WHAT IS A PT BOAT?

Very much like fire, your PT can be your best friend or worst enemy. It will be your friend only if you know your boat. The first enemy you will encounter is ignorance—your ignorance about PT’s. Kill your ignorance at every opportunity. It is the first step in killing the enemy. The paramount rule is: Know your Boat.

A PT is the fastest warship afloat. Its features of speed and knockout power have been ballyhooed in the press, not without reason. A PT can and has taken on everything from canoes to battleships. Enemy tanks and trucks also appear on the tally sheet. Shooting down enemy planes has been one of the most satisfying tasks. So, whether the enemy be within reach on or under the sea, on the land, or in the air, a PT will attack. Be proud of your boat. Make yours the best. But to be proud of it you must know what it is made of and what it can do. Don’t forget, it is a fine weapon, but only the weapon, while you are the warrior who through your knowledge can make it a valuable asset.

Of plywood and mahogany construction, a PT is light yet strong, lightly armored yet strongly armed. Its draft is seldom over 6 feet thus enabling it to maneuver in shallow water. Details on the boat’s construction are given on page 357, MTB Manual, 1943. If you are in doubt as to the purpose or usage of a piece of equipment, don’t hesitate to ask. Ignorance is no excuse.