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| USN PT-Boat Elco 80' 20' 8" x 5' 56 Tons 1 x 60mm mortar 1 x 37mm gun 1 x 20mm AA 4 x 21" torpedoes 2 x 50 cal MG  USN c1945 |
Wartime History Built by Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ. Laid down November 13, 1942 as Elco 80' Motor Torpedo Boat. Launched January 26, 1943 as PT-187. Completed and placed into service February 12, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Sent overseas to the South Pacific. Wartime History On February 18, 1943 assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 12 (MTBRon 12) at PT Boat Advance Base Six (Kana Kopa PT Boat Base) in Milne Bay. On May 10, 1943 transfered to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 6 (MTBRon 6) and based at Rendova PT Boat Base then Vella Lavella PT Boat Base on Liapari Island. On November 3, 1943 in the morning, Commander Henry Farrow arrived with eight PT-Boats including PT-187 to setup a base on Puruata Island, this base was also known as Torokina PT Boat Base due to its proximity to Cape Torokina on Bougainville. On November 29, 1943 under the command of Lt. Commander LeRoy Taylor with two LCI gunboats covered the evacuation of 700 US Marines who were trapped by superior forces a few miles south of Cape Torokina. During the night of December 18-19, 1943 PT-124 and PT-187 were damaged by a bomb, but were repaired by the next night. On May 29, 1944 transfered to MTB Squadron 9. Nicknamed "Eight Ball" with a billiards eight ball for the number "8" painted onto the bridge. On June 26, 1945 under the command of Lt(jg) Richard M. Dicke with PT-160 made a successful diversionary close range strafing of Beluran town in Labuk Bay while an Australian scouting party landed at nearby Samarang Point. The next morning, the pair made another strafing run 50 yards from shore, suffering a man killed by a rifle bullet and others wounded by shrapnel. During 1945 operated from Zamboanga and Tawi Tawi. There, PT-187 acquired monkey named "Eight Ball" that became the boat's mascot. On November 24, 1945 placed out of service in the Philippines. Afterwards, stripped for usable parts then scuttled. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy (1962) pages 141, 435, 457, 460, 462, 562 Navsource - PT-187 Contribute
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