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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-129



Call sign:
Nan - Xray - Yoke - Zebra
80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 26 May 1942 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
  • Launched 19 August 1942
  • Completed 4 September 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SEVEN (MTBRon 7) under the command of LT Rollin E. Westholm, USN
  • MTBRon 7, assigned to the Southwest Pacific, had action in New Guinea waters at Tufi, Morobe, Kiriwina, Dreger Harbor, and Aitape, and in Philippine waters at San Pedro Bay and at Ormoc. The
    squadron based for a time at Kana Kopa, New Guinea; Thursday Island, Australia; Ferusson Island, d'Entrecasteaux Group; and Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea, but had no action at these bases. PT's 127-132 were on detached duty at Thursday Island from June to August 1943 as Motor Torpedo Boat Division 19, under command of LCDR Robert J. Bulkley, Jr., USNR. MTBRon 7 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for action in the New Guinea area from 1 April 1944 to 1 February 1945
  • Transferred 15 February 1945 to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron EIGHT (MTBRon 8) under the command of LT Robert A. Williamson, USNR
  • MTBRon 8, 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 "Artful Dodger", ex-"Gypsy Wildcat", ex-"Angel"was placed out of service, stripped and destroyed by U.S. Forces 28 October 1945 at Samar, Philippines.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 56 t.
  • Length 80'
  • Beam 20' 8"
  • Draft 5'
  • Speed 41 kts.
  • Complement 17
  • Armament: One 40mm mount, one 37mm mount, two 20mm mounts, four 21" Torpedoes and two twin .50 cal. machine guns
  • Propulsion: Three 1,500shp Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    PT-129 217k PT-129 flying the four star-flag of Admiral Royal Eason Ingersoll, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, as he inspects the boat off the Elco Plant, Bayonne, New Jersey, 3 September 1942
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 90941    		 Mike Green
    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-189 106k Borneo
    Outboard of PT-189
    From the collection of LTJG William Skade, commanding PT-143
    Boat Captains
    01LTJG Francisco H. McAdoo, USNR - Awarded the Silver Star (1943)March 1943
    02ENS Alfred Dix Leeson, USNR - Awarded the Silver Star (1944)May 1944 -
    03ENS Robert H. Shreve, USNR1944 - April 1945
    04ENS George I. Cook, USNRApril 1945
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    There is no DANFS history available for PT-129
    Back to the Main Photo Index Back to the Patrol Craft/Gunboat/Submarine Chaser Index Back to the Motor Torpedo Boat (PT) Photo Index
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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by Tom Bateman
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