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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-81

Call sign:
Nan - Uncle - Victor - Xray

78' Higgins Motor Torpedo Boat:

Laid down 7 May 1942 by Higgins Industries, New Orleans, LA

Launched 22 September 1942

Completed 11 January 1943, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THIRTEEN (MTBRon 13) under the command of Comdr. James B. Denny, USN

MTBRon 13 participated in the Aleutian campaign from March 1943 to May 1944. Transferred to the Southwest Pacific, the squadron had action at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea; Mindoro, P.I., and

Brunei Bay, Borneo. It also based for a time at Dreger Harbor, New Guinea, and San Pedro Bay, P.I., but had no action from these bases. As part of Task Unit 70.1.4, MTBRon 13 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for action at Mindoro from 15 - 19 December 1944

The "Half Hitch", ex-"Big One" was stripped and destroyed by U.S. Forces 23 November 1945 at Samar, Philippines.

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 1,500shp Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.