barely three months after the Japanese had put her into service.
Did PT boats have torpedoes?
Primary anti-ship armament on the standard PT boat was four 21-inch Mark 8 torpedoes, each had a 466-pound (211 kg) TNT warhead and had a range of 16,000 yards (15,000 m) at 36 knots (67 km/h). Two twin . 50-inch (12.7 mm) M2 Browning heavy machine guns were mounted for anti-aircraft defense and general fire support.
Could a PT boat sink a battleship?
No capital ship was sunk in WW2 by a motor torpedo boat/PT boat but one Dreadnought Battleship was sunk by an Italian motor torpedo boat in WW1. SMS Svent Istavan of the Austro Hungarian Navy a Dreadnought of 21000 tons was torpedoed and sunk by the 30 ton torpedo boat MAS-15 the sinking was filmed.
Was the PT 73 a real PT boat?
The real PT-73 was a 78-foot Higgins boat assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 13, which saw service in the Aleutians and in the Southwest Pacific theater. On 15 January, 1945 it ran aground, and was destroyed to prevent it falling into enemy hands.
How many PT boats still exist?
Today, just four combat-veteran PT boats still exist in the United States; of those, only PT-305 is fully restored and operational, complete with original-model engines.
What was the largest ship sunk by PT boat?
USS McCawley (APA-4). 9000 tons attack transport, sunk off Guadalcanal after being accidentally torpedoed by US torpedo boats.
How effective were PT boats in ww2?
PT Boats were arguably somewhat effective in the First World War era, actually sinking a couple of capital ships. By the Second World War they were utterly dependent on air cover to protect them since they had very limited anti aircraft capability and carried large quantities of gasoline.
Did John Wayne own a PT boat?
John Wayne actually did pilot one of the boats in some filming, which lead him to purchase a PT BOAT for his own personnel use. He liked the boats.
What is the modern equivalent of a PT boat?
They were used extensively in both the Pacific and Mediterranean Theaters in World War Two. The closest modern equivalent are Fast Missile Attack Craft. That are armed with Anti-ship Missiles, Cannons and sometimes light Anti-Aircraft Missiles.
Did the Germans have PT boats?
The German torpedo boats of World War II were armed principally, if not exclusively, with torpedoes and varied widely in size. They were not small schnellboote (known to the Allies as E-boats) but small seagoing vessels, the larger of which were comparable to destroyers.
How fast was a WWII PT boat?
Engines. PT-109 was powered by three 12-cylinder 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) Packard 4M-2500 marinized aero gasoline engines (one per propeller shaft), with a designed top speed of 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph).
Did the Japanese have PT boats in ww2?
In the book “Japanese Destroyer Captain” CMDR Hara wrote that the Japanese were envious of the US 40-knot PT boats, and by the end of the war, the Japanese had developed a PT boat, but it was only capable of 25 knots.
Can you buy a PT boat?
Specialized yacht brokers, dealers, and brokerages on YachtWorld have a diverse selection of PT models for sale, with listings spanning from 1979 year models to 1986.
Where did PT-109 sink?
In this profound darkness, PT-109 stood at her station in Blackett Strait, south of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands, one of the remnants of an operation born into futility, the heir to bad planning and worse communication.
Are there modern PT boats?
Fast attack craft today
Boats similar to torpedo boats are still in use, but are armed with long-range anti-ship missiles that can be used at ranges between 30 and 70 km. This reduces the need for high-speed chases and gives them much more room to operate in while approaching their targets.
Is the story of PT-109 true?
On August 1, 1943, a Japanese destroyer rams an American PT (patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109, slicing it in two. The destruction is so massive other American PT boats in the area assume the crew is dead. Two crewmen were, in fact, killed, but 11 survived, including Lt.
Is PT-109 movie accurate?
Basically, the facts are correct, but Warner Brothers has tampered with the timeline. When JFK was dispatched to rescue the Marines off the beach, PT-109 had been rammed and sunk, and he was skipper of PT-59.
What caused PT-109 to sink?
The destroyer, later identified as the Amagiri, struck PT 109 just forward of the forward starboard torpedo tube, ripping away the starboard aft side of the boat. The impact tossed Kennedy around the cockpit. Most of the crew were knocked into the water.
What destroyer sank PT-109?
In the early hours on August 2, 1943, PT-109 was patrolling Blackett Strait, on the southern side of Kolombangara Island, when her starboard side was rammed, cut, and severely disabled by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri.
Did U.S. PT boats sink any Japanese ships?
PT-59 (more on her later) is credited with sinking Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarine I-3 on December 9, 1942 near Guadalcanal. PT-37 and PT-40 sank destroyer IJN Teruzuki on the night of 11–12 December, barely three months after the Japanese had put her into service.
Did all of the crew of PT-109 survive?
Two crew members were never seen again, but 11 who survived, all wearing life vests, managed to board what was left of PT-109. One had been badly burned and couldn't swim. Lieutenant Kennedy, who had suffered a ruptured spinal disk in the collision, had swum and towed him to the boat.
Is the story of PT-109 true?
On August 1, 1943, a Japanese destroyer rams an American PT (patrol torpedo) boat, No. 109, slicing it in two. The destruction is so massive other American PT boats in the area assume the crew is dead. Two crewmen were, in fact, killed, but 11 survived, including Lt.
Were any U.S. troop ships sunk in ww2?
One comes to mind. USS Dorchester - troopship. Torpedoed and sunk in the Labrador Sea by a U-boat on the 3 February 1943. Of the 904 on board 675 died.