Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons

Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons were United States Navy Patrol, Torpedo, (PT boat) squadrons commissioned for operation during World War II. During the war 44 Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons were commissioned. At the end of the war all 44 Squadrons were decommissioned. In April 1940 the US Navy designed the idea of PT boat squadrons. PT boat squadrons would have 12 boats each with its own commanding officer. The PT boat captains, called officers-in-charge and the boat's crew in the squadron could move from boat to boat within their squadron, depending on availability of boats and crews. Boats could also be transferred from squadron to squadron on an as needed based or to replace losses. A total of 690 PT boats were built between 7 December 1941 and 1 October 1945.

History

In 1938 the US Navy put out proposal requests for a boats that would be fast, strong and heavily armed, a PT Boat design competition was held. From the designs, different shipyards were give contracts for the construction of boats. The Prototype PT boats were evaluated and tested, one test was the Plywood Derby. From these test Elco Naval Division and Higgins Industries were picked. The Test were done by the first two Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons one and two. With the new boats a new base was built, to train the new Squadrons at Melville, Rhode Island on Narragansett Bay, the Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center. Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4 was based at the Training Center to train the new Squadrons. The Squadron Training Center's nickname was Spect Tech, after its first commander, Lieutenant commander William C. Specht. Squadrons were send to the Pacific War, which saw the most action; the Pearl Harbor PT Boat Base, the Aleutian campaign; Panama Sea Frontier, based at the PT Boat Base Taboga Island; North African campaign, the Mediterranean Sea, English Channel; and the Mediterranean Sea, working with English troops. Of the many PT boats in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons few survived. At the end of the war PT boats were not needed and they used vast amount of high-octane fuel in their large three Packard 4M-2500 engines, so almost all were scrapped at the end of the war. Only about 16 PT Boats have survived from being scrapped. The 16 PT boats vary from running restored boats to just hulls.PT Boat burning – November & December 1945 – Samar, Philippines PT Boats Inc . Ptboats.org.

Squadrons Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons formed during World War II:

MTBRon-1

Commissioned 24 July 1940 − Decommissioned 9 February 1945 Boats assigned PT-1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 PT-20–31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41−43 Assigned to Philippines (did not go), fought at Pearl Harbor, Midway and in the Aleutians. Squadron commanders: Lt. Earl S. Caldwell: July 24, 1940 – February 1941 − Testing of PT boats Lt. William C. Specht: February 1941 – February 19, 1942 − Attack on Pearl Harbor Lt. Clinton Mckellar Jr.: February 19 – 24, 1942 Lt. John Harllee: February 24 – March 12, 1942 Lt. Comdr. Clinton Mckellar Jr.: March 12, 1942 – May 1943 Lt. Herbert J. Sherertz, USNR: May–October 1943, Battle of Midway (4–7 June 1942) Lt. Edward M. Erikson, USNR: October 1943 – February 9, 1945, Aleutian campaign

MTBRon-2

Commissioned 8 November 1940 – Decommissioned 11 November 1943 Boats assigned PT-20–26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36−40, 42−48, 59–6, operated the 70' Scott-Paines until transferred to Great Britain April–July 1941. Assigned to the Panama Sea Frontier in December 1941, six Elcos to South Pacific late in 1942. MTBRon 2(2) constituted with PT 71, 72, 199 for Special operations missions in the English Channel, carried out 20 between May and October 1944. Squadron commanders: Lt. Comdr. Earl S. Caldwell — November 8, 1942 to 1940 – May 1942 Lt. Hugh M. Robinson — May–June 1942 Lt. Comdr. Alan R. Montgomery — June–July 1942 Lt. George A. Brackett, USNR — July–September 1942 Lt. Rollin E. Westholm — September–December 1942 Lt. Allen H. Harris, USNR — December 1942–April 1943 Lt. Alvin P. Cluster – April 1943–November 11, 1943 Squadron Commanders of MTBRon 2(2): (English Channel) Commissioned March 23, 1944 – decommissioned September 21, 1945 Comdr. John D. Bulkeley – March 23–July 15, 1944 Lt. Robert R. Read, USNR — July 15, 1944 – February 2, 1945 Lt. Joseph R. Ellicott, USNR — February 2–September 21, 1945

MTBRon-3

Commissioned August 12, 1941 – All boats expended by April 15, 1942. Boats assigned PT-31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41 Naval Base Cavite, Philippines, All boats expended by 15 April 1942 Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Alan R. Montgomery — July 27 – October 1942 Lt. Hugh M. Robinson — October 1942 – January 1943 Lt. John M. Searles, USNR — January–August 1943 Lt. Richard E. Johnson — August – November 1943 Lt. Alvin P. Cluster — November 1943 – February 1, 1944 Lt. Comdr. George A. Brackett, USNR — February 1 – July 22, 1944 Lt. (Jg.) Jay J. Reynolds Jr., USNR — July 22 – August 7, 1944 MTBRon-3 and MTBRon-2 Commissioned 27 July 1942 – Decommissioned 7 August 1944 Boats assigned PT-21, 23, 25, 26, 36, 39, 40, 45–48, 59, 60, 61 Philippines (the "expendables") first to arrive at Guadalcanal.

MTBRon-4

Commissioned 13 January 1942 – Decommissioned 15 April 1946 Boats assigned PT-59–68, 71, 72, 95–102, 139–141, 199, 200, 295, 296, 314–317, 450–452, PT-486, 487, 505, 545, 557−559, 564, 613, 616, 619, 620 Was the training squadron at Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center. In April 1946 MTBRon-4 consisted of PT-613, 616 and PT 619, 620 was transferred to the Operational Development Force. Squadron Commanders: Lt. Rollin E. Westholm — January 13 – February 2, 1942 Lt. Comdr. Alan R. Montgomery — February 2 – May 25, 1942 Lt. Comdr. William C. Specht — May 25, 1942 – February 20, 1943 Lt. Comdr. S. Stephen Daunis — February 20 − September 11, 1943 Lt. Comdr. Francis D. Tappaan, USNR — September 11, 1943 – March 1, 1944 Lt. Charles E. Tilden, USNR— March 1 − July 15, 1944 * Comdr. James B. Denny — July 15 − September 27, 1944 Lt. Arthur H. Berndtson — September 27 – October 31, 1944 Lt. Comdr. Jack E. Gibson — October 31, 1944 – June 15, 1945 Lt. Comdr. Glenn R. Van Ness, USNR — June 15 – September 17, 1945 Lt. Comdr. John K. Williams, USNR — September 17, 1945 – April 15, 1946

MTBRon-5 Commissioned 16 June 1942 – Decommissioned 15 February 1945 Boats assigned PT-62–65, 103–114, 314–319 In Panama and then from spring of 1943 then to South Pacific, Solomon Islands campaign Squadron Commanders: Comdr. Henry Farrow—June 17, 1942 – January 24, 1944 Lt. Henry, J. Brantingham—January 24 – August 5, 1944 Lt. John W. Ewell, USNR—August 5, 1944 – February 15, 1945

MTBRon-6 Commissioned 4 August 1942 – Decommissioned 29 May 1944 Boats assigned PT-115–126, 187–189 Formed in the South Pacific, Tokyo Express at Guadalcanal campaign Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Clifton B. Maddox — August 4, 1942 − February 1943 Lt. Clark W. Faulkner, USNR — February–May 1943 Lt. Craig C. Smith, USNR — May–October 1943 Lt. Comdr. Richard E. Johnson — October 1943 – May 29, 1944

MTBRon-7 Commissioned 4 September 1943 − Decommissioned 15 February 1945 Boats assigned PT-127–138 In the Southwest Pacific, New Guinea: Tufi, Morobe, Kiriwina, Dreger Harbor, and Aitape, and in Philippine . Squadron Commanders: Lt. Rollin E. Westholm — September 1942 Lt. Comdr. John D. Bulkeley — October 1942 – October 1943 Lt. Edward W. Roberts, USNR — October 1943 – February 15, 1944 Lt. Comdr. Robert Leeson, USNR — February Is – November 26, 1944 Lt. Roger H. Hallowell, USNR — November 26, 1944 – February 15, 1945

MTBRon-8 Commissioned 10 October 1942 – Decommissioned 28 October 1945 Boats assigned PT-66–68, 110–114, 120–122, 129–130, 142−150, 188 In Southwest Pacific, New Guinea campaign Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Barry K. Atkins — October 10, 1942 − November 1943 Lt. Robert L. Childs, USNR — November 1943 – February 29, 1944 Lt. Edward I. Farley, USNR — February 29 – August 22, 1944 Lt. Robert A. Williamson, USNR — August 22, 1944 – May 16, 1945 Lt. William C. Godfrey — May 16 – October 28, 1945

MTBRon-9 Commissioned 10 November 1942 – Decommissioned 24 November 1945 Boats assigned PT-126, 151–162, 187, 318, 319 In Southwest Pacific: Rendova, Treasury, Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Morotai, in the Halmaheras; and at Zamboanga and Tawi Tawi Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Robert B. Kelly—November 10, 1942 – January 12, 1944 Lt. Michael R. Pessolano—January 12 – August 1, 1944 Lt. Hamilton H. Wood, USNR—August 1, 1944 – March 1, 1945 Lt. Richard M. Monahon, USNR—March 1 – October 18, 1945 Lt. Edward R. Burns, USNR—October 18 – November 24, 1945

MTBRon-10 Commissioned 9 December 1942 − Decommissioned 11 November 1945 Boats assigned PT-108, 116, 124, 125, 163−174 South Pacific: Rendova, Vella Lavella, Treasury, Bougainvill. New Guinea; Morotai, in the Halmaheras; and at Balikpapan, Borneo. Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Thomas G. Warfield — December 9, 1942 – February 7, 1944 Lt. Comdr. Jack E. Gibson — February 7 − August 16, 1944 Lt. Christopher B. Armat, USNR — August 16, 1944 – February 26, 1945 Lt. Comdr. Francis H. Mcadoo Jr., USNR — February 26 –October 14, 1945 Lt. Frederick N. Goehner, USNR — October 14 – November 11, 1945

MTBRon-11 Commissioned 20 January 1943 − Decommissioned 11 November 1945 Boats assigned PT-175–186 South Pacific: Rendova, Vella Lavella, Bougainville, and Emirau, Halmaheras. Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea. Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. Leroy T. Taylor — January 20, 1943 – January 22, 1944 Lt. Leonard R. Hardy, USNR — January 22 – August 1944 Lt. William S. Humphrey Jr. — August 1944 – January 29, 1945 Lt. John W. Ewell, USNR — January 29 – July 1, 1945 Lt. Wendell E. Carroll, USNR — July 1 – October 18, 1945 Lt. Robert L. Wessel, USNR — October 18 – November 11, 1945

MTBRon-12 Commissioned 18 February 1943 – Decommissioned 26 October 1945 Boats assigned PT-127, 145, 146, 150−152, 187−196 In Southwest Pacific, first to have torpedo launching racks instead on tubes. New Guinea at Morobe, Dreger Harbor, Hollandia, and Mios Woendi, and in the Philippines at San Pedro Bay and Ormoc. Kana Kopa, New Guinea Squadron Commanders: Lt. Comdr. John Harllee — February 18, 1943 – April 13, 1944 Lt. Comdr. Robert J. Bulkley Jr., USNR — April 13 – August 4, 1944 Lt. Weston C. Pullen Jr., USNR — August 4, 1944 – March 7, 1945 Lt. John J. Mcglynn, USNR — March 7 – October 26, 1945

MTBRon-13 Commissioned 18 September 1942 − Decommissioned 23 November 1945 Boats assigned PT-73–84 In Aleutian campaign March 43 – May 44, then Southwest Pacific:Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Mindoro, and Brunei Bay, Borneo. Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and San Pedro Bay Squadron Commanders: Comdr. James B. Denny — September 18, 1942 – June 8, 1944 Lt. Comdr. Alvin W. Fargo Jr., USNR — June 8, 1944 – October 15, 1945 Lt. Comdr. John A. Matzinger, USNR — October 15 – November 23, 1945

MTBRon-14 Commissioned 17 February 1943 − Decommissioned 16 September 1944 Boats assigned PT-98–102 Assigned to Panama Sea Frontier, no enemy action Squadron Commander: Lt. Richard E. Johnson — February 17 − June 1943 Lt. Richard C. Morse Jr., USNR — June 1943 − April 4, 1944 Lt. Henry S. Taylor, USNR — April 4, 1944 – September 16, 1944

MTBRon 15 Commissioned 20 January 1943 Decommissioned 17 October 1944 − Boats assigned PT-201–218 First MTBRon sent to Mediterranean, operated western Mediterranean from Bizerte, Palermo Sicily; Salerno; Maddalena Sardinia; St. Topez France. Squadron Commander: Comdr. Stanley M. Barnes — January 20, 1943 – October 17, 1944

MTBRon-16 Commissioned 26 February 1943 − Decommissioned 26 November 1945 Boats assigned PT-71, 72, 213−224, 235, 241, 242, 295−301 In the Aleutians and Southwest Pacific: Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Mindoro, and Brunei Bay, Borneo. Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and San Pedro Bay