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| USN 77' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat 40 Tons 77' x 19' 11" x 4' 6" As Built 2 x Twin 50 cal MG in Dewandre turrets 4 x 18" Torpedoes Gunboat Conversion 2 x Twin 50 cal MG 4 x 50 cal MG 2 x 40mm Bofors |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Co. (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. This vessel was planned as Motor Boat Submarine Chaser (PTC-28) but reclassified BPT-12 for Great Britain, but never delivered. Laid down July 30, 1941. Launched October 11, 1941. Reclassified PT-60 in December 1941. Completed February 25, 1942 and delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) and assigned to Squadron 4 (MTBS 4) at MTB Squadrons Training Center, Melville, RI. Wartime History On May 7, 1942 assigned to Squadron 2 (MTBS 2) and during the summer of 1942, PT-59, PT-60 and PT-61 under the command of Lt. Commander Henry Farrow departed Melville, RI and motored under their own power bound for the Panama Canal Zone. On July 27, 1942 transfered to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 (MTBS 3). On August 29, 1942 the first squadron including PT-38, PT-46, PT-48 and PT-60 were loaded two per vessel aboard USS Lackawanna (AO-40) and USS Tappahannock (AO-43) that departs Balboa bound for the South Pacific. On September 19, 1942 The ships arrived in Nouméa Harbor where all four boats were unloaded and towed by USS Bellatrix (AKA-3) and USS Jamestown (PG-55) to Espiritu Santo wher ethey were then transfered to USS Hovey (DD-208) and USS Southard (DD-207) and towed to a point 300 miles off Tulagi where they proceeded under their own power arriving at dawn on October 12, 1942 to Tulagi PT Boat Base (Sesapi). On October 14, 1942 around 2:00am departs Tulagi under the command of Lt(jg) John M. Searles with Lt. Commander Montgomery aboard to attack Japanese warships in Iron Bottom Sound shelling Henderson Field on Guadalcanal with PT-48, PT-38 and PT-46. Proceeding towards the gunfire, PT-60 attempted an attack on one of the warships shelling until a searchlight from a destroyer illuminated PT-60 and another destroyer opened fire. Holding course, PT-60 released both torpedoes then turned hard to port and retreated at high speed as two explosions were noted. Slowing and stopping their smoke screen, PT-60 was again spotted by a destroyer's searchlight and targeted, with the first shell landing only 20' astern and lifting the boat out of the water. Immediately, PT-60 opened the throttle, made smoke and and zig-zaged to escape while the crew attempted to shootout the searchlight and releasing two depth charges as they fled. Afterwards, PT-60 was idling close to the beach near Sandfly Passage and ran aground. After daylight, PT-60 was towed off the reef but sustained damage. This was the first PT-Boat combat in the Solomons. The confused combat resulted in the boats claiming an enemy cruiser damaged and a probable (both claims were unconfirmed). While under repair at Tulagi PT Boat Base for weeks, Lt(jg) John M. "Jack" Searles and his crew shared PT-59, patrolling on alternate nights. During 1943, converted into a gunboat armed with two 40mm anti-aircraft guns plus additional .30 and .50-caliber machine guns behind shields and the torpedoes removed. Ultimate fate unknown. Officially, on April 21, 1944 struck from the Navy Register. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 59, 82, 85-86 (October 14, 1942), 452, 454, 485, 561 index NavSource PT-60 Contribute
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