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NavSource Online:
Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive

PT-146



Call sign:
Nan - Yoke - Dog - Charlie
80' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat:

  • Laid down 21 July 1942 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
  • Launched 3 October 1942
  • Completed 20 October 1942, placed in service and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron EIGHT (MTBRon 8) under the command of Lt. Comdr. Barry K. Atkins, USN
  • 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
  • Transferred in January 1943 to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TWO (MTBRon 2) under the command of Lt. Allen H. Harris, USNR
  • MTBRon 2, late in 1942, with six 77' Elco boats and six 80' Elco boats, it was shipped to the South Pacific, where it was active in the Solomons campaign, engaging in many strenuous night actions with
    the Tokyo Express in the defense of Guadalcanal
  • Transferred 1 June 1943 to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TWELVE (MTBRon 12) under the command of Lt. Comdr. John Harllee, USN
  • MTBRon 12 was assigned to the Southwest Pacific, had action in New Guinea waters at Morobe, Dreger Harbor, Hollandia, and Mios Woendi, and in the Philippines at San Pedro Bay and Ormoc. It also
    based for a time at Kana Kopa, New Guinea, but had no action from this base. MTBRon 12 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for action in the New Guinea area from October 1943 to
    March 1944
  • The "Lucky Lady", ex-"Green Hornet" was placed out of service, 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 40mm, 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-146 40k Diorama of PT-146 in action by Gary L. Ruhnke (Grimripper) from Modelshipwrights website Tommy Trampp
    PT-146 107k
    PT-146 36k
    PT-146 221k Crew sits at mess table. Second from left is Gunner's Mate Walter L. Mezger. He remained in the Navy until 1971, retiring as a GMGC
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade    		 Jerry Gilmartin, MMC, USN, Ret.
    PT-146 149k Lucky Lady alongside Sitkoh Bay (CVE 86) trading rides for food
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade
    PT-146 107k Lucky Lady departs from Sitkoh Bay
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade
    PT-146 131k Underway
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade
    PT-146 127k Moored
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade
    Niagara 234k Niagara (AGP 1) burns after being attacked by Japanese aircraft east of Cape Surville, San Cristobal Islands [Solomon Islands], on 23 May 1943. PT-146 is alongside the stern (port) while PT-147 moves up to the starboard side, aft. The tender sank later that day. Other boats (PT-144, PT-145, PT-148, or PT-110) maneuver to pick up other men from the
    doomed ship
    National Archives photo 80-G-68537    		 Mike Green
    PT-146 111k c. October 1945
    Samar, Philippines
    Being stripped at Base 17
    From the collection of LTjg Bill Skade    		 Jerry Gilmartin, MMC, USN, Ret.
    Boat Captains
    01ENS James R. McCafferty, USNR - Awarded the Silver Star (1944)January 1944
    02LTJG Raymond C. Turnbull, USNR - Awarded the Silver Star (1944)March 1944
    03LTJG James C. Higgins, USNR - Awarded the Bronze StarJune 1944
    Courtesy Joe Radigan
    There is no DANFS history available for PT-146
    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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