"The Mosquito Fleet" - PT Boats

Naval Historical Center ^ | unknown | Umknownl

[SAMWolf]

This Thread is dedicated to SpookBrat's Grandfather, part of America's Greatest Generation and a PT Boater.

[SAMWolf]

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning SAM, thanks for the ping.

"The Mosquito Fleet" - PT Boats, wow!!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning, Bentfeather.

[SpookBrat]

Dang.....I was so excited and read the thread and was about to post, then I saw you say something about my Grandpa. You are too much. ((((((hugs)))))) LOL I didn't know you were "dedicating" it to my Grandfather. He is in the hospital right now and I'll have my aunt print it out and take it to him. He'll be so proud to see the PT Boat honored. He used to go to the reunions every year without fail, but now he is too old and sick. *sniff*

Here are his pictures. I wish I had more.

That's him with his father.

Here is my Grandpa and my Grandma. High School sweethearts and deeply in love their whole life. They were the cutest couple.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for posting you Grandfather's pictures Spooky.

When you take this to him tell him, Thanks for his Service from me.

[pabianice]

John Kennedy -- what a loser -- the only PT boat commander in the entire war who managed to get rammed at sea after stupidly and irresponsibly shutting-down his engines at night. Joseph kennedy -- what a manipulator of the press and the Navy -- managing to make a hero of John after he lost his boat and some of his crew. The Kennedy Saga continues...

[SpookBrat]

This is so exciting. I wanted to do a thread about this, but the info was too overwhelming. You pulled it off and I'm proud of you. Thank you so much. I will tell him what you said and I'm sure he would thank you as well. He's a good man and a hero to me. I love my grandfather.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! That was always my opinion too. They were retreating and he managed to lose his boat by getting it rammed.

I will give him credit for saving the life of his crewman, you can't take that away from him

[MistyCA]

thanks for doing this thread about the torpedo boats,
Sam! Spooky, your family has given a lot to the safety and protection of this nation. My thanks to them and to all of the others who so bravely walked in those shoes.

[MistyCA]

You have a beautiful family that I know you are very proud of. My prayers go out to your grandpa in the hospital, and to all of your family.

[SpookBrat]

Thanks Misty. My grandpa started the "patriot defend and love your country" tradition. I wish I had pictures of all his grandsons who have served or are serving now. I'll see if I can't dig some out. We are a very patriotic, proud family.

He served for many years afterwards and retired from the reserves. God love him. I love you Grandpa. I know Aunt Georgia will print this out, and I'm kissing you on your bald head. :)

I wasn't going to ping everyone I know, but pride got the best of me. FRiends, read the PT boat thread. This is what my grandpa did during the war.

[Mr. Spooky1]

Thanksfor posting this Sam

[SpookBrat]

[Sabertooth]

Great thread SAM. A little trivia:

Did you know that "mosquito" is the Spanish word for the bloodsucking insects that observant Spaniards saw swarming around mosques?

[Sabertooth]

Warships Associated With World War II in the Pacific PT BOAT 796

Torpedo Boats

Higgins-type

PT Boat 796, exterior view of forward deck, Fall River, MA
(Photo by USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee, 1985)

Name:	PT Boat 796
Location:	Battleship Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts
Owner:	PT Boats, Inc.
Condition:	Excellent, altered
Displacement:	55 tons full load
Length:	78 feet
Width:	21 feet 6 inches
Range:	~500 miles
Speed:	44 knots maximum, varying with load and sea conditions
Machinery:	3-1,550 HP Packard engines
Armament:	2-Mark 13 torpedoes, 2-twin .50 caliber machine guns, 1-twin 20mm machine gun, 1-single 20mm machine gun, 1-single 40mm machine gun

Builder:	Higgins Company, New Orleans, Louisiana
Launched:	mid-1945
Commissioned:	July 1945

Description

PT (Patrol, Torpedo) Boat 796 is a Higgins-type torpedo boat built for service in World War II. She was built by the Higgins Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, launched in mid-1945, and commissioned as a unit of PT Squadron 43 in July of that year. Like all American PT boats, 796 (nicknamed "Tailender") was constructed of mahogany and plywood and powered by three 1,550-horsepower Packard engines which used high-octane aviation gasoline as fuel.

PT 796 is in excellent condition and retains its World War II integrity.

PT Boats--General

PT boats, as they were known in World War II, were a British invention, adopted and used by the U.S. Navy. The idea of the PT boat was that of the small, fast--and ultimately, expendable--interdiction ship, armed with torpedoes and machine guns for cutting enemy supply lines, for harassing enemy forces, and for short-range oceanic scouting. American PT boats served during World War II in the Philippines and the Southwestern Pacific areas, in the English Channel, off Normandy, and in the Mediterranean Sea.

There were 43 PT squadrons, with a normal complement of 12 boats. Some 300 PT boaters were killed in World War II, an extremely high loss rate for this comparatively small, elite service.

PT boats were a significant American naval warship type in World War II. They were responsible for numerous enemy losses, in warships, materiel, and personnel. They spawned a number of offshoots - the Japanese "Shinyo" suicide boat; the fast, hydrofoil missile ships of today; and the numerous inshore patrol craft used by many navies of the 1980s.

Significance

At the present time there are four extant PT Boats remaining. PT 617 is now under going restoration and will be displayed opposite PT 796 at Battleship Cove. PT 619 is in very poor condition in Memphis, Tennessee, and has lost most of its World War II integrity. Another PT Boat (Hull number unknown) is in Camp Wythycombe, Oregon, but this boat has no armament and is in need of additional restoration. PT 796, thus is the best representative of this class of warships. PT 796 is in excellent condition and retains her World War II integrity.

PT 796 is also the PT Boat that was used in President Kennedy's Inaugural Parade in January 1961, painted with the numerals "109".

PT Boat 796, deck view from stern looking forward
(Photo by USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee, 1985)

PT Boat 796 crew's quarters
(Photo by USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee, 1985)

PT Boat 796 engine room
(Photo by USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee, 1985)

PT Boat 796, exterior view of hull
(Photo by USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee, 1985)

LINK

[PUGACHEV]

I think rather that it probably came from "mosca" the Spanish word for fly.

[PUGACHEV]

I recall being a child in the '50s and fishing with my father from a small motorboat in a bay behind Atlantic City when a converted PT boat cruised by. No one should think of these as small boats. The darn thing was as big as a house and those triple 12 cylinder Packards made quite an impression on me and quite a wake too