Armed with four torpedoes and two twin Browning machine guns, the small, fast and highly maneuverable PT boats (patrol, torpedo boats) were an important part of the U.S. Navy’s weapons systems during World War ll. Equipped with a trio of Packard engines, their maximum speed, even in rough seas, ranged between 25 to 27 mph. Built mainly with a special marine plywood, it kept the boats light-weight, allowing for their exceptional operational characteristics. In addition, their shallow draft helped them to serve in shallow waters.
During the American Civil War, the Union’s spar torpedo boat, a forerunner of WWII PT boats, was built in response to the Confederate ironclad, Albemarle. The 152-feet long ironclad had four-inch-thick iron plating. It was armed with two Brook guns mounted on pivot carriages. In addition, its heavily reinforced iron bow was used as a ram. In early 1864, the Union had established a base at Plymouth (NC), some 8 miles up the Roanoke River from Albemarle Sound. As part of a Confederate plan to attack the base, the ironside headed upriver. However, to prevent such an attack, the Union’s side-wheel steam gunboats (USS Southfield and USS Miami) were anchored on opposite sides of the river, with an obstructive chain stretched out between them. In mid-April of 1864, the Albemarle sailed up-river, where it spotted the USS Southfield and USS Miami. With the ironside running at full speed, it rammed the Southfield at midship, driving its iron bow deeply into it. The wounded vessel sank to the bottom. The Miami directed gun fire at the ironside, but its shells simply bounced off its iron sides. The Miami then retreated into Albemarle Sound. On May 5, the USS Sassacus, attacked the ironside, severely damaging its smokestack and causing some of the Albemarle’s iron plates to begin peeling away. At dusk, the wounded ironside retreated to a site near Plymouth where, at berth, it protected itself with floating log booms, located about 30 feet from its hull.
Determined to destroy the Confederate ironclad and recapture Plymouth, the Union assigned Lt. William B. Cushing command of two 50-foot steam power spar boats. The boats were armed with a 12-pounder howitzer and a torpedo mounted at the tip of a 14-feet long pole (spar). However, as they made their way through inland waterways, the second vessel was captured by the Confederates. Cushing had planned to use that boat to distract the Albemarle, while his vessel carried on the attack. But it did not deter him, stating “Impossibilities are for the timid. We determine to overcome all obstacles.”
Cushing entered the Roanoke and sailed upriver toward the ironsides. Under cover of dark, they slowly approached the above water remains of the USS Southfield, where the Confederates had stationed sentinels. Proceeding very slowly, they passed the lookouts without being detected. Soon after, their intended target came into view. As they approached their target, Cushing realized that the protecting logs were slimy. Running his boat at full speed, they rode over them, but they had been detected. The onshore Rebels and those aboard the ironside opened fire. Cushing lowered the torpedo from the elevated spar. As it contacted the Albemarle’s wooden keel, the line was pulled, making a ball inside the torpedo to come into contact with its percussion cap. The explosion blew a six-foot hole in the ironclad keel, quickly sending it to the bottom. However, Rebel’s simultaneous return fire severely damaged the Union’s spar boat, forcing its abandonment. Cushing and another crewman survived by swimming to shore. Two were lost and eleven were captured. But the early form of PT boat had succeeded in its mission!
From the onset of WWl, Great Britain and Italy were at the forefront in developing the first gasoline powered motor PT boats. The US Navy had shown some interest, but all activity ceased with the signing of the Armistice. However, in 1938, following Navy sponsored PT design competition, Elco Motor Yachts (Bayonne, NJ) and Higgins Industries (New Orleans LA) became the major manufacturers of the Nation’s PT Boats. Elco’s boat was 80-feet long while Higgins was slightly smaller at 78-feet.
During WWll, three of the 41 Navy’s PT squadrons served with British Coastal Forces in the Mediterranean. Early on, PT 206 successfully torpedoed a German tanker off the coast of Tunisia (coastal Africa). In August 1943, eighteen PT boats participated in the month-long Allied invasion of Sicily, taking on German fast action E-Boats and their cargo ships. By the end of the European part of the war, US Navy PT boats had destroyed 38 enemy ships at a cost of four PT’s. All of them were lost to mines. Pt boats also served on the coast of Normandy during the D-Day invasion, where they directed machine gun fire on German positions and detonated mines. However, their contribution toward the war effort was of even greater importance in the Pacific.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, December 7, 1941, a PT boat Ensign Ball spotted a “meatball” insignia on the wing of an approaching aircraft. A nearby crewman cried out “they look like Japs.” The PT boat’s 50-caliber machine guns were immediately manned, taking out an approaching enemy torpedo plane. Across the harbor, six PT boats were being prepared for transport aboard the USS Ramapo, destined for the Philippines. Their crewmen also took action, destroying at least two of the Japanese planes. On that December day, there were about 100 warships and service auxiliary ships within Pearl Harbor. However, luckily there were no aircraft carriers present in the harbor. The USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma were sunk where they still lie today. Of the 100 ships at Pearl Harbor, 16 were damaged, but after repairs, most were returned to service.
Traditionally, PT boats were mainly deployed against supply and troop barges, transports and tankers, rather than warships. Their shallow draft allowed them to run close to shore and up rivers used to resupply enemy forces. As a result, many of them were refitted with heavy machine guns and canons. If a PT boat was under return fire, it was sometimes said to zigzag away at high speeds. PT boats were also instrumental in saving the lives of crewmen aboard downed airplanes and sinking allied vessels.
Though there were many became heroes while serving aboard PT boats, two individuals stood out above the rest: LT John D. Bulkeley and LT JG John F. Kennedy. Bulkeley, a Naval Academy graduate, was recognized as a famous WWll Pt boat skipper. Kennedy, also became a celebrated PT boat skipper.
During first months of 1942, advancing Japanese forces were approaching Manila in the Philippines. Threatened by the possible capture of General MacArthur, Lt. Bulkeley was ordered to evacuate the general. As daylight faded on March 11, 1942, he maneuvered his PT-41 through a defensive minefield, taking aboard MacArthur, his family and 13 staff members. Accompanied by three other PT boats, he made his way, avoiding enemy patrol vessels, to the safety of Mindanao Island. As he disembarked PT-41, MacArthur stated “You have taken me out of the jaws of death. I shall never forget it.” For all his heroics, from December 1941 to April 1942, Bulkeley was awarded the Medal of Honor. “They Were Expendable,” a book and Hollywood movie were based on PT Boat wartime activities and Bulkeley’s exploits.
In April of 1943, Lieutenant JG Kennedy was given command of PT-109. Based in the Pacific’s Solomon Islands along with 14 other PTs, they were directed to conduct attacks on Japanese supply vessels. On the dark, moonless night of August 1, 1943, PT-109 was patrolling a narrow strait when an unidentified ship came into view. As soon as Kennedy realized that it was a Japanese destroyer, he turner his PT to the starboard so that they could fire a torpedo. It was too late. The destroyer struck the PT, slicing away part of its starboard side. Two of its crewmen were lost but the others managed to cling to the PT’s debris. The enemy was never aware of what had happened.
Kennedy gathered the remaining nine men and placed a life-vest on an injured crewman. He then directed them to swim to an island, 3 miles away. As they made their way, he towed the disabled crewman to shore. However, the island was barren. It had no fresh water or food source. The entire group then swam to a nearby island. Once there, they eventually encountered two islanders who provided them with food and water and contacted the US base at Rendova. On August 8, the men of PT-109 were rescued. LT Kennedy was later awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medals. But another great personal accomplishment would come when he was sworn in as the 35th President, in 1961.
Nicknamed “devil boats” by the Japanese, PT boats proved to be valuable Navy assets. The PT-658 Heritage Museum in Portland, Oregon, is the only remaining fully operational PT boat. Open to the public, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.