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| USN 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 5' 1 x 40mm gun 2 x Twin .50 cal MG 4 x 21" torpedoes |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Company (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down May 2, 1942 as a 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB). Launched July 31, 1942 as PT-123. Completed August 18, 1942 and assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN). Sinking History On February 1, 1943 during the night, all available PT Boats were deployed to patrol the area between Savo Island to Cape Esperance to intercept an expected force of Japanese destroyers. PT-123 under the command of Lt. Richards with PT-124 patrolled three miles south of Savo Island. While motoring to the patrol area, both PT Boats were ineffectively bombed and strafed by enemy aircraft. PT-123 spotted an enemy destroyer between Cape Esperance and Savo Island and closed to 1,000 yards then fired three torpedoes then observed the target bursting into flames and burning. In fact, this was destroyer Makigumo that hit a sea mine while maneuvering to avoid the torpedoes. PT-123 followed and was about to launch torpedoes at another enemy vessel while lining up to attack a F1M2 Pete dropped a bomb that hit the fantail and caused fires that swept over the boat. Richards ordered the crew to abandon ship as it sank into Iron Bottom Sound southwest of Savo Island and to the north of Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. Fates of the Crew Afterwards, the crew were bombed and strafed while in the sea, killing one enlisted man and three others were Missing In Action (MIA). Three others sustained wounds. Afterwards, they were rescued by other PT Boats. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 103 (February 1, 1943), 105, 457, 486, 488, 561 (index) NavSource PT-123 (photo) Contribute
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