Patrol torpedo boat PT-658 facts for kids
PT-658 at 35 knots in October 2014
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Builder | Higgins Industries, New Orleans |
| Laid down | February 24, 1945 |
| Launched | April 11, 1945 |
| Completed | July 30, 1945 |
| Commissioned | 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 1958 |
| Reclassified |
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| Identification |
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| Status |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | PT-625-class Higgins 78 ft (24 m) PT boat |
| Displacement | 103,000 lb (47,000 kg) |
| Length | 78 ft 6 in (23.93 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m) |
| Draft | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Installed power | 3 × 1,850 shp (1,380 kW) Packard 5M-2500 V12 engines |
| Propulsion | 3 shafts |
| Speed | 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) |
| Range | 520 nmi (960 km; 600 mi) at 2,000 rpm |
| Complement | 2 officers, 14 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
Raytheon SO/SO3 radar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
Farnsworth BN Interrogator Responsor and Hazeltine BK Transponder IFF |
| Armament |
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PT-658 (motor torpedo boat)
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 Location in Oregon
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| Location | Vigor Industrial Shipyard, Pier 307 5555 N Basin Av., Portland, Oregon |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000602 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 2012 |
The Motor Torpedo Boat PT-658 is a special kind of fast attack boat. It was built for the United States Navy during World War II. This boat is a great example of how these PT boats changed and improved during the war.
PT-658 was one of the last boats made in its group. It was finished on July 31, 1945. Because it was built late in the war, it had all the newest weapons and design updates. These updates came from lessons learned in battles. This makes PT-658 a perfect example of what these boats looked like by the end of World War II.
Today, PT-658 is a very important historical ship. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 2012. It is one of only two PT boats on this list that can still operate!
Contents
The PT-658's Journey: From War to Museum
Early Service and Reclassification
PT-658 was supposed to go to the Soviet Union in April 1945. This was part of a program called Lend-Lease. But by the time the boat was finished, the plan changed.
So, PT-658 was sent to Bremerton, Washington. It traveled on a larger ship called LST-375. It arrived there on September 25, 1945.
After that, PT-658 was stationed in Port Hueneme, California. On August 27, 1946, it got a new job. It was called a "Small Boat" and given the number C105343. Its new role was to patrol missile test areas.
Later, on December 3, 1948, it was called "Floating Equipment." Then, it moved to Naval Air Station Point Mugu. Here, it was renamed RCT-13. It helped patrol the missile test range. It made sure no other boats entered the missile landing zone. It also helped by towing targets for tests.
Transport and Survival
During this time, PT-658 also worked as a fast transport boat. Twice a week, it carried people and supplies. It went to a radar station on Santa Rosa Island. This island is off the coast of Los Angeles.
PT-658 survived for a long time. This is mainly because it was finished late in the war. It was never sent overseas into battle.
Becoming a Museum Ship
On June 30, 1958, PT-658 was sold to a private person. This owner lived in the Oakland and Alameda, California area. They renamed the boat Porpoise. The owner kept the boat mostly the same.
In 1993, the owner's family gave the boat away. They donated it to a group called Save the PT Boat, Inc. This group is made up of veterans in Portland, Oregon. In May 1994, PT-658 was moved from Alameda to Portland. It traveled on a large Army support ship.
Bringing PT-658 Back to Life: The Restoration Project
The Restoration Team
A group of dedicated PT Boat veterans started an organization. It is called Save the PT Boat, Inc. This group is a non-profit organization. They worked hard to restore PT-658.
Between 1995 and 2005, they brought the boat back to its original 1945 look. Today, PT-658 is fully working and floats. It is one of only two restored US Navy PT Boats that can still operate.
Interestingly, the second operational PT boat, PT-305, got some help from PT-658's team. They used some leftover parts from the PT-658 restoration.
What Was Restored?
The restoration of PT-658 included many things. It now has copies of its original weapons. These include:
- Four Mark 13 torpedoes
- Two twin .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns
- A 40 mm Bofors cannon
- Two 20 mm Oerlikon cannons
- Two Mark 50 Rocket Launchers (each with 8 cells)
- Two Mark 6 depth charges (each weighing about 300 pounds)
- A 60 mm M2 mortar
The boat also has three working Packard Model 5M-2500 V12 gasoline engines. Each engine has 1850 horsepower.
Visiting the PT-658 Heritage Museum
The PT-658 Heritage Museum is in Portland, Oregon. It is located at the Swan Island Industrial Park. The boat is docked at Pier 307 of Vigor Industrial Shipyard.
You can visit the museum by going through Gate 18. The address is 5555 N. Lagoon Avenue. The museum is open to the public every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. It is open from 9 AM to 4 PM.
The boat has been moved into a new boathouse. The group is still raising money for more projects. These include replacing the deck and repairing the charthouse. They also need to replace the bottom of the boat. Money is also being raised to finish the boathouse. They also plan to build a PT-658 Heritage and Education Center.
In May 2010, the deck replacement was finished. This was just in time for summer events. In July 2010, the project received a $14,000 grant. This money came from the Oregon Cultural Trust.
Adding Details and Paint
In early 2011, PT-658 got a new paint job. It was painted in its original camouflage scheme. This pattern is known as Camouflage Measure 31-20L.
In July 2011, two Mark 50 rocket launcher mounts were added. They were placed on the front sides of the boat. In May 2012, an original SOA Radar mast was installed. It came with a radar dome and other parts. At the same time, the 40mm Bofors cannon mount was improved. It got an ammunition clip holder and adjustable seats. It also received authentic gun sights.
More equipment was added in 2014 by the crew. This included real IFF dipole antennae. These were placed on the chart house and radar mast. A US M2 60mm mortar was also added to the front right side of the boat.
Images for kids
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PT-658 in Portland, Oregon, in 2007
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PT-658 in 2006, in the paint scheme she wore from the late 1940s through 2010
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In 2011, PT-658 was restored to her original paint scheme, a camouflage pattern known as Measure 31-20L.
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PT-658, PT-659 and PT-660 (RCT-13, RCT-14 and RCT-15), Point Mugu Boat Basin November 1949
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PT veteran Dick Lowe in front of bunk
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