PT 109 - Commanded by Lt jg John F Kennedy                    

  

The keel of the PT boat (Patrol Torpedo) illustrated here was laid down in the Elco yards at Bayonne, New Jersey, 4 March 1942.  She was launched three and a half months later and began her journey into history.

Designated PT 109, she was delivered to the Navy, and then into the hands of a young Lieutenant, junior grade, Jack Kennedy, at the forward base Rendova Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands.

On the moonless night of 2 August 1943, while on patrol, PT 109 was cut in half by the Japanese Destroyer Amagiri, and sank.  Kennedy and the crew were eventually rescued, although two of the crew were lost.

PT 109 displaced 56 tons, was 80 feet in overall length and had a 20 foot beam.  Powered by three Packard 1500 hp gasoline engines, it could fly across the water for 6 hours at 41 knots.  The crew consisted of three officers and fourteen enlisted men.

This is the 7th in a Series of Historic Ships                                              edition size - 500       print size  22" x 10 1/2"        $ 55.00

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