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| USN 80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 5' 4 x torpedo tubes 1 x 40mm cannon 1 x 37mm cannon 1 x 20mm cannon 2 x Twin .50 cal MG |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Co., Elco Works in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down December 26, 1942. Launched March 5, 1943. Completed March 27, 1943. Commissioned April 8, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN) as PT-323. Wartime History On April 8, 1943 assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Twenty-One (PTRon 21) under the command of Commander Selman S. Bowling. On July 16, 1943 transits the Panama Canal. Next, transferred to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and based at Morobe PT Boat Base then Dreger Harbor PT Boat Base on New Guinea. During the night of January 8, 1944 to January 9, 1944 PT-320 under the command of Ensign Joseph W. Burk and PT-323 under the command of Ensign James F. Foran engaged ten barges loaded with troops and shore batteries a mile north of Mindiri on the north coast of New Guinea. During the port attack run, three barges were sunk including one that exploded when hit by 40mm fire from PT-323. Next, began operating from Mios Woendi PT Boat Base (Camp Taylor) between Biak and New Guinea. Next, operated from Leyte in the Philippines and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. On October 25, 1944 during the Battle of Surigao Strait, three PT Boats led by Lt. G. W. Hogan including PT-320, PT-330 and PT-331 patrol the northern sector of Surigao Strait and stationed south and east of Amagusan Point on Leyte. Sinking History On November 5, 1944 in the early morning while anchored in Leyte Gulf, a Japanese aircraft dropped a bomb that hit the deck of PT-320 and completely destroyed it with the loss of two officers and 12 enlisted men aboard. Resue Afterwards, a single crew member was rescued. References At Close Quarters (1962) pages 220-221 (January 8-9, 1944), 230 (March 23, 1944), 251 (June 20-21, 1944), 253 (July 6-7, 1944), 387 (October 25, 1944), 393 (photo), 394 (November 5, 1944 sinking), 469, 487, 488, 563 (index PT-320) *Page 488) "Sunk by enemy aircraft (by suicide attack): PT's 300, 323." NavSource PT-320 Contribute
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