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  PT-107 "Black Magic"
USN
80' Elco
Motor Torpedo Boat

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

Armament added
1 x 40mm gun
1 x 37mm canon

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USN July 12, 1942

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USN August 20, 1942
Ship History
Built by Electric Boat Company (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down February 16, 1942 as 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched June 13, 1942 as PT-107. Completed July 3, 1942 and placed into service with the U.S. Navy (USN). Afterwards, undertook maneuvers off the east coast of the United States with PT-105. On July 12, 1942 photographed during trials.

Wartime History
During late August 1942 at Norfolk Navy Yard loaded aboard SS Joseph Stanton with PT-108 as deck cargo and transported southward to the Panama Canal. Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 5. Assigned to commander Henry Farrow. During September 1942 operated off the Panama Canal until the spring of 1943.

Transported across the Pacific to the Solomon Islands. During July 1943 assigned to the Rendova PT Boat Base (Bau Island). Assigned to Captain Lt(jg) William F. Barrett, Jr. Nicknamed "Black Magic". This PT Boat began conducting combat patrols.

During the night of August 1-2, 1943 patrolled the southern entrance of Blacket Strait. During the patrol, PT-107 fired all four torpedoes at Japanese destroyers.

On August 15, 1943 at 3:20am this PT Boat landed troops at Barakoma during the preliminary phase of the Allied landing at Vella Lavella Island.

PT-107 continued to operate in the Central Solomons and Northern Solomons. During the middle of 1944 operated from PT Boat Base Emirau Island at Hamburg Bay on Emirau Island.

Sinking History
On June 18, 1944 participated in a patrol off New Ireland, then returned to Hamburg Bay off Emirau Island. While refueling from a dock with PT-63, a defective fuel valve leaked gas into the sea. When PT-107 started its engines, a spark ignited the surface fuel. Within an hour both PT Boats and the dock were destroyed by the fire. Luckily, there was no loss of life aboard either ship or onshore.

References
At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 57, 122, 165, 456, 486, 488
NavSource - PT-107

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Last Updated
March 7, 2024

 

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