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| USN PT-Boat Elco 80' 56 Tons 80' x 20' 8" x 3' 6" 1 x 40mm gun 2 x Twin 50 cal MG 4 x Torpedo tubes  USN c1943 |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Company (Elco) in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down June 10, 1942. Launched August 31, 1942. Completed September 16, 1942. Assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 7 (MTBS-7) under the command of Rollin E. Westholm, USN. Wartime History On April 16, 1943 PT-133 was towed from Cairns northward to Thursday Island, with orders to prepare a base at Merauke until the end of May 1943. On June 6, 1943 PT-133 departs for Milne Bay then operates from Tufi PT Boat Base and Morobe PT Boat Base. At some point during the ship's New Guinea service, it was nicknamed "New Guinea Ferry". During the night of September 21-22, 1943 in support of the 7th Amphibious Force landing off Finschafen, three sections of PT Boats setting up a defensive screen northward Vitiaz Strait. PT-133 under the command of Lt(jg) Robert R. Read, along with PT-191 encountered an enemy 120' cargo ship 10 miles off Vincke Point, both PT Boats closed at high speed and made a firing run from starboard, and received light machine gun fire from the vessel and most of the boat's fire glanced off the side. Two more runs were made at closer range, and after the third run caught fire. Making a final run was made, dropping depth charges set to explode at 30', but their explosion was ineffective. Enemy taking to a life raft were sunk and another depth charge run was made near the bow, causing it to raise out of the water and causing the keel to break. Last observed burning low in the water, and presumed to have sunk. On October 15, 1943 during the night, PT-133 and PT-191 attacked and destroyed four enemy landing craft with troops. Aboard PT-133, when all the guns were out of ammunition or jammed, S2C Daniel V. Walker left his gun and moved to the forecastle gun which was jammed, and was hit by a bullet before crawling on his hands and knees, removed ammunition, then crawled back to his gun, loaded the ammunition and returned fire until hit in the arm by another bullet. Afterwards, he earned the Navy Cross for his action. Next, operated from Fergusson Island and later Kiriwina Island. During the night of December 15-16, 1943 off Gasmata, PT-133 under the command of Lt(jg) Robert R. Read with PT-131 claimed an enemy four engine bomber shot down off Gasmata. During the night of April 13-14, 1944 a pair of PT-Boats: PT-133 under the command of Ensign Fendall M. Clagett with PT-132 patrolled inside Henry Reid Bay, spotting eight barges. The pair attacked, sinking four with two destroyed on the beach and damaging two others, making repeated runs on the barges until they expended all their ammunition. During their attacks, the PT-Boats were attacked by an enemy plane that dropped four bombs and made two strafing runs. Next, operated from Aitape PT Boat Base. During the night of May 13, 1944 PT-133 and PT-138 engaged four barges off Dagua close to the beach. Preparing to make an attack run, shore batteries opened fire hitting the PT-Boats, but they succeeded in sinking three of the barges. One of the PT Boats suffered an engine room fire and was exposed to enemy fire. The other boat engaged the shore batteries until able to escape. Lt(jg) Julius O. Aschenbach, USNR earned the Navy Cross for this mission. Sinking History During the night of July 15, 1944 a pair of PT-Boats including PT-133 under the command of Lt(jg) Fendall M. Clagett with PT-128 attacked three barges in the Muschu Passage (Muschu Strait) off Cape Pus. They sank one and damaging the other two in their first attack run. Circling for a second run, a 40mm gun opened fire from shore, the first round hit PT-133 amidship, setting the gasoline tanks on fire. The crew attempted to extinguish the fire for five minutes before Clagett ordered them to abandon ship and deployed two life rafts. Ten minutes later, PT-133 exploded. Rescue The crew of were rescued by PT-143 that came to their aid from an adjoining patrol area. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy pages 186-187, 198, 212, 236, 241-242, 458, 487-488, 492, 498 NavSource PT-133 Contribute
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