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Topic: RANGE OF A PT BOAT?? |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 9, 2008 - 10:20am
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Hello everyone-
I had my PT boat diorama out yesterday at my local YMCA here in Jacksonville, Florida in honor of Veterans Day and also in partisipation of a fund raising event tennis tournament in honor of Marine Corp. Joshua Watkins who once was a trainer at the Y. Josh gave his life for his country in Iraq.
I was approached by one visitor who asked me a PT boat related question that I could not answer.
What with the fuel tanks topped off at 3000 gallons of gas, what was the absolute range of a PT boat??
Thanks for your help guys!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 9, 2008 - 1:36pm
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Ya Know Frank, so much depended on many different factors in fuel consumption. A prop out of balance, marine growth on the Hull, or an engine that was running hot, could all spell trouble in fuel consumption on a thirsty PT BOAT.
Normally the boats Patrol would last roughly 12 hours. Running at say 23 knots, the Packards would consume about 66 gallons per hour, per engine for a total of 200 gallons per hour. Fuel consuption really added up if the boat was running near top sped using 166 gallons per engine, for a whopping total of 500 gallons per hour. So, in a 12 hout patrol a boat might use up to 2,000 gallons or more. In any event, the boats had a range of about 259 miles. Remember, the boats while patrolling were not hitting top speed, but lugging along looking for trouble. Several times, the boats would race out to Sea, opening up the engines. Of course, not being there, I might be far off the pace here, so please, any motor macs, or Crewmen please set me straight..............
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 7:49am
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Hiya Frank A.-
WOW!! Now ya know exactly why I didn't have the foggiest clue as to the fuel consumption for a PT. The fella who posed the question was currently in the Navy and rather than give him a wrong answer to this question I told him I didn't know.
On my diorama I have a scratch built dry dock. I know that the PT had to have the underside scraped down and copperoid painted to cut down on the sea growth which I knew would hinder the speed of the PT.
Yep, like you said there are way too many factors that would come into play with the range of the boat. What really staggers me is the rate of 500 gallons per hour! That's amazing! Thanks for your reply!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Friend/Modeler RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 8:43am
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Here's what it says in the characteristics:
CRUISING RADIUS (see table in back of book):
Full load maximum speed, 41 knots, 259 miles;
Full load maximum sustained speed, 35 knots, 358 miles;
Full load one engine, 11 knots, 1,050 miles.
Of course this si as built. Other factors are involved.
Here's the link for the chart:
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/pt/doctrine/part6.htm#pg95
Charlie |
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Pat Rogers |
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 9:58am
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Ron 9, when stationed in Treasury Island, Bougainville area, Solomon Islands group, made many trips to New Ireland, which was part of the eastern half of the New Guinea group.
As I recall, we would leave Treasury Island around 2:00 or 3:00 PM, travel at a moderate speed and arrive on station around 6:00 or 7:00 PM. I would say that it wasn't quite dusk. We would patrol into the wee hours of the morning until dawn and generally see little or no action.
(I was the radioman on board so I would spend most of my time in the chart room, especially if we were in General Quarters, so what would I know.)
There was more than one occasion when we were returning to base and as we approached the open harbor at Treasury, we would be "coasting" so as to conserve fuel. I don't think that we had much left.
If and when we saw action or if we used excessive speed, we would adjust and leave earlier.
I don't know how far it is from Treasury to New Ireland but I do know that our boat would be gasping for fuel.
One reason for my saying this is because I once read a message from some "character" in Vietnam that all PT boats were strictly "Brown Water" Navy.
I don't think he saw PT boats in Vietnam and I don't think he knows "Brown Water" from salt water.
If we could have had him on some trips on PT boats in the South Pacific, we would have liked him on board some of those long trips. I would have been all for dropping him overboard halfway to our destination and telling him to swim ashore. He could enjoy the "Brown Water" all the way home.
Maybe someone could tell me how far it is from Treasury to the closest point on New Ireland.
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 10:14am
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Hiya Pat-
Yeah, I think that guy was reffering to a PBR and NOT a PT. There's a mighty big difference there. For one a PBR ( nick-named PIBBER) is a squant 40 feet OAL.
Thank you for your reply, Pat! Somebody needs to set that guy back on track!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 1:27pm
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We patroled area Fox out of Green Island It was between New Britian and New Ireland - from Rabaul south. It was 105 miles to the beginning of station and the patrol length was 40 miles beyond. We would leave base around 4:00 p.m. back to base about 9:00 a.m. This patrol would take a full load of fuel for our boat. Sometimes we would be coming in on the fumes.
C. J. Willis |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 1:28pm
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Hey Pat,
I bet that brown water guy never heard of the trip made between Mios Woendi and Leyte Gulf that was made by what? about 50 PT Boats just before the invasion of Leyte! Wasn't that over 1000 miles? I know they had to convoy behind a tender but still that must have been quite the experience, and all in the deep blue water of the mighty Pacific Ocean!. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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Nathaniel Smith
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 10, 2008 - 4:53pm
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New Ireland is about 320 km long (200 miles). This would make the distance from Treasury to New Ireland about 235 miles (204 nautical miles) and the round trip about 470 miles (or 408 nautical miles). That is a lot of blue water.
natsmith |
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Wayne Traxel |
MASTER
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Posted on: Nov 12, 2008 - 10:43am
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The Sailor probably read that Thar new book on PT's that came out last month.
Wayne Traxel |
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