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| USN PT-Boat Elco 80' 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 3' 6" 40mm Bofors gun 2x Twin .50 cal. MG 4 x 21" Torpedoes |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ. Laid down August 13, 1942 as 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched October 27, 1942 at PT-154. Completed and placed into service November 13, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Shipped overseas to the South Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Nine (MTBRon 9). PT-154 had four nicknames while in service: "Tulagi Rot", "Mr. B" (with 'B' in single quotations), "One Way" and "Jose Carrioka". During 1943, operated from Rendova, Lever Harbor. On October 28, 1943 begins operating from Stirling PT Boat Base (Treasury Base). Wartime History On November 13, 1943 under the command of Lt(jg) Hamlin D. Smith with PT-155 departs on an overnight patrol off Shortland Island. On November 14, 1943 in the early morning, roughly one mile south of Shortland Island, engaged by what they believed was a 3" short battery that fired three times The second of which hit the afterbody of the port forward torpedo where it exploded, putting a hole in the deck and knocking out steering control [likely the PT Boat was fired on by 140mm Naval Guns at Poporang or 140mm Naval Guns at Shortland Island]. Aboard, two of the crew were killed: Lt(jg) Joseph D. McLaughlin and QM2C Arthur J. Schwerdt. Six of the crew were wounded including captain Lt(jg) Hamlin D. Smith. MM1C John M. Nichiolson took charge as he was the least wounded. Immediately, PT-155 attempted to render assistance, but accidentally rammed PT-154 unaware it had lost steering, and knocked off the port rear torpedo. Both PT Boats proceeded further out to sea until stopping to transfer the wounded aboard PT-155 that sped ahead to Stirling PT Boat Base (Treasury Base) to get the wounded medical treatment. Although damaged, PT-154 using emergency steering control arrived at Stirling PT Boat Base (Treasury Base) two hours and thirty minutes later. Afterwards, repaired and remained in service and later operated from Green Island PT Boat Base (Nissan). During April 1944 transfers to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and later to the Philippines. Fate On November 24, 1945 placed out of service, stripped of usable parts then destroyed and scuttled off Samar Island in the Philippines. On November 28, 1945 struck from the Naval Register. Memorials McLaughlin has an unknown burial, likely in his hometown in Massachusetts. Schwerdt is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at section H site 7665. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 129-130, 145-146, 434-436, 460 (Pages 145-146) "During the night of November 13-14, 1943, PT-154 was one mile south of Shortland Island. A 3" shore battery fired three rounds, the second of which hit the afterbody of the port the port forward torpedo where it exploded, putting a hole in the deck and knocking out steering control. Two members of the crew were killed: Lt(jg) Joseph D. McLaughlin and QM2C Arthur J. Schwerdt. The captain, Lt(jg) Hamlin D. Smith and six crew were wounded. Crew member MM1C John M. Nichiolson took charge and PT-155 assisted the boat to escape and return to Treasury Island PT Boat base." Navy Source PT-154 NARA U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945 page 9696 Mclaughlin, Joseph D. Lt(jg) 121048 FindAGrave - Arthur John Schwerdt (grave photo) Contribute
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