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| USN 77' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat 40 Tons 77' x 19' 11" x 4' 6" 2 x Twin 50 cal MG 4 x Torpedo Tubes   circa 1943 |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Company (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down May 14, 1941 as Motor Boat Submarine Chaser PTC-23. Reclassified PT-43 before completion. Launched July 16, 1941. Completed July 26, 1941. Assigned to the U.S. Navy to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 (MTBS 1). On August 1, 1941 transferred to Squadron 2 (MTBS 2). On August 13, 1941 returned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 (MTBS 1) operating from Tulagi PT Boat Base. Wartime History On December 7, 1942 with Captain Charlie E. Tilden patrolled between Kokumbona and Cape Esperance off Guadalcanal along with PT-109, PT-40, PT-59, PT-44, PT-36, PT-37. On January 10, 1943 departs in the evening under the command of Lt. Charlie E. Tilden on a patrol against a "Tokyo Express" resupply mission by eight destroyers expected off western Guadalcanal around midnight. The PT Boats divided into three groups: The first PT-45, PT-39, PT-48 and PT-115 patrol in a line from Savo Island to Cape Esperance. The second group PT-112, PT-43 and PT-40 patrol between Cape Esperance and Aruligo. A third group PT-59, PT-46 and PT-36 patrol between Tassafaronga and Doma. Sinking History On January 11, 1943 after midnight, the second group a quarter mile off the coast spots four destroyers headed southeast roughly a mile off the coast and the last was observed to turn towards Savo Island while the other three continued on their course toward Guadalcanal. PT-43 closed to 400 yards and fired two torpedoes with one flashing and revealing their position. One of the destroyers opened fire with their main guns and PT-43 turned to escape. Their second salvo hit nearby causing a loss of speed. Aboard, one enlisted man was killed, two wounded. Japanese destroyer Tokitsukaze was credited for disabling an attacking PT Boat. With the destroyer rapidly approaching, Tilden ordered the crew to abandon ship. As Tilden jumped into the sea, he was fired on by machine guns and dove to escape. Other members of the crew reported they could hear Japanese spoken aboard the destroyer. Shipwreck On January 12, 1943 in the morning, abandoned PT-43 was spotted beached at Chapuru. Afterwards, a HMNZS corvette shelled the hull to prevent it from being captured. In early February 1943 when the U.S. Army captured the area the hull was found and photographed. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 59, 95. 99-101, 450-451, 488 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - U.S. Navy Motor Torpedo Boat Operational Losses "PT-43 scuttled after damage by Japanese warships the previous day, off Guadalcanal, Solomons, 12 Jan. 1943." NavSource PT-43 (photo) Contribute
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