GERMAN FAST ATTACK S-BOAT
Crew: 24–30 / Length: 107.5 ft / Speed:
44 knots / Beam: 16 ft 6 in / Propulsion:
Three 2,000-hp engines / Germany
designed the sturdy S-boat (for “schnell,”
or “fast”) in the 1930s to be small enough
to avoid violating the Treaty of Versailles.IMPROVISATION THEATER
In the Pacific Theater, the role of PT boats evolved
to serve more as gunboats than torpedo boats.
PT-109 reconfigured its armaments and jury-rigged
a 37mm cannon onto its foredeck.LIGHT BRIGADE
PT boats had hulls made of layered
mahogany, which increased speed
and maneuverability but provided
less protection than steel.TOP: GETTY IMAGES; BOTTOM: NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND OCTOBER 2019 49
THE COMPETITION
AMERICAN 80-FOOT PATROL
TORPEDO BOAT Crew: 12–17 / Length:
80 ft / Speed: 43 knots / Beam: 20 ft 8 in /
Propulsion: Three 1,350-hp engines /
Among the numerous models made by
America’s four PT boat designers, Elco’s
80-footer was the most-produced variant.ITALIAN MAS TORPEDO BOAT
Crew: 9–11 / Length: 56 ft / Speed: 44
knots / Beam: 14 ft 5 in / Propulsion: Two
1,000-hp engines / MAS torpedo boats
first saw action in World War I; upgraded
56-foot models served through 1943 but
were considered too small to be effective.John F. Kennedy (top), age 26, commanded PT-109,
winning medals and acclaim for his heroics in- Above: PT-601 trains for battle.
BRITISH FAIRMILE D MOTOR
TORPEDO BOAT Crew: 21 / Length:
115 ft / Speed: 29 knots / Beam: 20 ft
10 in / Propulsion: Four 1,250-hp engines /
Built to counter Germany’s S-boat,
Britain’s Fairmile—like PT boats—served
as both gun- and torpedo boats.