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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-66
ex-BPT-18
ex-PTC-34



Call sign:
Nan - Item - Xray - Sugar
77' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 20 August 1941 as PTC-34 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
  • Reclassified BPT-18 prior to completion
  • Launched 5 November 1941
  • Transfer to Great Britain canceled and reclassified PT-66
  • Completed 22 January 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FOUR (PTRon 4) under the command of Lt. Rollin E. Westholm, USN
  • PTRon 4 was the training squadron, based at the MTB Squadrons Training Center, Melville, R.I. It was the largest squadron, having a peak of 28 boats in service at one time
  • Transferred 1 October 1942 to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron EIGHT (PTRon 8) under the command of Lt. Comdr. Barry K. Atkins, USN
  • PTRon 8, assigned to the Southwest Pacific, had action in New Guinea waters at Tufi, Morobe, Kiriwina, and Aitape; at Rein Bay and Talasea on New Britain, and in Philippine waters at Mindoro, Zamboanga, and Tawi Tawi. The
    squadron based for a time at Kana Kopa, Dreger Harbor, and Mios Woendi, New Guinea , and at San Pedro Bay in the Philippines, but had no action at these bases
  • The "Box Cars", ex-"Cheetah" was reclassified as a Small Boat 23 February 1945
  • Fate unknown.

    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 1,500shp Packard V12 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    PT-66 78k Solomons
    She displays one of the first field-applied green camouflage patterns. Contemporary color photos show that, upon arrival, she carried Measure 13, with Navy Blue/Sea Blue numbers on the pilothouse
    U.S. Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    PT-66 72k . .
    There is no DANFS history available for PT-66
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    This page created and maintained by Joseph M. Radigan
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