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  PT-117
USN
PT-Boat
Elco 80'

56 Tons
80' x 20' 8" x 3' 6"
4 x 21" Torpedoes
20mm cannon
2 x Twin .50 cal MG

Click For Enlargement
USN August 29, 1942

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USN August 1943
Ship History
Built by Electric Launch Company Ltd. (Elco) in Bayonne, New Jersey. Laid down April 10, 1942 as 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched July 15, 1942 as PT-117. Completed August 4, 1942 and placed into service in the U.S. Navy (USN).

Wartime History
Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 6 (MTBRon 6) in the South Pacific. PT-117 participated in actions against the "Tokyo Express" off Guadalcanal and later actions against Rendova, Vella LaVella, Treasury Islands, Bougainville, Green Island (Nissan) and Emirau.

On July 23, 1943 PT-117 with PT-154 and PT-155 depart on a night patrol in the Blacket Strait west of Vila on Kolombangara Island. On July 24, 1943 after midnight, the trio encounter three barges and sank one and chased the others away. Afterwards, they spotted three destroyers, but they escaped before the PT boats could reach firing postiions.

On August 1, 1943 both PT-117 and PT-164 that were docked together at Rendova PT Boat Base (Lumbari Island / Todd City) off Lumbaria Island. inside Rendova Harbor. At dusk, a Japanese air raid by eighteen planes targeted the area. A bomb hit PT-164 in the bow killing two aboard and destroyed the PT Boat. Afterwards, beached on Lumbaria Island, stripped for usable parts then abandoned.

Fate
Ultimate fate unknown, likley broken up or otherwise disappeared.

References
At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 57, 122, 165, 457
NavSource - PT-117 (photos)

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Last Updated
October 16, 2025

 

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