Did a PT boat ever sink a ship?

Originally conceived as anti-ship weapons, PT boats were publicly credited with sinking several Japanese warships during the period between December 1941 and the fall of the Philippines in May 1942 – even though the Navy knew the claims were all false.

Are there any surviving PT boats?

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. An operational PT-305 promises to become one of The National WWII Museum’s most exciting artifacts and teaching tools.

How many ships did PT boats sunk in WW2?

38 vessels
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.

Does the US Navy still use PT boats?

PT Boats, Inc., a nonprofit organization of World War II PT Boat veterans, bought the boat and restored her between 1995 and 2005. PT-658 is now fully functional and afloat, and is the only restored US Navy PT Boat that is operational today.

Was there a real PT 73?

The real-life PT-73 was finished on August 12, 1942 by Higgins Industries, Iinc., New Orleans. It was 78 feet (24 m) long, weighed 56 tons and had a top speed of 40 knots. It was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 13 under the command of Commander James B. Denny, USN.

How fast were PT boats in ww2?

The Elco boats were the largest in size of the three types of PT boats built for U.S. use during World War II. 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.

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.

Who was the XO on PT-109?

Leonard J. Thom
Thom: JFK’s XO on PT-109. Leonard J. Thom, executive officer of PT-109 and JFK’s friend and right-hand man, is remembered as a hero to his family and those who served with him.

How fast did PT boats go?

41 knots
Patrol torpedo boat PT-109

Has PT-109 been found?

A National Geographic expedition has found the WWII patrol boat that became a cornerstone of the Kennedy legend. A National Geographic expedition led by explorer Robert Ballard has found what is believed to be the remains of John F. Kennedy’s PT-109.

Did McHale’s Navy use a real PT boat?

The vessel used for shots of the PT-73 underway was a 72-foot type II Vosper MTB (Motor Torpedo Boat), a British design built under license in the US for export to Russia. The war ended in August 1945 before the boat, the real number of which was PT-694, could be sent to the Soviet Union.

What was McHale’s Navy based on?

A remake entitled McHale’s Navy, was released in 1997 and features an appearance by Ernest Borgnine playing a 75-year old McHale….McHale’s Navy (1964 film)