The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi


» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf


» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102


» Topic: Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1715



I hope some of the PT vets can answer some of my questions on CPO's
What were the duties of a CPO? How many were in a RON? Did each boat have one? Is a CPO an enlisted man? Was there a higher rank for enlisted men? What did CPO do at general quarters?
Thanks, Russ



Posted By: RUSSELL WHIPPLE | Posted on: Mar 15, 2010 - 5:59pm
Total Posts: 13 | Joined: Dec 16, 2007 - 9:38am



Chief is the highest enlisted rate in the navy. They had different uniforms, more like an officers uniform, and they had separate quarters. A chief was not usually assigned to a boat.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Mar 15, 2010 - 6:41pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Russell;
QM is correct, in later squadrons most Chiefs were assigned to the various base repair forces. But there is always exceptions, Chief Al McCready was assigned to PT 490 and 491 RON 33.
However, in the earlier squadrons, Chiefs were on the boats, Bulkeley's RON 3 had many Chiefs on the boats. In RON 3(2) MMC Burney Fisk was not only chief engineer of PT 61, but he was also acted Ken Prescotts, Exec for most of the time Ken was CO of PT 61. Also Lets not forget Boats Newberry, who acted as Pessolano's exec on 155.
But it seems that once the base forces were established and more organized most of the chiefs either moved or were moved ashore, and senior first classes stepped into their leadership roles on the boats.
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 16, 2010 - 12:24pm
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am