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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT Boats sink Trucks !
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2883
Hi Fellas,
Thought you might be interested in this article i found in a 1944 edition of the Courier Mail newspaper here in Brisbane.
Any ideas which Boats might have been involved?
P.T's ADD ENEMY TRUCKS TO SCORE
From ALAN HULLS, Courier-Mail Correspondent in the South Pacific
June 5th 1944.
PT boats recently destroyed two Japanese trucks on a New Ireland highway. That may sound crazy, but it’s true. In fact, P.T. boats operating from the most advanced South Pacific bases are finding water targets few and far between. They are overcoming that by selecting land targets. That's how they came to add two trucks to their record. A broad highway runs close to the north-east coast of New Ireland and the Japs were using it by night to transport supplies to the island garrisons after its use by day had been denied, them by fighter and bomber planes. P.T. skippers observed traffic moving with lights along the road and decided to take a hand. Selecting a spot where the road ran close to the shore they waited until a truck came along and opened up. They could see the surprised Japs, leaping from the truck, and then saw the vehicle go up in flames. A few nights later the effort was repeated. Since then the Japs. have either stopped this night traffic or is driving under blackout conditions.
Blacked Out Coast
In fact, the efforts of P.T. boats have effectively blacked out the entire New Ireland coastline. Known Jap. camps and supply areas are strafed regularly from the boats, and after seeing the amount of fire these small but intensely powerful craft pour into shore installations one can easily understand why the Japs, have become so blackout conscious. These raids on Jap. areas often bring fire from shore batteries which is just what the P.T. skippers want. The gun positions are then plotted and the points receive a visit from the air force the next day. 'Section No. — will patrol this part of the coast, and will bombard the Medina area,' was the briefing the skipper of our patrol boat received the other night. A few minutes later the fleet had started on its nightly work, and the craft were speeding at 35 knots on the long run to the target area. It was an impressive sight to see it speeding along, but the sections soon split and went their differing routes.
Little Glamour
A lot of glamour has been written around the P.T. boats crews, and certainly many of their exploits' have been fascinatingly effective. But the main impression of their job is that it is one primarily of drudgery enlivened .by brief action. These crews go out every second night. The patrols last anything from 18 hours to 24, during the greater part of which time an unceasing alert has to be maintained. They return to the base, face three hours' job of refuelling, cleaning guns, etc., in preparation for the next day's trip. ‘‘This branch of the service has advantages.' said one squadron leader. 'They feed us well, and we are due for leave after 12 months' operation.' In addition to the two vehicles to its credit, this squadron is also proud of the shooting down of a Jap. Seaplane which bombed and strafed them. At ŁA120, 000 the P.T. boat is a costly war weapon. In addition the engines use up hundreds of gallons of high octane spirit on each patrol and the training of crews is a long and expensive item. However, in the Pacific, as a means of blockading Jap garrisons and in taking toll of shipping they have paid dividends which can hardly be over-estimated.
Michael
Posted By: Michael | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 12:41am
Total Posts: 218 | Joined: Aug 6, 2007 - 7:25pm
I have heard the crews painted truck silhouettes as kills on their boats.
--
National WWII Museum
PT-305 Restoration
Phone: 504-528-1944 Extension 375
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/see-hear/collections/artifacts/pt-305.html
Fb: PT-305 "USS Sudden Jerk"
Posted By: Higgins Fan | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 5:28am
Total Posts: 128 | Joined: Aug 17, 2012 - 7:48pm
Yes, I have a picture somewhere of a truck kill-mark painted on the side of a cockpit.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 7:06am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
PT 242 patroled New Briatain and New Ireland during this period. We patroled this area out of Green Island from March 1944 until November 1944. We probably made 30-35 patrols of this area, We would leave about 4:00 pm to be on station at dark and leave at daylight to get back to base about 9:00 am. Depending on station location it is well over 100 miles from Green. We straffed the beach many times when we would see lights on the beach but I don't believe we ever hit a truck. I know some boats did. We had a gunners mate Bill Metcalf that could get 4- 60mm mortar rounds in the air before the first one would hit the beach. When it exploded we would then open fire with all our guns to really straffe the beach then get the hell out of there fast because there were a lot of shore batteries on New Britain and New Ireland. We were never sure how much damage we did but I know we sure kept the Japs awake. When patroling that area there were more float planes than around Buka and Bougainville since that was close to the Jab base at Rabaul. We were bombed several times up there but fortunately they all missed. When one of those planes get on your tail the best thing to do was run for a rain cloud to hide.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 9:10am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
Good stuff, C.J. Thanks for sharing!
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 12:54pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
we also patroled new britan and new trland,we shot at the truckss and plauyed a cat and moouse game with them,.when we attackerd they put their lights out but kept slowly moving in the dark.at sopme tim,e or anothwer they mighdt turn their lights on again.we would try and ouitguewss where this wouuld hqappen and try to be there to re open fire on them,. sometimes it worked and sometimes it didnt, we fropprf off some native head hunTERS ONE NIGHT TO SCOUT THE USLAMND. THREE DAYS LATER WE PICKED THEM UP AND THEY REPOPRTRF THAT TJERE WEAS A LARGE BARN TYPE OF BUILDUING UUIN A CEWRTAIN AREA.WE OTOOK THEM OUT WITH US THR NRXT NIGHT.THEY POIINTED OUT THE AREA ABD WE STRAFED IT WITH ALL WE HAD,NEXT DQY WE DDROPPEED THEM OFF AGAIN TO SP[OT TJHE DAMAGE IF ANY, WHEN WE PICKED TH3EM UP AGAIB THEY TOLD US TJHE BLDG EAAS JHEQAVILY OCCUPIED WUTH TROOPS AND WE HAD KILLEE A LOPT OF TTHEM, SUCE THE SPELLINNG/EYES GETTIBNG A LITTLER WWORSE NOW P/S WE DID GET A LOT OF SHORE BATTERY RETURN FURE NUT MANAG3ED TO GETY AWAY HU WILL AND CJ
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 2:11pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
we also patroled new britan and new trland,we shot at the truckss and plauyed a cat and moouse game with them,.when we attackerd they put their lights out but kept slowly moving in the dark.at sopme tim,e or anothwer they mighdt turn their lights on again.we would try and ouitguewss where this wouuld hqappen and try to be there to re open fire on them,. sometimes it worked and sometimes it didnt, we fropprf off some native head hunTERS ONE NIGHT TO SCOUT THE USLAMND. THREE DAYS LATER WE PICKED THEM UP AND THEY REPOPRTRF THAT TJERE WEAS A LARGE BARN TYPE OF BUILDUING UUIN A CEWRTAIN AREA.WE OTOOK THEM OUT WITH US THR NRXT NIGHT.THEY POIINTED OUT THE AREA ABD WE STRAFED IT WITH ALL WE HAD,NEXT DQY WE DDROPPEED THEM OFF AGAIN TO SP[OT TJHE DAMAGE IF ANY, WHEN WE PICKED TH3EM UP AGAIB THEY TOLD US TJHE BLDG EAAS JHEQAVILY OCCUPIED WUTH TROOPS AND WE HAD KILLEE A LOPT OF TTHEM, SUCE THE SPELLINNG/EYES GETTIBNG A LITTLER WWORSE NOW P/S WE DID GET A LOT OF SHORE BATTERY RETURN FURE NUT MANAG3ED TO GETY AWAY HU WILL AND CJ
earl richmond
HEY EARL.
GLAD YOU ARE STILL POSTING. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING MISTAKES. THESE LITTLE TIDBITS OF ACTIONS YOU SAW ARE PRICELESS! i FOR ONE AM GLAD YOU POST THEM.
HOPE THINGS IMPROVE FOR YOU.
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: Oct 24, 2012 - 2:26pm
Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm
THANKS PETER AND HI MICHAEL
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 2:36pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
Hi Earl: Sure good to hear from you and hear your comments on your patrols. I recall when we were traveling west from Green toward New Britain, just before dark, seeing some of the most beautiful South Sea Island sunsets. I don't remember seeing them on any of our other patrols.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 5:24pm
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
CJ I REMEMBER THE SUNSETS TOO WHILE I WAS ON WATCH IN THR AFT TURRWETT,BEAUTIFUL.ALMOST MADWE YOU FORGET WHAT YOU WERE THERE FOR,THE SUNRISES ALSI WERE THE BRIGHTESTY I HAVE EVEER SEEN.THE WHOLE SKY WAS LIKE A GIGANTICV ORANGE
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 5:47pm
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
Thanks so much for sharing with the rest of us, guys!
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Oct 24, 2012 - 9:52pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
EARL and CJ. I am so happy to see you both posting on the message board. We always learn something new from you guys all the time. I love to read about your adventures. Hope all is well.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 25, 2012 - 1:41am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Thanks Will, Frank and Earl for you encouraging comments. Reminds me of another patrol story. There are a lot of strange sights in the heavens when you are a out all night long as much as we were. Shooting stars, weird cloud formation around the moon, distant lighting storms etc. One morning early a bright red glow appeared on the eastern horizon. The section leader called us all to General Quarters to go investigate. We approached idleing cautiously toward the light. It started rising and turning white. We had done honor to a rising Venus. Ha
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Oct 26, 2012 - 7:39am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
I love hearing these stories!
I would sooooo love to visit that part of the world - everytime I get a Valour Tours email I am so tempted to sign up!
Your stories are especially meaningful to me Earl as I have met you in person! A real, live navy vet!!!
Posted By: colleen | Posted on: Oct 28, 2012 - 5:47am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
It's amazing what you think you see when on the water. I know i spent a great deal of time on our boat at night, with my oldest son, and man the things you in the sky is something. Thanks again for sharing C.J., we always love hearing from you and Earl.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 28, 2012 - 9:45am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
it eas my pleasure colleen.
frank/the nights and days atr sdo much diggerent over there than here,call it tomantism if you like. earl
earl richmond
Posted By: EARL RICHMOND | Posted on: Oct 28, 2012 - 11:41am
Total Posts: 319 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 1:50pm
EARL, OH I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. BEING OUT ON THE BLACK WATER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN BEING AROUND HERE IN THE DARK. I BET IT IS SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Oct 28, 2012 - 11:51am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am