Guys this may be a dumb question but did USN PT boats deploy around the English Channel?

If so, what type, colour scheme etc

Thanks
Luciano

They sure did Luciano. I remember something about 80' Elcos at Normandy Beach head. Let me do some checking.

~Gator

RON 2 (PT71, 72, 199) - 78' Higgins (special ops). Photos suggest MS13 [Haze Gray (5-H) vertical surfaces, Deck Blue (20-B) horizontal surfaces], although some sources have listed Mountbatten Pink.

RON 30 (PT450-461) - 78' Higgins. The one photo I've seen shows rather dark boats, perhaps MS 14 [Ocean Gray (5-0) vertical surfaces, Deck Blue (20-B) horizontal surfaces]. Large white star on foredeck.

RON 34 (PT498-509) and RON 35 (PT510-521) - 80' ELCOs. Several schemes appear in photos, including MS13.

Al Ross

Would these boats in the Channel ( the Med for that matter) have the Allied star on an upper surface as well? I have seen a photo of the circled star on what appears to be an after mount, maybe 54 or 55 on a Destroyer .

Mr Ross to the rescue, thanks guy's.

One further question, did the US PT's deploy or operate with RN MTB/MGB's be it Vosper's or Fairmiles?

I have a diorama in mind showing them together but don't want to show this if they did not. (1/350 scale by the way).

Thanks
Luciano

learned something new, or actually relearned it. I would have answered the question NO, but upon further reflection do recall that PT's were deployed at Normandy to taget the S-boot threat. I guess I just always figured them to be British.

Bulkley (AT CLOSE QUARTERS) mentions specific boat numbers for joint operations in the Med. Generally, these groupings were Higgins and Vospers, Higgins and Fairmile Ds, and ELCOs and Vospers. No RN numbers are mentioned for the Channel, but the boats operated out of Portland, where there were BPB and Vosper types.

I can give you specific boat numbers if you need them.

Al Ross

Hi Al, thanks for that info. Numbers would be great if it's not to much trouble.

Now from what I can tell these following are the only 1/350 scale PT boats available (waiting for someone to say Oh no there not)

WEM ~ Elco 80' depicting PT-109
WEM ~ Elco 77' depicting PT-34
JAG ~ Higgins 78' depicting PT-200

Would any of these be suitable for the ETO or what mod's would be required for a 1944 boat?

Sorry to ask so many question but my PT boat knowledge is zero apart from PT-109 of course but even then I couldn't tell you that boats layout.

Ciao
Luciano

OK found some info while doing a search but came up with what alross2 had already posted.
I've decided to do either RON 2(2) PT-199 or RON 30 PT-451 or both as you get two in the one pack from JAG, would the JAG collective Higgins 78' PT-200 boat be suitable.

Did any of the RON 30 boats have a Thunderbolt gun?

Sorry for so many questions but I'm really getting into this and have found that I have no referance material.

Must get myself some reading matter

Ciao
Luciano

PLease keep asking as many questions as you can think of. I am also interested in what you are doing and have the same dearth of knowledge

The JAG boats will require mods to do either of these boats, particularly the 451. The 199 had its torpedo gear removed and pedestals for twin .50s mounted on the forward torpedo rack bases.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/80G253227-061444PT199_1_1.jpg

Boats in the 450-485 series had the turrets moved aft and connected to the cockpit with long extensions. http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/ron30.jpg

Only the four RON 29 ELCOs and a few ELCOs in the Pacific carried the THUNDERBOLT. RON 30 boats had two 37mm forward.

Al Ross

Thank you Al, pictures are great

Diorama is forming in my mind, I will get the JAG boats and do some work on them but first to do the S-boats as they are here. There will be a bit of a delay as something else is on the bench right now.

Ciao
Luciano