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Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive


MTBRON ONE Burgee

PT-41
ex-PTC-21

Destroyed 15 April 1942

77' Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 30 April 1941 as Motor Boat Submarine Chaser, PTC-21 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
  • Reclassified PT-41 prior to completion
  • Launched 8 July 1941
  • Completed 23 July 1941
  • General Douglas MacArthur decided to escape Corregidor by PT boat to Mindanao and fly to Australia from Del Monte on a B-17 Flying Fortress. General MacArthur arranged for himself and his family and military entourage of
    13 officers, two naval officers and a technical sergeant to travel on four PT boats of Lt. John Duncan Bulkeley's Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, based at Bataan. He also ordered three B-17's to fly from Australia to Del
    Monte airfield on Mindanao. At dusk on 11 March 1942 General MacArthur on PT 41, and Rear Admiral Rockwell on PT-34, were lead through U.S. minefield and the Japanese defenses by PT-41 bound for Mindanao.
    They finally cleared the minefield by 2115 hours. Embarked on PT-41 under the command of Lt. John Duncan Bulkeley:
    General Douglas MacArthur
    Mrs Jean MacArthur
    Arthur MacArthur
    Ah Cheu (Arthur's nurse)
    General Richard D. Sutherland, Chief of Staff
    Captain Harold G. Ray, USN, RADM Rockwell's Chief of Staff
    Lieutenant Colonel Sidney L. Huff, Aide, and
    Major C. H. Morehouse, Medical Officer
  • Destroyed by the Army 15 April 1942 at Lake Lanao, Philippines to prevent capture.

    Specifications:

    Displacement 40 t.
    Length 77'
    Beam 19' 11"
    Draft 4' 6"
    Speed 41 kts.
    Complement 15
    Armament: Two twin .50 cal. Browning M2 machine guns in Dewandre turrets and four 18" torpedoes
    Propulsion: Three 3,600shp Packard V12 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.


    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    PT-41 57k Model of PT-41. .
    PT-41 157k c. August 1941
    Aboard Guadalupe (AO 32) bound for Manila.
    .
    PT-31, 32. 33, 34, 35 & 41 65k Guadalupe (AO-32) bound for the Philippines in September 1941 with a deck cargo of six PT boats (PT-31, PT-32, PT-33, PT-34, PT-35 and PT-41) of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three Robert Hurst
    PT-41 144k Lieutenant Commander John D. Bulkeley, USN receives the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, circa July 1942. Bulkeley was awarded the medal for heroism while he commanded Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three during the Philippines Campaign, December 1941 - April 1942.

    Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Commander John Duncan Bulkeley, USN. (with a minor typographical correction of the text printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 162):
    "For extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty as Commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE, in Philippine Waters during the period 7 December 1941 to 10 April 1942. The remarkable achievement of Lieutenant Bulkeley's Command in damaging or destroying a notable number of Japanese enemy planes, surface combatant and merchant ships, and in dispersing landing parties and land-based enemy forces during the 4 months and 8 days of operation without benefit of repairs, overhaul or maintenance facilities for his Squadron, is believed to be without precedent in this type of warfare. His dynamic forcefulness and daring in offensive action, his brilliantly planned and skillfully executed attacks, supplemented by a unique resourcefulness and ingenuity, characterize him as an outstanding leader of men and a gallant and intrepid seaman. These qualities coupled with a complete disregard for his own personal safety reflect great credit upon him and the Naval Service."
    U.S. Navy photo NH 44324

    Naval History and Heritage Command

    There is no DANFS history available for PT-41
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
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