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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-73



Call sign:
Nan - Able - Dog - Dog

Destroyed 15 January 1945
78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 25 December 1941 by Higgins Industries, New Orleans, LA
  • Launched 24 July 1942
  • Completed 12 August 1942
  • Grounded 15 January 1945 off Lubang Island, Philippines and destroyed by her crew to prevent capture.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 56 t.
  • Length 78'
  • Beam 20' 8"
  • Draft 5' 3"
  • Speed 40 kts.
  • Complement 17
  • Armament: Four 21" torpedoes, one 40mm mount and two twin .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Three 4,500shp Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    No image of PT-73 is available at this time
    There is no DANFS history available for PT-73
    PT-73 Under the command of Lt(jg) William R. McQuilkin and PT-75 had delivered supplies to the Mindoro guerrillas at Abra de Ilog and taken their leader aboard for the night's patrol. Close off Lubang Island, N.W. of Mindoro, PT-73 ran hard aground on an uncharted reef.

    LCDR Rowe, the guerrilla leader, said there was a garrison of about 300 enemy troops on the nearby island. Fearing an attack if the boat’s location became known, McQuilkin ordered the boat stripped and abandoned.

    After removing all important documents and equipment from their boat, the crew, of PT-73 was taken aboard PT-75 and the stranded hulk was torched to prevent capture.

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