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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive
Courtesy of Tommy Trampp

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, 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, Squadron 13 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for action at Mindoro from 15 - 19 December 1944
  • 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
    PT-73 105k c. 1942
    Under construction    		 PT Boats Public Group
    PT-73 104k 12 May 1944
    Womens Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska
    National Archives photo    		 Tracy White
    Boat Captains
    01LTJG William R. McQuilkin, USNRAugust 1943 - 15 January 1945
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    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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