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m moved USS PT-121 to Motor Torpedo Boat PT-121: Naming consistency with other PT boat articles
{{PT boat}}
 
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{{short description|Patrol vessel of the United States Navy}}
'''USS PT-121''' was a [[motor torpedo boat]].
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{| {{Infobox ship begin |display title=Patrol torpedo boat ''PT-121''}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=
| Ship country= United States
| Ship flag= {{USN flag|1944}}
| Ship name= ''PT-121''
| Ship ordered=
| Ship awarded=
| Ship builder=[[Electric Launch Company]], [[Bayonne, New Jersey]]
| Ship original cost=
| Ship yard number=
| Ship way number=
| Ship laid down=25 April 1942
| Ship launched=25 July 1942
| Ship sponsor=
| Ship christened=
| Ship completed=
| Ship acquired=
| Ship commissioned=27 August 1942
| Ship decommissioned=
| Ship in service=
| Ship out of service=
| Ship homeport=
| Ship identification=
| Ship motto=
| Ship nickname= "[[List of military slang terms#SNAFU|SNAFU]]"
| Ship honors=
| Ship fate=Sunk, 27 March 1944
| Ship notes=
| Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header=
| Header caption=<ref name="Navsource">{{cite web |first=Joseph M. |last=Radigan (NavSource Webmaster)|url= http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/05121.htm |title=PT-121 |work=NavSource Online: Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive |year=2011 |accessdate=7 June 2012}}</ref>
| Ship class=Elco 80-foot [[PT boat]]
| Ship displacement={{Convert|56|LT|t|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}
| Ship length= {{Convert|80|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam= {{Convert|20|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft= {{Convert|5|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship power=
| Ship propulsion=3 × {{Convert|1500|shp|0|abbr=on}} [[Packard]] W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts
| Ship speed={{Convert|41|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range=
| Ship endurance=
| Ship complement=17 (3 officers, 14 enlisted)
| Ship sensors=
| Ship EW=
| Ship armament=* 4 × {{Convert|21|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} torpedoes
* 1 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm guns]]
* 2 × twin [[M2 Browning|.50 cal (12.7 mm)]] [[machine gun]]s


| Ship armor=
On the morning of [[March 27]], [[1944]], Lt. Crowell C. Hall, USNR, executive officer of Squadron 25, in PT&nbsp;353 (Ens. George H. Guckert, USNR), with PT&nbsp;121 (Ens. Richard B. Secrest, USNR), was trying to thread a way through [[New Britain|New Britain's]] reefs to Ewasse, in Bangula Bay, to investigate a reported enemy [[schooner]]. At 0745 four [[Curtiss P-40|P-40s]] of the 78th Squadron, [[Royal Australian Air Force]] operating out of [[Kiriwina]], flew over and Lieutenant Hall asked them by radio to investigate the schooner. The planes complied, and reported it had been strafed previously and was no longer a worthwhile target. No sooner had the boats turned to leave than they were attacked by four other P-40s of the 78th Squadron and a [[Bristol Beaufighter|Beaufighter]] of the 30th Squadron RAAF. A second Beaufighter recognized the PTs and throughout the attack attempted to call off the other Beaufighter by radio and to maneuver to head off the P-40s.
| Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
| is_ship=yes
| label=
| partof=* MTB Squadron 6
*(August 1942–December 1942)
* MTB Division 17
*(August 1942–April 1943)
* MTB Squadron 8
*(April 1943–March 1944)


| codes=
No order to open fire was given on either boat. After the planes made several runs, gunners on the PT&nbsp;353 fired seven or eight rounds of 40&nbsp;mm and five rounds of 37&nbsp;mm, and those on the PT&nbsp;121 fired seven rounds of 20&nbsp;mm and three short bursts of .50 caliber. Lieutenant Hall on the PT&nbsp;353 and Ensign Secrest on the PT&nbsp;121 stopped the firing immediately. Both boats burned, exploded, and sank, except for a portion of the bow of the PT&nbsp;121. Shortly after the attack two P-40s of the group that had investigated the schooner returned. They dropped a [[Lifeboat|life raft]] to the survivors and sent in a radio report of the tragedy. Five hours later a P-40 guided PT&nbsp;346 and PT&nbsp;354 to the survivors.
| commanders=Ens. Richard B. Secrest, USNR
| operations=
| victories=
| awards=
}}
|}
'''''PT-121''''' was a [[PT boat|motor torpedo boat]] of the [[United States Navy]], built by the [[Electric Launch Company]] (ELCO) of [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], launched in 1942, and sunk by air attack in a [[friendly fire]] incident on 27 March 1944.<ref name="Navsource"/>


==Service history==
Four officers and four enlisted men were dead; four officers and eight enlisted men were wounded; two PTs were completely destroyed.
On the morning of 27 March 1944, Lt. Crowell C. Hall, USNR, executive officer of Squadron 25, in ''PT-353'' (Ens. George H. Guckert, USNR), with ''PT-121'' (Ens. Richard B. Secrest, USNR), was trying to thread a way through [[New Britain|New Britain's]] reefs to Ewasse, in Bangula Bay, to investigate a reported enemy [[schooner]]. At 0745, four [[Curtiss P-40|P-40s]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]] of [[No. 78 Squadron RAAF|78 Squadron]], [[Royal Australian Air Force]] operating out of [[Kiriwina]], flew over and Lieutenant Hall asked them by radio to investigate the schooner. The aircraft complied, and reported it had been strafed previously and was no longer a worthwhile target. No sooner had the boats turned to leave than they were attacked by four other P-40s of 78 Squadron and a [[Bristol Beaufighter|Beaufighter]] [[heavy fighter]] of [[No. 30 Squadron RAAF|30 Squadron RAAF]]. A second Beaufighter recognized the PTs and throughout the attack attempted to call off the other Beaufighter by radio and to maneuver to head off the P-40s.<ref name="Navsource"/>


No order to open fire was given on either boat. After the aircraft made several runs, gunners on the ''PT-353'' fired seven or eight rounds of 40&nbsp;mm and five rounds of 37&nbsp;mm, and those on the ''PT-121'' fired seven rounds of 20&nbsp;mm and three short bursts of .50 caliber gunfire. Lieutenant Hall on the ''PT-353'' and Ensign Secrest on the ''PT-121'' stopped the firing immediately. Both boats burned, exploded, and sank, except for a portion of the bow of the ''PT-121''. Shortly after the attack, two P-40s of the group that had investigated the schooner returned. They dropped a [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|liferaft]] to the survivors and sent in a radio report of the tragedy. Five hours later, a P-40 guided ''PT-346'' and ''PT-354'' to the survivors.<ref name="Navsource"/>
In part the losses were caused by a failure in communications. The message reporting the intended movements of PTs had been placed in the wrong file at 78th Squadron headquarters, so the pilots had not been told that PTs would be operating in the area. In part the losses were caused by failure of the pilots to recognize the PTs. The first P-40s recognized them and gave them a helping hand. One Beaufighter in the second group recognized them and tried to stop the attack. The other pilots simply mistook them for enemy craft.


Four officers and four enlisted men were dead; four officers and eight enlisted men were wounded; two PTs were completely destroyed.<ref name="Navsource"/>
==External links==


In part, the losses were caused by a failure in communication. The message reporting the intended movements of PTs had been placed in the wrong file at 78 Squadron headquarters, so the pilots had not been told that PTs would be operating in the area. In part, the losses were caused by failure of the pilots to recognize the PTs. The first P-40s recognized them and gave them a helping hand. One Beaufighter in the second group recognized them and tried to stop the attack. The other pilots simply mistook them for enemy craft.<ref name="Navsource"/>
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq82-1.htm Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945]

After an investigation by the Navy, Ensign Secrest received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]].<ref name="Navsource"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq82-1.htm Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941 – 1 October 1945] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102121523/http://www.history.navy.mil/FAQs/faq82-1.htm |date=2 January 2013 }}


{{PT boat}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:PT-121}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:PT-121}}
[[Category:PT boats]]
[[Category:PT boats|121]]
[[Category:United States Navy patrol boats]]
[[Category:Patrol vessels of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:World War II patrol craft of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II patrol vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Australian aircraft]]
[[Category:Motor torpedo boats sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]

Latest revision as of 20:15, 2 January 2025

History
United States
NamePT-121
BuilderElectric Launch Company, Bayonne, New Jersey
Laid down25 April 1942
Launched25 July 1942
Commissioned27 August 1942
Nickname(s)"SNAFU"
FateSunk, 27 March 1944
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeElco 80-foot PT boat
Displacement56 long tons (57 t)
Length80 ft (24 m)
Beam20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
Draft5 ft (1.5 m)
Propulsion3 × 1,500 shp (1,119 kW) Packard W-14 M2500 gasoline engines, three shafts
Speed41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph)
Complement17 (3 officers, 14 enlisted)
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • MTB Squadron 6
  • (August 1942–December 1942)
  • MTB Division 17
  • (August 1942–April 1943)
  • MTB Squadron 8
  • (April 1943–March 1944)
Commanders: Ens. Richard B. Secrest, USNR

PT-121 was a motor torpedo boat of the United States Navy, built by the Electric Launch Company (ELCO) of Bayonne, New Jersey, launched in 1942, and sunk by air attack in a friendly fire incident on 27 March 1944.[1]

Service history

[edit]

On the morning of 27 March 1944, Lt. Crowell C. Hall, USNR, executive officer of Squadron 25, in PT-353 (Ens. George H. Guckert, USNR), with PT-121 (Ens. Richard B. Secrest, USNR), was trying to thread a way through New Britain's reefs to Ewasse, in Bangula Bay, to investigate a reported enemy schooner. At 0745, four P-40s fighters of 78 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force operating out of Kiriwina, flew over and Lieutenant Hall asked them by radio to investigate the schooner. The aircraft complied, and reported it had been strafed previously and was no longer a worthwhile target. No sooner had the boats turned to leave than they were attacked by four other P-40s of 78 Squadron and a Beaufighter heavy fighter of 30 Squadron RAAF. A second Beaufighter recognized the PTs and throughout the attack attempted to call off the other Beaufighter by radio and to maneuver to head off the P-40s.[1]

No order to open fire was given on either boat. After the aircraft made several runs, gunners on the PT-353 fired seven or eight rounds of 40 mm and five rounds of 37 mm, and those on the PT-121 fired seven rounds of 20 mm and three short bursts of .50 caliber gunfire. Lieutenant Hall on the PT-353 and Ensign Secrest on the PT-121 stopped the firing immediately. Both boats burned, exploded, and sank, except for a portion of the bow of the PT-121. Shortly after the attack, two P-40s of the group that had investigated the schooner returned. They dropped a liferaft to the survivors and sent in a radio report of the tragedy. Five hours later, a P-40 guided PT-346 and PT-354 to the survivors.[1]

Four officers and four enlisted men were dead; four officers and eight enlisted men were wounded; two PTs were completely destroyed.[1]

In part, the losses were caused by a failure in communication. The message reporting the intended movements of PTs had been placed in the wrong file at 78 Squadron headquarters, so the pilots had not been told that PTs would be operating in the area. In part, the losses were caused by failure of the pilots to recognize the PTs. The first P-40s recognized them and gave them a helping hand. One Beaufighter in the second group recognized them and tried to stop the attack. The other pilots simply mistook them for enemy craft.[1]

After an investigation by the Navy, Ensign Secrest received the Navy Cross.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Radigan (NavSource Webmaster), Joseph M. (2011). "PT-121". NavSource Online: Motor Torpedo Boat Photo Archive. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
[edit]
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