AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’S IN WORLD WAR II OFFICE OF NAVAL HISTORY 15 February 1946 Recreated from microfilm by members of the PT Boat Message Board . PRELIMINARY ISSUE http://www.ptboats.org/cgi-local/sitenetbbs/netboard.cgi PLEASE VISIT THE PT BOAT MESSAGE BOARD AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 3 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) Document Recreated, October 26, 2010 (From a microfilmed copy of the original Navy document.) This post World War II Navy document from 1946, has been recreated from microfilm copy by a group of PT Boat Message Board members from the PT Boats, Inc. website. All textural content has been retyped, charts redrawn, and where possible, photographic content has been replaced with a better copy of the same image or a very similar image. The format of the document has also been changed from the original 1946 typewriter style document to a more finish published book appearance. A detailed table of contents has been added, as well as assigning figure numbers to all photographs and charts with their page location listed at the end of the table of contents and as a final change the Appendices section has been page numbered. Although these changes have been added, the actual document content has not been changed except for obvious typographic errors. Because of the Lexicon and military writing style from the nineteen forty’s era; the content, spelling and acronym used can’t be verified. This recreation has been made as a historical note, making it more available for those with the desire to learn more about the World War II Motor Torpedo Boat service and its boats. The following individuals contributed to the recreation of this document (all names are listed in alphabetical order): Frank Andruss Sr. Jeff Davidson Will Day Jerry Gilmartin Gary Paulsen Al Ross Ted Walther Mary Ann Washichek Richard Washichek AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 4 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) What we want to know is, “How come PT’s?”. Captain A. D. Turnbull Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Naval History This administrative history of PT boats in World War II was originally prepared for the U.S. Navy by: Lt. Frank A. Tredinnick, Jr., USNR, and Lt. Comdr. Harrison L. Bennett, USNR. AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 5 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) Table Of Contents Introduction . 10 Chapter One . 13 Development Of The Mtb To 1939 . 13 European Development . 13 Early United States Development . 15 Tactical Use . 15 World War I Development . 16 Post War Development . 19 The Scott-Paine Design . 21 New United States Interest . 21 Chapter Two . 23 Development 1939 To 1941 . 23 Design Competition . 23 Tactical Considerations . 25 Preliminary Design . 28 Final Design . 29 Competition Results . 30 The Elco Program . 31 Origins of the Elco Program . 32 General Board’s Opinion . 33 Scott-Paine Boat Procured . 35 Beginning of First Building Program . 36 Rough Water Trials . 37 Introduction of Packard Engine . 39 Building the Prize Designs . 39 Higgins Signs First Contract . 40 PT’s 1 And 2 . 41 PT’s 3 And 4 . 41 PT’s 5 And 6 . 42 First Elco Boats . 43 Proposed Squadron Organization . 45 Building of 77’ Elco’s . 48 New Squadron Organization . 49 UK Takes Boats on Lend Lease . 49 AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 6 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) Chapter Two - Continued Familiarization School Established . 49 Assignment of New Constructed Elco 77’S . 50 Higgins Boat Shows Superiority . 51 Origins of PT 6 . 51 Government Accepts Higgins Design . 52 Delivery of First Elco 77’s . 53 Building Program Underway . 53 Chapter Three . 55 Standardization And Qualification . 55 The “Plywood Derby” . 55 Type Characteristics . 58 The First “Plywood Derby” . 58 Hull Tests . 61 Speed Trials . 61 Maneuverability Tests . 63 The Second Plywood Derby . 65 The Weather . 66 The Results . 67 Findings of the Board . 69 Conclusions of the Board . 70 Recommendations of the Board . 71 Chapter Four . 73 Development From 1941 . 73 Higgins Hulls are Constructed Upside Down and then Righted for Completion . 77 Comparative Tests in 1943 . 83 Company Projects . 87 The Higgins “Hellcat” . 87 Chapter Five . 96 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Training Center . 96 Melville, Rhode Island . 96 Administrative Relationship . 96 Mission and Facilities . 96 Early Development . 97 Training Policy . 99 Aerial Photograph of MTBSTC (early). 99 Personnel Organization . 101 Training Facilities . 102 Aerial Photograph of MTBSTC (later). 102 AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 7 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) Chapter Five - Continued Training Problems . 105 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Four . 109 Special Projects . 110 Personnel Problems . 112 Conclusions . 115 Chapter Six . 118 Miami PT Shakedown Detail . 118 Housing and Subsistence . 118 Staff Officers . 119 Introduction of COTCLant . 119 Inception of the PT Shakedown Detail . 119 Staff Organization . 119 Physical Facilities . 120 Shakedown Syllabus . 121 Normal Operating Status . 121 Experimental Program . 123 Summary . 124 Syllabus for PT Shakedown Period . 125 First Day . 125 Second Day . 125 Third Day . 125 Fourth Day . 126 Fourth Day - Night Exercises . 126 Fifth Day . 126 Fifth Day – Night Exercises . 126 Sixth Day . 126 Sixth Day – Night Exercises . 126 Seventh Day . 127 Seventh Day – Night Operations . 127 Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Day . 127 Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Day – Night Exercises . 127 Eleventh and Twelfth Day . 127 Eleventh and Twelfth Day – Night Exercises . 128 Thirteenth Day And Night . 128 Fourteenth Day . 128 Chapter Seven . 129 Commissioning Details . 129 MTB Commissioning Detail New York . 129 AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF PT’s IN WORLD WAR II 8 (Recreated October 25, 2010 the members of the PT Boat Message board) Chapter Seven Continued Establishment of Commissioning Detail . 129 Basic Task . 131 Expansion of Facilities . 132 Reorganizations . General . 133 Personnel . 133 Material . 134 Reports . 135 Principal Duties of the Commanding Officer . 135 Principal Duties of the Executive Officer . 135 Principal Duties of the Outfitting Officer . 135 Principal Duties of the Disbursing and Commissary Officer . 136 Control of Availability . 136 Pre-Shakedown Training . 137 Effect of Reorganization . 137 Training at the Commissioning Detail . 137 Local Training Facilities Available . 138 Administrative Responsibility . 138 Conclusion . 139 Possible Remedial Action . 139 Motor Torpedo Boat Commissioning Detail . 141 New Orleans, LA. 141 Basic Functions Of The Commissioning Detail . 141 Original Physical Organization . 142 Facilities On Lake Pontchartrain . 142 Summary . 144 Commissioning Details, USN, Gulf Area . 145 PT Ferrying Command . 148 Chapter Eight . 151 U. S. Naval Station, Taboga . 151 Selection of a Site in the Canal Zone . 151 Base Facilities And Activities . 153 Seaplane Facilities . 154 Training Program . ..