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Motor Torpedo Boats, Tactical Orders and Doctrine, July 1942, was created in the early part of the US participation in WW II. The manual provides insight into how PT Boats were used.

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HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
UNITED STATES FLEET
MOTOR
TORPEDO
BOATS
TACTICAL ORDERS AND
DOCTRINE
JULY 1942

HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
UNITED STATES FLEET

MOTOR
TORPEDO
BOATS

TACTICAL ORDERS AND
DOCTRINE

Fouled Anchor

JULY 1942

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON: 1942


CONFIDENTIAL

JULY 1, 1942.

Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, Motor Torpedo Boats (Short title-Motorprons One) is issued herewith for information and guidance.

This is a confidential nonregistered publication and shall be handled, transported and safeguarded in accordance with the provisions of U. S. Navy Regulations, Art. 76. It shall not be carried in aircraft for use therein.

When no longer required or when its destruction is ordered it shall be destroyed by burning. No report of destruction is required.

RUSSELL WILLSON,
Chief of Staff.

 
(II)
 

CONTENTS

  Page
PART 1-GENERAL DOCTRINE 1

Chapter 1. General and military characteristics 1
Chapter 2. Employment 8
Chapter 3. Attack doctrine-Daylight torpedo attacks 10
Chapter 4. Attack doctrine-Night and low visibility attacks 11
Chapter 5. Attack doctrine-Depth charge attacks and antisubmarine operations 13
 
PART 2-TACTICAL FORMATIONS AND ORDERS 17
Chapter 1. General 17
Chapter 2. The division 19
Chapter 3. Division formations 20
Chapter 4. The squadron and squadron formations 31
Chapter 5. Tactical, arm, flag, and light signals 33
 
PART 3-ATTACK PLANS 37
Chapter 1. General 37
Chapter 2. Attacks on enemy merchantmen or auxiliaries 38
Chapter 3. Attacks on enemy convoys 38
Chapter 4. Attacks on enemy task forces 44
Chapter 5. Submarine attack plan 45
Chapter 6. Defense and escape tactics-Smoke screens 45
 
PART 4-ARMAMENT DOCTRINE AND STANDARD PROCEDURES 55
Chapter 1. Torpedo control and standard procedures 55
Chapter 2. Gunnery control and standard procedures 69
Chapter 3. Depth charge control and standard procedures 74
Chapter 4. Smoke screen generators and smoke procedures 81
 
PART 5- ENGINEERING AND COMMUNICATION DOCTRINES 83
Chapter 1. Engineering practices 83
Chapter 2. Communication practices 85
 
PART 6- USEFUL INFORMATION AND DATA 89
Chapter 1. (A) Conditions of readiness of armament 89
  (B) .20-mm. and .50-caliber gun data 92
 
(III)
 
  Page
PART 6-USEFUL INFORMATION AND DATA-Continued.
Chapter 2. Fuel consumption and cruising radius tables 95
  Submarine data tables 99
  Tables of radius of visibility of M. T. B. 99

INDEX FOR M. T. B. DOCTRINES AND STANDARD PROCEDURES

A 
SUBJECT Article No.
Acknowledgment, request 5208
Air bubbles, ascent of 1506
Aircraft, defense against 3903, 3904, 4206, 4209, 4210, 4211, 4212
Aircraft, coordination with 4314, 3403, 3404
Ammunition, type and amount:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (b)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (b)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (b)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (b)
Angle on the bow 4102
Angle solver 4109
Antisubmarine action 1502, 1503, 3501, 3502, 3503, 4307-4314
Arm signals 2701 (a)
Armament description 1107
Armament-condition of readiness:
  In general 6101
  Battle stations 6102
  Torpedoes-Ready condition 6103
    Full ready condition 6104
  20-mm. gun-Ready condition 6105
    Full ready condition 6106
    Data 6115
  .50-caliber gun-Ready condition 6107
    Full ready condition 6108
    B. A. gun data (air-cooled) 6116
  .45-caliber submachine gun-Ready condition 6109
    Full ready condition 6110
  Depth charges-Ready condition 6111
    Full ready condition 6112
  F.S. generator-Ready condition 6113
    Full ready condition 6114
 
IV
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Attack doctrine:
  Daylight torpedo attacks 1301-1308
  Night and low visibility torpedo attacks 1401-1412
  Submarine destruction by depth charges 1502-1513
  Surface ship destruction by depth charges 1501
Attack plans, general 3101, 3102, 3103
  Attack on auxiliaries 3201, 3202
  Attack on convoys-daylight 3301
  Attack on convoys-night 3302
  Attack on merchantmen 3301, 3302
  Attack on submarines 3501, 3502
  Attack on task forces 3401, 3402, 3403, 3404
Authenticators 5206
Auxiliary generators, care of 5103
 
B
Base torpedo course 4102, 4109
Batteries, care of 5103
Blinker tube 5202, 5204
Browning automatic machine guns, specifications 1207
 
C
Call signs 5208
Care and upkeep of weapons 4202
Camouflage and disguise 1401, 1403, 1405, 1508
Characteristics of boats, general and military 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105, 1106, 1107
Code and cipher publications 5202, 5203
Colt pistols 1107
Column formation (division) 2202, 2301, 2302, 2303, 2304, 2305, 2306, 2313
Column formation (squadron) 2401, 2402, 2403, 2404, 2405
Communication facilities 5202, 1107 (l)
Communication procedure 5208
Conditions of readiness 4110, 4218, 4303, 5207
Confidential information, security of 5212
Conservation of equipment 4202, 5102, 5207
Countermarching 2310
Cruising radius of M. T. Boats:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (o)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (o)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (o)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (o)
Curved fire 4108
 
V
 
SUBJECT Article No.
 
D
Daylight torpedo attack (see Attack plans) 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, 1308
Daylight signals 2701, 5204
Defense and escape tactics 2109, 3904, 3902, 3903
Deployment 2108
Deployment from division column 2304
Deployment from division vee 2311
Deployment from squadron formation 2405
Depth charges, number and type:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (e)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (e)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (e)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (e)
Depth charge, care and upkeep 4315
Depth charge racks, number and type:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (f)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (f)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (f)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (f)
Depth charge, sinking times 4305
Depth charges, types used 4301
Depth charge, use against submarines 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 4307, 4313
Depth setting (depth charges) 4304
Depth setting (torpedo) 4110 (e)
Directing machine gun fire 1404, 4207
Disguise 1508
Division, definition of 2201
 
E
Echelon formation (division) 2202, 2315-2319
Effective range factor (torpedo) 4102 (m)
Employment of motor torpedo boats (general) 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1209, 1210, 1211
Encoded messages 5205, 5212
Enfilade 1305, 2303
Engineering practices 5101, 5102, 5103, 5104, 5105, 5106, 5107, 5108
Escape tactics. (See Defense and escape tactics.)
 
VI
 
SUBJECT Article No.
 
F
Fire, technique of. (See Gunnery.)
Fire distribution (machine gun) 4204
Firing, emergency (torpedo) 4105 (b), 4111 (e)
Firing, primary (torpedo) 4111 (b)
Firing, interval (torpedo) 4105 (a)
Firing methods 4110 (a), 4111
"Firing point" of torpedo 4102 (i)
Firing speeds (of boats firing torpedoes) 4110 (d)
Flag signals (division) 2501 (b)
Flag signals (squadron) 2501 (b)
Flares, parachute 3404
Flashes, light. (See Light signals.)
Formations-General information 2101-2109
Fresh water capacity:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (h)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (h)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (h)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (h)
Fuel capacity:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (i)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (i)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (i)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (i)
Fuel consumption and cruising radius 6201, 6202, 6203, 6204
Full salvo (torpedo) 4104 (b)
Function of motor torpedo boats 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105, 1106
 
G
Gasoline consumption with 77' Elco 6204
Generators, care of 5013
Group leader 2104
Group salvo 4104
Gun care and upkeep 4202, 4219
Gun control 4203
Gunnery orders and standard procedure 4201, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4205, 4206, 4207, 4208, 4209, 4210, 4211, 4212, 4213, 4214, 4215, 4216, 4217, 4218, 4219.
 
VII
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Guns, number and types carried:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (a)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (a)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (a)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (a)
Gunsight 4216
Gyro angle 4106
 
H
Hand and arm signals 2501 (a)
I
Individual tracer control 4214
Initial position of target ship 4102 (e)
Instruction books 4219
 
L
Laying of smoke screens 4404
"Lieing to" 1407
Lead angle tables (depth charges) 4310
Lead angle tables (torpedo) 4109-2
Leader in formation 2104
Light signals 2501 (c)
Linear target presentment 4012 (y)
Lookouts 1510, 4212
Low-visibility and night attacks 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1410, 1411, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1511.
Lubricating oil capacity:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (j)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (j)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (j)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (j)
 
M
Machinery, care and use of. (See Engineering practices.)
Machinery inspection 5104
Maneuvering (division) 2303-2318
Maneuvering (squadron) 2405
Machinery on each boat:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (n)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (n)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (n)
 
VIII
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Machinery on each boat-Continued.
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (n)
Mean torpedo track 4104 (d)
Momentary sight angle 4102 (p)
Mufflers 1403
 
N
Night attack. (See Attack and low visibility and night attacks.)
Night signal 2501 (c), 5204
 
O
Oerlikon, 20-mm. guns 1107 (a)
Oil bubbles, ascent of 1512
Order in formation 2106
Over range 4102 (x)
 
P
Pair firing (torpedo) 4108 (d)
Parachute flares 3404
Partial salvo (torpedoes) 4104
"Patrolling the station" 4316 (n)
Percussion firing, emergency (torpedo) 4105, 4110 (c)
Personnel-General 2102
  Training for depth charge attacks 4306
  Training with guns 4201
  Training with smoke screen apparatus 4403
  Training with communication apparatus 5210
Presentment, silhouette 1403
Presentment, target 4102 (v)
Point of aim 4102 (d)
Point of intercept 4102 (n)
Provisions, fresh:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (k)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (k)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (k)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (k)
 
R
Racks, depth charge 1107 (f)
Radar equipment 1206, 1513
Radio communication 5203
 
IX
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Radio director finder 1107 (m), 5202, 5207 (d)
Radio equipment 1107 (l)
Radio procedure 5208
Radius 1107 (o)
Radius of visibility for MTB 6206
Range allowance (torpedo) 4102
Range of effectiveness (depth charge) 1503
Range of machine guns 4210
Range (torpedo) 4102 (r), 4110 (b)
Recognition and identification 4211
Repairs 5105, 5207
Retirement 2109
Ring-sight 4216
 
S
Safety orders, posting of 5107
Safety precautions 4201,5101,5207 (c)
Salvo (torpedo) 4104 (a)
Salvo interval (torpedo) 4105 (a)
Scatter plan 3903
Seamans eye (torpedo) 4109 (b), 4109 (3)
Security of confidential matters 5213
Semaphore equipment 5202
Seniority in formation 2107
Ships-guide 2106
Sight angle (torpedo) 4102 (p)
Sight control 4213 (c)
Sight, line of 4102 (h)
Signals:
  Hand and arm 2501 (a)
  Flag 2501 (b)
  Light 2501 (c)
  Radio 5208
Silhouette presentment 1403 (c), 3404
Single firing (torpedo) 4102 (c)
Size and specifications of MTB's:
  PT 20 type 1107-1
  PT 71 type 1107-2
  PT 95 type 1107-3
  PT 103 type 1107-4
Slant range 4213 (h)
Small arms 1107 (a)
 
X
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Smoke screen, use of 3904
Smoke screen generator 4401
Smoke screen generator, type used:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (g))
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (g)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (g)
  PT 103 type 1107-3 (g)
Smoke screen generator, care and upkeep 4402
Smoke screen, general notes on 4404
Spares 5106
Speed of ascent of air and oil bubbles 1506
Speed of MTB-s 1107 (o)
Spread 4106
Spread, unit of 4106 (b)
Spread formation 3902
Spread gyro angle 4106 (d)
Squadron, definition of 2401
Squadron maneuvering 2404
Squadron formations 2402, 2403
Squadron deployment 2405
Standard distances in formation 2105
Standard point of aim 4102 (d)
Standard speeds 2105
Standard tube angles 4107
Station keeping 2103
Submarines, attack on. (See Antisubmarine attack.)
Submarines, notes on characteristics of 4316
Submarines, rate of descent and lateral speed in crash dive 6205
Superelevation 4213 (g)
Supported attacks 3402
 
T
Tactical formations and orders Chapter 2
Tactical signals. 2501 (a)
Target ship track 4102 (f)
Target speed, actual 4102 (g)
Thompson machine guns 1107 (a)
Torpedo, numbers and types carried:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (c)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (c)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (c)
 
XI
 
SUBJECT Article No.
Torpedo, numbers and types carried-Continued.
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (c)
Torpedo battery 4108 (c)
Torpedo control system 4109
Torpedo control procedure, primary method, emergency method 4111, 4105 (b), 4111 (c)
Torpedo depth setting 4110 (e)
Torpedo director 4109 (i)
Torpedo firing. (see torpedo control.)
Torpedo range 4102 (r), 4110 (b)
Torpedo speed 4102 (m), 4110 (b)
Torpedo track 4102 (l)
Torpedo, triangle of fire 4102 (a)
Torpedo tube angle 4107 (a)
Torpedo tubes-Numbers and types:
  PT 20 type 1107-1 (d)
  PT 71 type 1107-2 (d)
  PT 95 type 1107-3 (d)
  PT 103 type 1107-4 (d)
Tracer control 4215
Tracer cut back 4212 (f)
Tracer observation 4215
Track (torpedo) 4102 (l)
Track angle 4102 (j)
Track order 4213 (a)
Tracking 4213 (b)
Triangle of torpedo fire 4102 (a)
Tube angle 4107 (a)
Tube, blinker 4202 (5)
 
U
Unsupported attacks (see Title attack) 3401
 
V
Vee formation (division) 2302, 2306, 2307-2314
Vee formation (squadron) 2403
Vee of vees 2403
Verys pistols 5202 (8)
Visual communications (see Signals) 5204
 
W
Wake 1202, 1403 (b), 1413
Water, fresh 1107 (l)
Wilco 4208 (b)
 
XII
 
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