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Folks,
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.
In this online version of the manual we have attempted to keep the flavor of the original layout while taking advantage
of the Web's universal accessibility. Different browsers and fonts will cause
the text to move, but the text will remain roughly where it is in the original
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Please report any typos, or particularly annoying layout issues with the Mail Feedback Form for correction.
We also wish to thank PT Boats Inc. for the loan of this manual so we could scan it and present it on this web site.
Richard Pekelney
Webmaster
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HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
UNITED STATES FLEET
MOTOR
TORPEDO
BOATS
TACTICAL ORDERS AND
DOCTRINE
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.
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(II)
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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)
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| |
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 |
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V
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| 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 |
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IX
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| 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
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| 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) |
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XI
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| 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) |
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XII
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