PT BOATS IN BRISBANE
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The War Diary for CINCPAC dated 14 January 1943 stated as follows:-

PT BOATS
MTB RON 8 (66 to 68, 142, 143, 149, 150) - Enr. BRISBANE to report to SOWESPAC

The War Diary for Commander Service Force Seventh Fleet dated 25 October 1943 stated as follows:-

ANTI AIRCRAFT TRAINING CENTER (Wellington Point):
Practice firing held for MTB Ron 8, aka 8, APc-3-8-10, PC476, LST-462. 20mm, 40mm, and 50 cal. were fired. Plane made 8 runs at 1500 feet.

The War Diary for Commander Service Force Seventh Fleet dated 13 November 1943 stated as follows:-

ANTI AIRCRAFT TRAINING CENTER (Wellington Point):
Practice firing held for SC-650, MTB Ron 8. 330 rounds of 20mm. Men from MTB Ron 8 arrived too late for firing. No plane due to insufficient tow cable. SC-650 fired at stake.

The War Diary for Commander Service Force Seventh Fleet dated 17 November 1943 stated as follows:-

ANTI AIRCRAFT TRAINING CENTER (Wellington Point):
Practice firing held for MTB Ron 8, THOMAS PAYNE. 30 rounds 20mm (test only). No runs due to rain.

The February 1944 War Diary for Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Twenty-Five, MTB Ron 25, stated as follows:-

1 Feb 1944
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron TWENTY FIVE, consisting of PTs 344 - 355 inclusive, enroute to Milne Bay, New Guinea. Group "A", consisting of PTs 344, 346, 347, 354 and 355 in Brisbane, Australia, awaiting tow to New Guinea, Commander MTB Ron 25 group commander. Group "B", consisting of PTs 348, 349 and 351 enroute to Milne Bay, New Guinea aboard tanker S.S. ESSO HARRISBURGH, ETA 16 February 1944. Group "C" consisting of PTs 345, 350, 352 and 353 loaded aboard the tanker S.S. ESSO PITTSBURGH enroute to Brisbane, Australia, ETA 18 February 1944.

7 Feb 1944
PTs 344 and 347 departed Brisbane under tow for Milne Bay, New Guinea.

8 Feb 1944
PTS 354 and 355 departed Brisbane under tow for Milne Bay, New Guinea.

9 FEBRUARY 1944
PTs 346 departed Brisbane under tow for Milne Bay, New Guinea.

10 - 17 February 1944
The S.S. ESSO PITTSBURGH's destination diverted to Milne Bay, New Guinea.

18 FEBRUARY 1944
PTs 354 and 355 and S.S. ESSO HARRISBURGH arrived Milne Bay, New Guinea. Boats to be unloaded about 1 March 1944.

19 FEBRUARY 1944
S.S. ESSO PITTSBURGH arrived Milne Bay, New Guinea.

The 1 August 1944 War Diary for Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Thirty-Three, MTB Ron 33, stated as follows:-

1. By authority of C.N.O.'s confidential dispatch 191902 of April 1944, GROUP ABLE consisting of PT's 488 through 492, departed Balboa Canal Zone, at 1430 Roger 23 April 1944, aboard American Tanker GULF MARICAIBO enroute to Brisbane, Australia., and continued on this journey until 14 May 1944 when ship's captain received diversion orders authorizing procedure to Milne Bay at 1200 King 21 May. On 22 and 23 of May, PT's 488 through 492 were unloaded and proceeded to M.T.B. Base #4, at Kana Kope, N.G.

2. In accordance with verbal orders delivered to the executive officer from Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Seventh Fleet, GROUP ABLE proceeded 0430, 31 May from Kana Kope, N.G., enroute to Dreger Harbor, N.G., arriving at that port at 1830 King on teh 31st of May 1944.

3. In accordance with C.N.O.'s confidential dispatch 291708 of April 1944, GROUP BAKER consisting of PT's 493 through 497 departed Balboa, Canal Zone, at 1730 on 11 May 1944 aboard American tanker ESSO NORFOLK enroute Brisbane, Australia. A diversion order was received enroute by captain of ESSO NORFOLK diverting the ship to Morobe, N.G., arriving at that port at 1100 King 7 June 1944. ......

Photo:- AWM Accession No. 302592

Motor tanker ESSO MANHATTAN on 22 October 1943, fitted with
 flying decks to carry seven PT Boats to Brisbane as deck cargo

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Alan Graham for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 3 December 2023

This page last updated 04 December 2023