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The most famous of these torpedo boats, PT-109, commanded by future United States President John F. Kennedy, was one of the hundreds of members of the PT-103 class completed between 1942 and 1945 by Elco Naval Division of Electric Boat Company at Bayonne, New Jersey.
The Elco boats were the largest in size of the three types of PT boats built for US Navy use during World War II. Wooden-hulled, 80 feet (24 m) long with a 20 ft 8 i (6.3 m) beam, the Elco PT boats had three 12-cylinder Packard gasoline engines generating a total of 4,500 horsepower (3,400 kW) for a designed speed of 41 knots (76 km/h). With accommodations for 3 officers and 14 men, the crew varied from 12 to 14. Its full-load displacement was 56 tons.
Early Elco boats had two 20 mm guns, four .50-caliber (~12.7 mm) machine guns, and two or four 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Some of them carried depth charges or mine racks. Later boats mounted one 40 mm gun and four torpedo launching racks. Many boats received ad-hoc refits at advanced bases, mounting such light guns as Army Air Forces 37 mm aircraft guns and even Japanese 23 mm guns. Some PTs later received rocket launchers.
Originally conceived as antiship weapons, PTs were publicly, but erroneously, credited with sinking Japanese warships during the early months after Pearl Harbor.
During the long Solomons campaign, they operated usefully at night and times of low visibility against Japanese barge traffic in " the Slot." Throughout World War II, PTs operated in the southern, western, and northern Pacific, as well as in the Mediterranean and the English ChannelThe English Channel is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. In French it is called La Manche ("the sleeve"). It is about 350 miles long and at its widest i. Some served off NormandyThis article concerns the former country of Normandy. For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a former country (a Duchy) situated in northern France occupying the during that invasion.
Though their primary mission continued to be seen as attack of surface ships and craft, PTs were also used effectively to lay mines and smoke screens, to rescue downed aviators, and to carry out intelligence or raider operations. Almost all surviving Elco PTs were disposed of shortly after V-J Day. Two PTs survive in WW II configuration on static dispaly--Elco boat, PT-617, and PT 796, A 78 foot Higgins Fall River, MassachusettsFall River is a city located in Bristol County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 91,938. History Fall River was first settled in 1670 and was officially incorporated in 1812. It was formerly a part of Freetown, Mass. These boats are owned by PT Boats, Inc., a WW II PT veterans organization headquartered in a suburb of Memphis, TN.
Although more 80-foot Elco boats were built than any other type of motor torpedo boat, other types were built by the U. S. The British-designed 70 foot (21 m) Vosper boat s which were built for Lend Lease fired 18 inch (457 mm) torpedoes. Since the U.S. produced the heavier and longer 21-inch torpedoes, the U.S. Navy wanted a larger PT boat. After experimentation, the first PT boat built in any quantity was the 77 foot (23 m) type built by Elco. These boats were used early in World War II.
In 1943 in the Solomons, three of these 77 foot (23 m) PT boats, PT-59, PT-60, and PT-61, were even converted into gunboats by stripping the boat of all original armament except for the two twin .50 caliber (~12.7 mm) gun mounts, and then adding two 40 mm guns and four more twin .50 caliber (~12.7 mm) machine guns. LTJG John F. Kennedy was the first commanding officer of PT-59 after the conversion.
Although the Huckins Yacht Company of Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville redirects here. Alternate meanings: Jacksonville (disambiguation Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. It is the county seat of Duval County 6. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 735,617. Geograp, built a few 78 foot (24 m) boats of the PT-95 class, the 80 foot (24.4 m) Elco boats and the 78 foot (24 m) Higgins boats became the standard motor torpedo boats of World War II. The Higgins boats which were built by Higgins Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana, were 78 foot (24 m) boats of the PT-71 class. The Higgins boats had the same beam, full load displacement, engine, generators, shaft horsepower, trial speed, armament, and crew accommodations as the 80 foot (24.4 m) Elco boats.
Cultural Impact
The story of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 in the retreat from the Philippines early in World War II was documented in the book They Were Expendable by W.L. White, BooksEnthsiast.com, originally published in 1942 soon after the events depicted. Later, in 1945 John Ford made it into a notable war film starring John Wayne.
The JFK story is told in PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan , published in 1961. (BooksEnthsiast.com). PT 109 was also a 1963 film starring Cliff Robertson. While he was president, JFK handed out PT 109 tieclasps to favored guests and associates.
The TV situation comedy, and later film, McHale's Navy was set in a PT boat squadron.
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