For most people, the Mosquito comes to mind. There was another "Wooden Wonder" out there that garnered it's share of fame, and it was the Elco PT boat. I'm quite a fan of the "Patrol Torpedo-type" boats, having a USN Elco 80-foot PT, a German S-100-class of E-boat, and the little RAF fast-rescue launch. I need to add the British Vosper torpedo-boat to my collection. They were quite active--and effective--in the Mediterranean. I suspect the Italians had a racy-looking MTB in their stables as well. The Italians built beautiful ships and watercraft. Gotta love those little PT-boats. Quite a sting in a small, swift package. Tim
i'll never understand the use over of a PT boat. they have almost no weapons (exept a couple machine guns ad two to four torpedo's) for what did they used such boats? hunting down subs? or trying to score a hit against destroyers? could somebody give me a little bit of info on they're use?
What they are best at is for getting close to an enemy undetected, then shooting them full of torpedoes and legging it at high speed. They were used with much success to intercept small convoys of merchentmen travelling along coastlines (ie: German convoys bringing material down from Norway) or even across the Med. Origionally, the Motor Torpedo Boat was designed as an easy way to kill off an enemy Capital Ship without having to resort to submarines. A new class of small warship was designed to deal with them, and it was named the 'Torpedo Boat Destroyer' - a name that has become shortened to 'Destroyer'.
Tim I assume you are referring to a collection of models??? If not, er, do ye need a qualified machine gunner??? :bang:
Well. Wooden wonder in my mind are Yak-1/3/7/9, LaGG-3, La-5/7 (La-7 was one of the best dogfighters in the war).
Yes - Russia lacked strategic materials like aluminium, but is boutifully blessed with trees. And her wooden planes were some of the war's best fighters (Yak-3 springs to mind)
i can imagine that the amout of shotted down russian planes was huge. but then again, they did well with what they got
The biggest problem with Russian planes (at least from 1942 onwards) was more the lack of good pilots and the lack of high-octane fuel. The planes themselves were world class. But back to the MTB discussion...
well, the italians used them on large scale to escort convoys and even attack the port of Malta. (but they were spotted before they got in the port)
PTs most of the time the USN PTs were used as gun boats. they were fitted locally with whatever was handy and often carried weapons such as the 40mm bofers, 37mm AT or aircraft cannon, 20mm cannon, lots of .50s, rockets, depth charges, mines, and mortors. it was rare for them to to ever get to fire a trop. they spent most of their time fighting or attacking barges, other small warcraft, landing craft. usually gun duals at close range in the dark.
Tom: Consider yourself a gunners-mate first-class. (We sail at dawn.) hehe. PT boats filled a vital role in patroling the many small pacific islands, and proved quite effective in disrupting barge traffic, taking on the Japanese fleet, picking-up downed aviators, transporting troops, or delivering mail (Not to mention PT boats delivered MacArthur safely to Australia before the fall of the Phillipines.) Their shallow draft also allowed them to go where few boats dared. PTs played a vital role in the Pacific campaign, just as British MTBs did in the Mediteranean. Sadly all of the Elco 80fters were burned after the war. What a waste of so much good mahogany! Can you imagine having a PT boat in private ownership? That would be something now... By the way, John Wayne owned a refurbished WW1 minelayer that he used for his personal yacht. Tim
brings me back to the BB USS iowa. a couple months ago she was for sale. we can buy her and use her as our own cruise ship. take that John wayne :bang: , my boot and guns are bigger
The PTs also played a vital role in the Battle of Surigao Strait, tracking and relaying the position of Admiral Nishimura's task force. This allowed Admiral Jesse Oldendorf to lay an enormous ambush with his cruisers, destroyers, and old BBs, several of which were survivors of Pearl Harbor.
