I did some follow up reading because i wasnt familiar with the PT boats. It was a 40 ton boat. This was no small vessel. The captain would not have controls for the exhaust valves at the helm. This would have been in the machinery space. The command would have gone down via a telegraph and if a full throttle order was given, the engineer would have had to open the valves for the exhaust. The Captain of the vessel would not have been directly responsible, but he would ultimately be accountable. Apparently, the exhaust manifold had butterfly valves that would redirect the exhaust into the water to muffle the sounds of slow running. When an enemy ship is spotted, full throttle is required for maximum steerage/maneuverability. I didnt read where the engines were off, they were muffled. If he did give the order for full throttle and the butterfly exhaust valves were not open, the engine would have stalled. They would have been dead in the water. I don't think anyone really knows for sure what happened that night, however if the engines were off, he wouldve heard the destroyer coming from a long way off.
I'm just telling you what a lot of people actually fighting right in that area though at the time, my father being one of them.
And my dad knew quite a bit about engines in boats because he operated landing craft during Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Florida Island, Tanambogo, and Gavutu Islands campaign.
That is a big hole. I definitely would not have wanted to be on the damage control team trying to patch that hole. I was in the Navy over 20 years ago.
I did some follow up reading because i wasnt familiar with the PT boats. It was a 40 ton boat. This was no small vessel. The captain would not have controls for the exhaust valves at the helm. This would have been in the machinery space. The command would have gone down via a telegraph and if a full throttle order was given, the engineer would have had to open the valves for the exhaust. The Captain of the vessel would not have been directly responsible, but he would ultimately be accountable. Apparently, the exhaust manifold had butterfly valves that would redirect the exhaust into the water to muffle the sounds of slow running. When an enemy ship is spotted, full throttle is required for maximum steerage/maneuverability. I didnt read where the engines were off, they were muffled. If he did give the order for full throttle and the butterfly exhaust valves were not open, the engine would have stalled. They would have been dead in the water. I don't think anyone really knows for sure what happened that night, however if the engines were off, he wouldve heard the destroyer coming from a long way off.
I'm just telling you what a lot of people actually fighting right in that area though at the time, my father being one of them.
And my dad knew quite a bit about engines in boats because he operated landing craft during Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Florida Island, Tanambogo, and Gavutu Islands campaign.
Interesting picture of ship he was on when it was torpedoed. Some hole huh? http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/100200914.jpg
That is a big hole. I definitely would not have wanted to be on the damage control team trying to patch that hole. I was in the Navy over 20 years ago.
Thanks for serving.