Patrol torpedo boat PT-796 facts for kids
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PT-796 is a special 78-foot PT boat built in 1945. PT boats were small, fast ships used during World War II. This boat was made by a company called Higgins Industries in New Orleans.
In 1986, PT-796 was named a National Historic Landmark. This is a big honor because it's one of the few PT boats from World War II that still exists today. You can see it at the Battleship Cove museum in Fall River, Massachusetts, as part of the PT Boat Museum collection.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Builder | Higgins Industries |
| Laid down | 3 May 1945 |
| Completed | 26 October 1945 |
| Out of service | 7 July 1970 |
| Reclassified | Small Boat 16 November 1945 |
| Nickname(s) | Tail Ender |
| Status | Museum ship from 14 August 1975 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 48 long tons (49 t) |
| Length | 78 ft (24 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) |
| Draft | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Installed power | 3 × 1,200 shp (895 kW) Packard V-12 engines |
| Propulsion | 3 shafts |
| Speed | 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) |
| Range |
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| Armament |
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PT boat 796 (torpedo boat)
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Fall River, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1945 |
| Architect | Higgins Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000092 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 January 1986 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
Building the Tail Ender
PT-796 was started on May 3, 1945. It was launched into the water on June 23, 1945. The boat was finished on October 26, 1945, which was after World War II ended. Because it was the very last PT boat of its kind ever built, it was given the nickname Tail Ender.
How PT-796 Was Built
The main body, or hull, of PT-796 was made from two layers of wood planks. On earlier PT boats, these layers were placed diagonally. But for PT-796, the outer layer of wood was laid lengthwise. This change was likely made to Higgins boats around late 1944.
Also, instead of using two layers of mahogany wood, the inner layer of PT-796's hull was made from spruce. These two layers of wood were held together very strongly. They used copper rivets and bronze screws. Between the wood layers, there was a sheet of canvas with special marine glue to make it waterproof.
Size and Speed
When PT-796 was fully loaded, it weighed about 48 long tons (49 t). It is 78 feet (24 m) long, which is about the length of two school buses. The boat is 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) wide and sits about 4 ft (1.2 m) deep in the water.
This PT boat had three powerful Packard V-12 engines. Each engine had 1,200 shp (895 kW) of power and drove one propeller shaft. This gave the boat a very fast top speed of 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph), which is about 47 miles per hour!
With a full tank of 3,000 gallons of special aviation fuel, PT-796 could travel a long way. It could go 358 nautical miles (663 km; 412 mi) (about 412 miles) at a speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). If it used only one engine and went slower, at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph), it could travel much farther, up to 1,050 nautical miles (1,940 km; 1,210 mi) (about 1,208 miles).
Weapons on Board
PT-796 was armed with several weapons. It had four 22.5 in (570 mm) Mark 13 torpedoes. These torpedoes were launched from special racks on the boat.
For guns, it had:
- One 37 mm (1.5 in) gun at the front.
- One 20 mm (0.79 in) gun also at the front.
- A powerful Bofors 40 mm gun at the back.
- Two twin .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns, one on each side of the cockpit.
It also had two Mark 50 5-inch (130 mm) rocket launchers. To help it escape, it had a smoke generator at the back, which could create a thick smoke screen.
PT-796's Journey
PT-796 was finished too late to fight in World War II. After the war, it had a short job with MTB Squadron 1. It helped patrol the Caribbean Sea and the East Coast of the United States.
On November 16, 1945, its classification was changed to a "Small Boat." Its weapons were removed, and it was sent to Panama City, Florida. There, it was used for special experiments. The Navy used PT-796 for high-speed towing tests. These tests helped them develop new equipment for river operations.
In 1961, PT-796 took part in a special event. It was repainted to look like PT-109 for John F. Kennedy's inauguration. PT-109 was a famous PT boat commanded by Kennedy during the war.
The boat was taken out of service on July 7, 1970. Later, it was given to PT Boats, Inc., an organization that preserves these historic vessels. PT-796 was then restored to look just like it did originally. Since August 14, 1975, it has been on display at Battleship Cove, where people can visit and learn about its history.
