Where Does the Military Use Detroits

[Nusa]

There weren't any surviving 80' Elco PT boats suitable for the movie. They converted 82' USAF Crash Rescue boats which were similar. Also made by Elco, but they only had two V12 Packards instead of three. Which would explain why you only saw two in an engine-room shot.

[Kwajdiver]

Now I have to go back and watch the movie again.  LOL

Bill

[luvrbus]

Still a bunch of those v12 supercharged Packards around you see them at car shows and air planes show I read a fuel chart on one in a plane and got sticker shock 160 gals per hr on the 1200 hp version 160x3=480 GPH wow at 3.50 a gal todays prices that would be a bundle the PT's would take a trailer load of gasoline for any running time you guys have any idea how big the tank was ?

[wildbob24]

Clifford,

I think I read somewhere that they carried 3000 gallons. That would sure put a dent in your wallet at fill up time.

Bob


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[wg4t50]

Fall River, Mass has a PTBoat in a Quonset hut, not allowed to get aboard, was there 1984 i think for that & the BB-59, Mass Battleship.

Agree on the two in the movie and three in the real ones.
Dave M

[TomC]

I did more reading on the PT boats. Most had the middle engine in line running the center prop and the left and right engine were mounted backwards running through a V-drive. Pretty forward thinking for the 40's. Good Luck, TomC

[Nusa]

http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/index.htm is about the historically accurate restoration and operation of PT658, run by veteran PT boaters and other volunteers. It's a Higgins boat rather than an Elco, but the drive trains are almost the same. Their photo collection includes some good engine and engine room shots.

[wg4t50]

Thank you Nusa for the PT link, being a WWII self appointed, jounior historian, I enjoyed snooping that link in depth.
Thanks
Dave M