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| USN 77' Elco Motor Torpedo Boat 40 Tons 77' x 19' 11" x 4' 6" As Built 2 x Twin 50 cal MG in Dewandre turrets 4 x 18" Torpedoes Gunboat Conversion 1943 2 x Twin 50 cal MG 4 x 50 cal MG 2 x 40mm Bofors  USN August 1, 1942  Kenneth W. Prescott 1943  Kenneth W. Prescott 1943 |
Ship History Built by Electric Boat Co. (Elco) as a 77' Elco in Bayonne, NJ. Laid down August 2, 1941. This vessel was planned as Motor Boat Submarine Chaser (PTC-29) but reclassified BPT-13 for Great Britain. Launched October 15, 1941 and retained by the U.S. Navy (USN). Reclassified PT-61 in December 1941. Wartime History On February 19, 1942 assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4 (MTBS 4) at MTB Squadrons Training Center, Melville, RI. On May 7, 1942 transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 2 (MTBS 2). During the summer, departed Melville, RI motoring southward to Panama along with PT-59, PT-60. This was the first time PT Boats had made the crossing from the United States under their own power and tranists the Panama Canal to Balboa. On July 27, 1942 transferred to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3(2) MTBS 3(2). On August 1, 1942 PT-61 was photographed at Taboga in Panama along with PT-46, PT-40, PT-48 and PT-45. Loaded aboard a merchant ship along with PT-37, PT-39, PT-45 and transported across the Pacific Ocean to Nouméa Harbor then northward to the Solomon Islands to operate from Tulagi PT Boat Base (Sesapi) arriving on October 25, 1942. In the Solomons, the rear two torpedo tubes were removed and four depth charges instead. On November 8, 1942 departed Tulagi PT Boat Base (Sesapi) under the command of Lt(jg) Robinson leading a night patrol of Iron Bottom Sound with PT-39 and PT-37, the only three boats serviceable after three nights of operations. South of Savo Island, PT-39 spotted an enemy destroyer and the three PT boats deployed in a line abreast formation then spotted two more destroyers. During their torpedo attack, PT-61 was unable to fire her torpedoes as her line of sight was blocked by PT-37. The enemy destroyers turned to evade the attack and turned on their searchlights and responded with gunfire. PT-61 was hit in the bow by a large shell but managed to escape behind a smokescreen and was able to use high speed to keep the damaged bow out of the water and with calm seas was able to return to Tulagi PT Boat Base. During 1943, converted into a gunboat armed with two 40mm anti-aircraft guns plus four additional .50-caliber machine guns behind shields and the torpedoes removed. Assigned to Executive officer (XO) and commanding officer (CO) Kenneth W. Prescott. On October 8, 1943 photographed at sea with PT-168. During the night of January 10-11, 1944 departed Torokina PT Boat Base in Empress Augusta Bay under the command of Lt(jg) R. L. Rhoads on a reconnaissance in strength against Green Island Atoll to inspect the channels and evaluate enemy strength on a mission led by PT-176 plus PT-184 and PT-59. During the open sea crossing and bad weather, PT-61 sustained damage including the smoke generator breaking loose and falling overboard with the the exhaust stack and fouled the gears of her 40mm Bofors. Heavier, older and slower, gunboats PT-61 and PT-59 could not keep up with the other two boats which proceeded without them to complete the reconnaissance mission. On February 16, 1944 reclassified as a small boat C68371. Ultimate fate unknown. References At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy pages 59, 82, 89, 147, 452, 454, 561 (index) NavSource PT-61 (photos) U.S. Small Combatants: An Illustrated Design by Norman Friedman A PT Skipper in the South Pacific by Kenneth W. Prescott Contribute
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