Ship History
Entered service July 18, 1941. Transferred to Squadron 3 on August 12, 1941. Transferred from Squadron 1 on August 13, 1941. Transferred to Squadron 3 on July 27, 1942. Shipped to Noumea on a merchant ship, then arrived at Tulagi on October 25, 1942.

Participated in a night patrol on November 8, 1942 captained by Lt(jg) Leonard A. Nikoloric. Spotting a Japanese destroyer, and fired two torpedoes at 500 yards then fired a third, before returning fire.

On December 1-2, 1942 Lt(jg) Lester H. Gamble Four were in positions around Savo Island as a striking force near Savo Island: this boat plus PT-59, PT-44, PT-36. Advised of the approaching force by radio, deployed at 23:35, and approached five destroyers and a larger ship, but met heavy fire from the Japanese. PT-37 fired two torpedoes at the lead ship, but failed to observe any result. Although no damage was confirmed, the PT Boats disrupted Japanese operations.

Sinking History
During the night of February 1-2, 1943, twenty Japanese destroyers steamed down the slot as part of Operation "KE," the evacuation of their remaining troops from Guadalcanal. Although attacked by two waves of fighters and bombers from Henderson Field at dusk, only one destroyer was damaged. The rest approached Cape Esperance, covered by half a dozen patrol planes.

All available PT boats were sent to the Savo-Esperance area, including this boat captained by Taylor and PT-47, stationed two miles southeast of Savo Island. On the way to its patrol area, this boat was bombed and strafed by Japanese aircraft, but suffered no damage.

Spotting Japanese ships, PT-37 fired four torpedoes and turned away but was hit in the gas tanks by gunfire and burned brightly. Only one survivor, MM1C Eldon O. Jenter survived, severely wounded and burned.

During the battle, both PT-115 and PT-38 beached themselves on the western side of Savo Island and were pulled off by PT-109. Accurate gunfire from Kawakaze sank PT-111 and PT-37. This was the most violent action the PTs participated in off Guadalcanal, and it was their last, as the Japanese completed their evacuation of that island on February 7-8 , 1943.

References
At Close Quarters page 59, 82, 95-96, 101, 103-104, 450-451, 484

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009