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| USN Motor Torpedo Boat 80' Elco 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 5' 1 x 40mm Bofors 2 x Torpedoes 2 x Twin .50 cal MG 37mm cannon 20mm cannon  USN December 1942   USN January 1944  USN circa April 1944 |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Co. (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down October 7, 1942 as an 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB). Launched December 23, 1942 as PT-174. Completed and placed into service January 6, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Ten (MTBRon 10). Nicknamed "Hickory". Initially, the bow 40mm Bofors gun had a spray shield, later replaced with a gun shield. Wartime History In early May 1943 at Balboa in Panama one of six PT Boats loaded aboard SS Stanvac Manila as deck cargo in cradles with PT-174 and PT-165 aft, facing forward and transits the Pacific Ocean bound for Nouméa. On May 24, 1943 tanker SS Stanvac Manila was torpedoed by Japanese Submarine I-17 roughly 100 miles south of Nouméa on New Caledonia. Due to efforts of the crew, PT-174 was floated off the sinking vessel then towed by destroyer to Nouméa Harbor. Afterwards, to the Solomon Islands and operated from Rendova PT Boat Base (Lumbari Island / Todd City). During the night of August 1-2, 1943 PT-174 under the command of Lt. Russel W. Rome departed Rendova PT Boat Base (Lumbari Island / Todd City) as one of of fifteen PT Boats divided into four sections to patrol the Blackett Strait. Patrolling the southern portion of Blackett Strait was PT-174, PT-105 and PT-103. During the mission, PT-174 fired all four of her torpedoes at Japanese destroyers off the southern side of Kolombangara Island. Afterwards, returned to base without claiming and hits and out of torpedoes. In January 1944, photographed underway at high speed in the Central Solomon Islands. During April 1944, transferred to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and operated off New Guinea, Morotai and the Philippines and finally used in the Borneo campaign. On July 22, 1945 PT-174 under the command of Lt(jg) Robert L. Baker with PT-170 and PT-163 made a daylight attack against Paloe Bay (Palu Bay) in the Celebes (Sulawesi) claiming considerable damage ashore. Fate On November 11, 1945 placed out of service, stripped of usable parts then destroyed and scuttled off Samar Island in the Philippines. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 112-113, 120, 123, 438, 461 (MTBRon 10), 562 (index) NavSource PT-174 Contribute
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