What did torpedo boats do?
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes.
How many engines were on a PT boat?
three 12
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. With accommodations for 3 officers and 14 men, the crew varied from 12 to 14. Its full-load displacement was 56 tons.
What was the fastest boat in WW2?
Nicknamed the “USS Sudden Jerk” by its first crew back in 1945, the PT-305 played a crucial role in the war, patrolling enemy coastlines and launching attacks on enemy ships before quickly darting away thanks to its speed, according to the Associated Press.
Did a PT boat ever sink a ship?
During the 1941–42 Philippines Campaign, PT boats were credited with sinking Japanese ships, but postwar assessment denied the claims. The greatest success they had was interdicting Japanese coastal shipping in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea areas.
How are torpedoes launched?
Open the equalizing valve to equalize pressure in the tube with ambient sea pressure. When the launch command is given and all interlocks are satisfied, the water ram operates, thrusting a large volume of water into the tube at high pressure, which ejects the torpedo from the tube with considerable force.
When were torpedo boats invented?
Of course the torpedo was invented only in 1866 by Robert Whitehead, so just a year after the end of the Civil War, but the prototype was first created in 1863 by the Austro-Hungarian officer Ivan Lupis. Called salvacoste it has many shortcomings that were solved by Whitehead and made practical.
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.
Were PT boats used in Vietnam?
PTFs were the Vietnam War’s version of the famous PT boats used in World War II. They were heavily armed, near-coastal gunboats, used mostly by special forces.
What was the fastest warship ever built?
The Iowas were the first U.S. Navy battleships to make speed a primary value, and achieved the speed through a longer hull and more powerful machinery. Indeed, the Iowas are the fastest battleships ever built, outpacing even the Italian Littorios by a knot or two.
What is the fastest destroyer in ww2?
Fastest Destroyer – Le Fatasque Class The fastest destroyers of World War II actually entered service during the mid 1930s. These destroyers were the Le Fantasque class of France. The Le Fantasque class were designed to operate with France’s high speed battleship and cruiser forces.
Are any of the PT-109 crew still alive?
Gerard Zinser, the last surviving crewman from the sinking of John F. Kennedy’s PT 109 in the South Pacific in World War II, died on Aug. 21 at a hospital in Orange Park, Fla. Zinser, who lived in Orange Park, had Alzheimer’s disease, The Associated Press reported.
How did torpedoes work in WW2?
In the first, the warhead exploded just as it armed. These premature explosions were easily discerned by the submarine because the torpedo exploded before it had a chance to reach its target. In the second, the warhead exploded just before reaching the target ship but far enough away that it did no damage.
What was the name of the German motor boat in WW2?
German motor torpedo boats of the Second World War were called S-boote (Schnellboote, “fast boats”) by the Kriegsmarine and “E-boats” by the Allies. Italian MTBs of this period were known as Motoscafo Armato Silurante (“MAS boats”, torpedo armed motorboats).
What happened to the PT boats in World War II?
Most of the PT boat attack force fired their compliment of torpedoes and headed for home, but three boats stayed behind including the 109. In the confusion and darkness at sea, Lieutenant Kennedy noted a vague shape approaching him. He assumed it was a sister PT boat, but soon discovered it was a Japanese destroyer.
What was the largest motor boat to sink a battleship?
MAS 15 was the only motor torpedo boat in history to sink a battleship, the Austro-Hungarian vessel Szent István in 1918. British torpedo boats of the First World War were small at only around 15 tons and were known as Coastal Motor Boats.
What kind of boats did the Canadian Navy use in WW1?
These boats were used by the Royal Canadian Navy 29th MTB Flotilla . Originally designed as Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) carrying a 6-pounder (57mm, 2.24 inch) to engage enemy small craft, they were re-designated Motor Torpedo Boats. Scott-Paine Type G 70 foot boat.