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| USN PT-Boat Elco 80' 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 5' 1 x 40mm 4 x 21" Torpedoes 2 x Twin 50 cal MG  USN c1943 |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Company (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down August 21, 1942 as Elco 80' Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched November 4, 1942 as PT-157. Completed November 20, 1942 and placed into service in the U.S. Navy (USN) and sent to the South Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Nine (MTBRon 9) to Lieutenant William Liebenow. Nicknamed "Aces and Eights" with the nose art of a hand of cards below the "157". During 1943, operated from Rendova in the central Solomon Islands. On July 3, 1943 at dusk PT-156, PT-157, and PT-161 patrol off Baniata Point on western Rendova and around midnight receive a radio message about a Japanese force bound for Rendova. On July 4, 1943 around 1:00am the PT Boats spot gun flashes to the northwest but were unsure if the enemy or friendly and approached to within visual range and actually passed through the formation and were taken under fire before they realized they were enemy as they turned into column and ten minute wild melee at close range with the PT Boats and destroyers exchanging gunfire. During the action, PT-157 salvoed both torpedoes and a flash that he calimed was a hit but in fact missed. During the action, PT-157 had her center engine disabled when the supercharger was hit by machine gun fire. Neither side inflicted any damage and the Japanese withdrew to the northwest. On August 1, 1943 at 4:00pm departs Rendova PT Boat Base under the command of William "Bud" Liebenow as one of fifteen PT-Boats on an overnight patrol in the Kolombangara area. Division B included PT-109, PT-157, PT-159 and PT-162. On August 8, 1943 departs Rendova PT Boat Base under the command of William "Bud" Liebenow to rescue the surviving crew of PT-109 from Nauro Island to Rendova. Next, this PT Boat operated from Dreger Harbor (Dregerhaffen), Mios Woendi, Morotai, Zamboanga and Tawi Tawi. Later nicknamed "Old Pickle Puss". During November 1945 placed out of service and stripped for usable parts. Sinking History On November 27, 1945 scuttled off Samar. Officially stricken from the register on November 28, 1845. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy pages 118-119 (July 2-3, 1943), 119-120 (July 17-18, 1943), 120, 122-123 (August 1-2, 1943), 130 (August 15-16, 1943), 133 (August 5-6, 1943), 460 (MTBRon 9) NavSource PT-157 (photos) AP "WWII Navy officer who helped rescue Kennedy dies at age 97" February 27, 2017 Contribute
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