Wreck of USS PT-109
Solomon Islands /
Western /
Gizo /
World
/ Solomon Islands
/ Western
/ Gizo
World / Solomon Islands
Second World War 1939-1945, military, place with historical importance, shipwreck, United States Navy
Laid down at the ELCO Electric Boat Works in Bayonne, New Jersey in March 1942, PT-109 was delivered for service in July of the same year and placed into service with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FIVE (PTRon 5). Conducting training along the US East Coast for a month before being loaded aboard a South-Pacific bound Freighter at Norfolk in August, PT-109 was placed into operation with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TWO (PTRon 2) at Tulagi Island in November 1942.
Heavily involved with American efforts to capture the island of Guadalcanal from the Japanese, PT-109 and her squadron mates regularly clashed with elements of the “Tokyo Express” in Ironbottom Sound as they attempted to resupply Japanese ground forces. By the time battered Japanese forces abandoned Guadalcanal in February 1943, PTRon 2’s men and boats were not in much better condition, with injury, malnutrition, disease, lack of repairs and battle damage severely weakening the Squadron’s capabilities. During the subsequent lull in offensive actions which lasted through April, PT-109 and her crew were steadily mended as conditions allowed and when the time came to resume offensive actions both the boat and crew were in prime condition. Placed under the command of newly-arrived Lt(jg) John F. Kennedy, future President of the United States, on April 24th 1942, PT-109 began regular long-range patrols to the waters around the Russell Islands.
Shifting her operating base from Tulagi to a ‘bush base’ just North of Rendova Island on June 16th, 1943, PT-109 and PTRon 2 began regular patrols aimed at disrupting regular Japanese barge and naval traffic that was resupplying the Japanese garrisons in New Georgia. Following a devastating Japanese airstrike on August 1st which claimed two of the Squadron’s PT Boats and two crewmen at their base, PTRon 2 set out into Blackett Strait at sundown to intercept a Japanese convoy known to be heading for New Georgia. Lacking an onboard radar system, PT-109 was stationed in the Northwest section of Blackett Strait with orders to attack any retreating Japanese vessels she may come across. As she idled on one engine, the crew of PT-109 observed the firefight from the skirmish taking place to their East as the radar-equipped PT Boats engaged a formation of Japanese Destroyers without success and began their withdrawal. Instructed to remain onscene, PT-109 was joined by PT-162 and PT-169 and spent the next several hours slowly patrolling the strait.
As the two PT Boats continued their slow movements, the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri was steaming through Blackett Strait at over 30 knots, having completed her successful mission of resupplying the Japanese garrison on New Georgia. Her alert lookouts kept a wary eye out for American PT Boats, as their formation had been attacked on their way in and could expect more of the same on the way out. Shortly after 0200hrs one lookout aboard Amagiri spotted PT-109 at a distance of roughly 1000 yards, still proceeding at slow speed and lying broadside-to. Realizing he had the element of surprise, the Destroyer’s Commander turned his ship directly towards the American boat and began to bear down upon her, choosing not to sound his alarm or open fire. PT-109’s crew sighted the onrushing Japanese ship when it was roughly 250 yards away, giving Lt. Kennedy roughly 10 seconds to start his two other engines and get his boat underway. Attempting a turn to Starboard so she could fire torpedoes, PT-109 slow speed meant she was still broadside-to when Amagiri’s steel bow slammed into the wooden PT Boat and sliced it in half.
Thrown into the water by the collision, PT-109’s crew scattered after sparks from the collision ignited PT-109’s spilled fuel, wreathing much of the wreck in flames. As PT-162 and PT-169 raced in to attack the Amagiri unsuccessfully, PT-109’s surviving crew regrouped and eventually climbed aboard the still-floating bow section. With two crewmen unaccounted for and presumed lost and the engineer badly burned, the crew waited for rescue by their patrol mates, but were left to their fates as PT-162 & PT-169 departed the area without searching for survivors. Shortly after dawn on August 3rd, 1943, PT-109’s bow sank in this general area, forcing her crew to swim for a nearby island. Over the next three days, Lt. Kennedy led his crew in numerous highly dangerous attempts to be rescued, finally succeeding on August 5th with the assistance of local islanders Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana.
For her actions on the date of her loss, PT-109 received her second and final Battle Star for her World War Two service.
www.navsource.org/archives/12/05109.htm
Heavily involved with American efforts to capture the island of Guadalcanal from the Japanese, PT-109 and her squadron mates regularly clashed with elements of the “Tokyo Express” in Ironbottom Sound as they attempted to resupply Japanese ground forces. By the time battered Japanese forces abandoned Guadalcanal in February 1943, PTRon 2’s men and boats were not in much better condition, with injury, malnutrition, disease, lack of repairs and battle damage severely weakening the Squadron’s capabilities. During the subsequent lull in offensive actions which lasted through April, PT-109 and her crew were steadily mended as conditions allowed and when the time came to resume offensive actions both the boat and crew were in prime condition. Placed under the command of newly-arrived Lt(jg) John F. Kennedy, future President of the United States, on April 24th 1942, PT-109 began regular long-range patrols to the waters around the Russell Islands.
Shifting her operating base from Tulagi to a ‘bush base’ just North of Rendova Island on June 16th, 1943, PT-109 and PTRon 2 began regular patrols aimed at disrupting regular Japanese barge and naval traffic that was resupplying the Japanese garrisons in New Georgia. Following a devastating Japanese airstrike on August 1st which claimed two of the Squadron’s PT Boats and two crewmen at their base, PTRon 2 set out into Blackett Strait at sundown to intercept a Japanese convoy known to be heading for New Georgia. Lacking an onboard radar system, PT-109 was stationed in the Northwest section of Blackett Strait with orders to attack any retreating Japanese vessels she may come across. As she idled on one engine, the crew of PT-109 observed the firefight from the skirmish taking place to their East as the radar-equipped PT Boats engaged a formation of Japanese Destroyers without success and began their withdrawal. Instructed to remain onscene, PT-109 was joined by PT-162 and PT-169 and spent the next several hours slowly patrolling the strait.
As the two PT Boats continued their slow movements, the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri was steaming through Blackett Strait at over 30 knots, having completed her successful mission of resupplying the Japanese garrison on New Georgia. Her alert lookouts kept a wary eye out for American PT Boats, as their formation had been attacked on their way in and could expect more of the same on the way out. Shortly after 0200hrs one lookout aboard Amagiri spotted PT-109 at a distance of roughly 1000 yards, still proceeding at slow speed and lying broadside-to. Realizing he had the element of surprise, the Destroyer’s Commander turned his ship directly towards the American boat and began to bear down upon her, choosing not to sound his alarm or open fire. PT-109’s crew sighted the onrushing Japanese ship when it was roughly 250 yards away, giving Lt. Kennedy roughly 10 seconds to start his two other engines and get his boat underway. Attempting a turn to Starboard so she could fire torpedoes, PT-109 slow speed meant she was still broadside-to when Amagiri’s steel bow slammed into the wooden PT Boat and sliced it in half.
Thrown into the water by the collision, PT-109’s crew scattered after sparks from the collision ignited PT-109’s spilled fuel, wreathing much of the wreck in flames. As PT-162 and PT-169 raced in to attack the Amagiri unsuccessfully, PT-109’s surviving crew regrouped and eventually climbed aboard the still-floating bow section. With two crewmen unaccounted for and presumed lost and the engineer badly burned, the crew waited for rescue by their patrol mates, but were left to their fates as PT-162 & PT-169 departed the area without searching for survivors. Shortly after dawn on August 3rd, 1943, PT-109’s bow sank in this general area, forcing her crew to swim for a nearby island. Over the next three days, Lt. Kennedy led his crew in numerous highly dangerous attempts to be rescued, finally succeeding on August 5th with the assistance of local islanders Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana.
For her actions on the date of her loss, PT-109 received her second and final Battle Star for her World War Two service.
www.navsource.org/archives/12/05109.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Torpedo_Boat_PT-109
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Coordinates: 8°5'35"S 156°57'4"E
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