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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: rough weather
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C.J., Earl and other PT veterans;
What was the roughest weather you transited through during your time in P.T. Boats?
Mine was 15-18 footers, during a Noreaster off Florida in 1991. We(in 4 65" MK lll PB's) transited from Key West to Mayport.We were 27 hours in it(8 times we went air-bound that night as I was on the helm the whole time)and when we moored, the Mayport base CO told us he did not allow the USS Saratoga(CV-60) to set sail that day, for a med deployment!
So I am just interested, what is the worst crap you went through during your PT service?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 26, 2012 - 10:25pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted: I have no idea how high the waves were but I would guess over 12 feet. We left Lambu Cove one night and when we cleared the cove it was rough as hell. They tried different speeds but finally opened up to about 35 mph and went right through the waves. Sometimes the whole boat would quiver and come completly out of the water and the engines would rev up when the screws would come out of the water. Water was pouring over the bow constantly. We crewmembers were all standing behind the cockpit hanging on to the radar mast and braces. The Squadron CO was with us as section leader that night. After about an hour of that crap he had us turn around and head for the base. We could not have patroled in that stuff anyway. When we were at Green Island I recall a few nights of awful rough weather there too coming back from New Britan and New Ireland. We were at Green during monsoon season and lots of wind and rain. Those old PT Boats could sure take a beating and keep going. I guess that is why I have had one knee replaced and need another.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: May 27, 2012 - 12:25pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

C.J., I can only imagine being tossed around on a 78 foot boat. The closest I ever came to this was when we went fishing one time out of Gloucester, Mass. The skipper has warned us of a storm we would be running into, but the 25 of us on there that day thought we were old salts of the sea. Those waves started tossing us around, and everyone on board was sick except for my Father In Law, who served on the USS RANGER during WWII. I think I was every shade of green there was, and had puked so much, I begged the Skipper to let me jump in the Ocean. I would guess the waves were maybe 5 or 6 feet, but I will never forget it.

I spoke with several guys who served with Ron 27, and they had hit a hurricane in the Philippines. They spoke about tying each other to the 40mm gun, so no one would be washed overboard. In Sea's that high, it must have been hell...................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 27, 2012 - 4:46pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Frank: I was never seasick riding a PT but we were relieved of duty and came back to the States for about 3 months then shipped out from San Fransisco for the Philippines on a Troup ship. We were hardly out of sight of the Bridge when I got sick as a dog and it lasted about 3 days. Those big ships have a pitch and a constant roll that was different from a PT. Those Troop ships were so crowded and just one big mass of humanity that they would make about anybody sick. We had a Motor Mac who was sick a lot but he was always able to stand his watches in the engine room and never complained or asked for a transfer to the base force.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 1:34pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

C.J., I spoke to many guys that never were sick on a PT BOAT, and some that were sick but got over it. Like you, they related to me that being on another Ship, caused them to become very sick, because of the way the ship rolled. In any case, there is no joking about being Sea sick, which caused some PT BOAT sailors to get transferred to the base force. As much as I love and wish I could have been on a PT BOAT, I sure would have hoped I would get used to the pitching and rolling of a small 80 foot boat when not underway. I wonder how many guys rode the boats, but were sea sick most of the time.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 2:45pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Guys,

I know that Earl has a good story about being beaten up pretty well, in some rough weather while on patrol. I'll ask him about it again.

Dave Morrison, who was the first Exec Officer on the 206 in Ron 15, was evidently seasick on nearly every patrol he was on. He was so bad on one occasion he received morphine to ease the spasms. The decision was made to transfer him off the boat to the base at Bizerta, but just prior to the invasion of Sicily, he pleaded his case to be out on the 206 again for that grand event.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: May 29, 2012 - 1:39pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Arthur Frongello tells stories on how he was seasick. In one photo he was missing because he was below decks throwing up.........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: May 31, 2012 - 3:35am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hello gtdiesel, I'd sent an email to you last week (the one that is tied to your profile on the msg board) and wanted to make sure I had the correct one.

You told us how your grandfather had shared so much with you; it is great that you had such a close and special relationship that he would feel comfortable doing that. You posted: "I am sure I could write a book of all his stories."

So, my question is, have you started yet? I would encourage you to do just that, and would think all of those who contribute to this PT Msg Board would agree. Its all about preserving the memory and honoring the service of our PT veterans. Lets keep passing on those stories. Keep us posted, okay?.

Randy Finfrock

Posted By: Randy Finfrock | Posted on: Jun 6, 2012 - 12:29pm
Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm

gt;
I agree with Randy. Write his memories while they are fresh in you head. I always encouraged my Dad, to write, but he never did. I am the holder of his stories, memories, and history.
WRITE
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jun 6, 2012 - 6:32pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

My grandfather told me a story about when the boats were being developed, they sent a few boats out for rough weather trials... This was very early in the pt boat program. Anyway, they didn't know it at the time (the crew), but they were being sent out into a hurricane. There were records if 40 and 50 foot swells during the storm. Several guys ended up with broken bones, my grandfather actually ended up with some injured ribs then developed pnumonia... After he got better, he was put on the 61 boat and off he went.

I have tons of info regarding things that had happened since my pop was in since the very beginning.

I am sure I could write a book of all his stories, I even have hours of them on audio from recording him.

If you were to get stuck on how to start or continue writing a book I'm sure that many of those here who have written a book would be delighted to help with yours.

In a short number of years (historicaly speaking) the PT boat vets will be all gone but books about them will live on for many years after them.

Cheers from Peter

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Jun 7, 2012 - 8:40am
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm

hi all/ we were heading to new irweland for patrol staation when wwe ran into a monsoon.i was on watch in the forward fidfties,tghe rain was so hard it felt like knives cuttinto my upper body.i had no shirt on and ui asked skipper for permission to go below and get my shirrt,whilee reaching into ,y locker we huit a tremendous wave,i t threw me onto the air and it fwelt like sommeone had grabbed my klegs and slammed me down face first on the board seperating the bunks,it knocked out.next thing i knew was the skipper standing over me and being carried onto the bench in the day roomm.i had blood all over me.my rright cheek bone was busted wide open wiith a large gash.skipper saidd it should be stuitched up but it was so rough abnd boat was all rtthe pllacve i said nio way.itold him to give me adhesive tape abd a sjot of his scotycjh,.i pulled my face together and left it rthar way till we got back to base.the storm was so bad that skipper decided to go bacck tio base.when we got back it was too late to stitch up so we left tape on,i still have the scar under my right eye.i never got seasick at any time. p/s steve call me
my best to all earl

earl richmond

Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Jun 10, 2012 - 8:37am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm

Great story, Earl. Thanks for sharing!

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jun 10, 2012 - 9:45am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

EARL

THAT STORY IS AMAZING.IF THIS HAPPENED TODAY, THEY WOULD CALL IN A HELICOPTER TO TAKE THE PERSON OFF THE BOAT. YOU GUYS REALLY WERE "PLENTY TOUGH"..................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jun 10, 2012 - 2:35pm
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am