Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-120



Call sign:
Nan - Xray - Victor - Queen
80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 22 April 1942 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
  • Launched 23 July 1942
  • Completed 12 August 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIX (MTBRon 6) under the command of Lt. Comdr. Clifton B. Maddox
  • MTBRon 6 arrived in the South Pacific in time for its boats to participate in some of the last actions with the Tokyo Express at Guadalcanal. Later it had action at Rendova, Vella Lavella, Treasury,
    Bougainville, Green, and Emirau. After its transfer to the Southwest Pacific in May 1944, the squadron was decommissioned and its boats were distributed to replenish other squadrons which had suffered operational losses. PT's 119-122, with PT's 113 and 114 of MTBRon 2, were designated Motor Torpedo Boat Division 17 and were sent to the Southwest Pacific in December 1942. Division 17, under command of Lt. Daniel S. Baughman, USN was the first PT unit to operate in New Guinea waters. It was absorbed by MTBRon 8 on April 1, 1943
  • MTBRon 8 under the command of Lt. Robert L. Childs, USNR was 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 "Roarin' 20" was stripped and destroyed by U.S. Forces 26 October 1945 at Samar, Philippines.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 56 t.
  • Length 80'
  • Beam 20' 8"
  • Draft 5'
  • Speed 41 kts.
  • Complement 17
  • Armament: One single 40mm mount, four 21" torpedoes, one 37mm mount, one 20mm mount and two twin .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Three 3,600shp Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    PT-120 127k PT-129, PT-149, PT-120 and PT-144 moored alongside an unidentified tender with five unidentified PT boats astern of them
    From the collection of LTJG William Skade, commanding PT-143    		 Jerry Gilmartin, MMC(SW), USN, Ret.
    PT-120 170k From the collection of LTJG William Skade, commanding PT-143, MTBRon 8
    PT-120 135k 5 July 1943
    Nassau Bay, New Guinea
    PT-120 transfers soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 41st Infantry Division to LCVPs of the Army’s 2d Engineer Special Brigade during landings at Nassau Bay
    National Archives photo 80-G-52538    		 Tracy White
    PT-114 364k PT-114, PT-120, PT-352 and others being stripped at Samar
    Courtesy of Alvin Hobson    		 Jerry Gilmartin, MMC(SW), USN, Ret.
    Boat Captain
    01ENS W. T. Shine, Jr., USNRApril 1944
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    There is no DANFS history available for PT-120
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back to the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Index Back to the Motor Torpedo Boat (PT) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Tom Bateman
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History