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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Information on PT-122
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Greeting everyone.

Recently Iâ€™ve been doing some research while trying to assemble a shadow box in honor of my grandfather who served aboard PT122.

Iâ€™ve seen only the 2 pictures of the boat on the navsource website.

I also have a painting of the boat moving at speed from the port side that belonged to my grandfather.

I was posting in the hope that someone here had any specific information I may have missed on the boat. Maybe some pictures I havenâ€™t seen (seems a lot of the old photobucket pictures are no longer available)

I had been looking for maybe even a report on the sinking of I-22 by the 122. I had seen on another website (salvage pirate) about them reviewing â€œpt boat attack reportâ€ but came up short finding any official documentation about it.

Pretty much looking for any information anyone might have just for my own knowledge and to add to my little memorial. Iâ€™m sure there are folk here who are far more knowledgeable about the boats than my few days of internet research can match.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 12:32pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 4:33pm
Total Posts: 1498 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

I looked into the book "At Close Quarters" and copy pasted the passage about PT122 sinking the submarine I-22 here.

The patrol on the night of December 23/24 reported sighting what might have been an enemy submarine. The following night, Christmas Eve, Lieutenant Baughman patrolled up the coast in PT 122 (Ens. Robert F. Lynch, USNR). Off the mouth of the Kumusi River, 15 miles beyond Buna, he saw a large submarine, fully surfaced, with a dark object beyond which he thought might be another submarine. While Ens. Theodore F. Bruno, USNR, guided the boat in, Lynch set up the torpedo director and fired his two after torpedoes at 1,000 yards. There was a geyser of water at the target and a small flash, but the submarine did not sink. Bruno continued in to 500 yards and

--173--
The jetty at Tufi, first PT advance base in New New Guinea
The jetty at Tufi, first PT advance base in New New Guinea.
(NR&L (MOD)-32493)

Lynch fired his forward torpedoes. The starboard torpedo hit with a solid explosion, which was immediately followed by a second explosion. Large sheets of flame shot upwards and the submarine broke in half and sank. Immediately after the war, PT 122 was given official credit for sinking in this attack I-22, a submarine of 2,180 standard tons. More recent investigations, however, have thrown doubt on this assessment. The object of the 122's attack and the degree of damage inflicted must still be considered uncertain.

Ten minutes after the submarine exploded, the 122 had to maneuver to avoid four torpedoes. Apparently the other submarine had submerged and was trying to pay back the PT in kind.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 4:40pm
Total Posts: 1498 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Greetings
I only have this photo that I obtained from LT Bill Skade, the skipper of PT143 of RON8. PT122 was also in RON8. This particular photo was NOT labeled with the boat number. However, if you look into the spray coming up from the stern you can just make out a number that looks like "122" to me. I used my best guess on this, since it had to be another boat in RON8 and it sure looks like 122 when you enlarge the view. Sorry I am unable to post a hi resolution photo onto the Forum so you may not be able to blow it up as much as I am able to with the original.

Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

That is the picture I have of the boat too. It was my intention to try to print that one in as high of quality as I could.

You had said 122 was in RON8, what I was reading had said RON6 in December of 42, is that accurate?

I ask because I had actually bought a RON6 patch to put with my tribute and want it to be accurate and I know he was on the boat in 42.

I appreciate the help!

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 6:07pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

I looked into the book "At Close Quarters" and copy pasted the passage about PT122 sinking the submarine I-22 here.

The patrol on the night of December 23/24 reported sighting what might have been an enemy submarine. The following night, Christmas Eve, Lieutenant Baughman patrolled up the coast in PT 122 (Ens. Robert F. Lynch, USNR). Off the mouth of the Kumusi River, 15 miles beyond Buna, he saw a large submarine, fully surfaced, with a dark object beyond which he thought might be another submarine. While Ens. Theodore F. Bruno, USNR, guided the boat in, Lynch set up the torpedo director and fired his two after torpedoes at 1,000 yards. There was a geyser of water at the target and a small flash, but the submarine did not sink. Bruno continued in to 500 yards and

--173--
The jetty at Tufi, first PT advance base in New New Guinea
The jetty at Tufi, first PT advance base in New New Guinea.
(NR&L (MOD)-32493)

Lynch fired his forward torpedoes. The starboard torpedo hit with a solid explosion, which was immediately followed by a second explosion. Large sheets of flame shot upwards and the submarine broke in half and sank. Immediately after the war, PT 122 was given official credit for sinking in this attack I-22, a submarine of 2,180 standard tons. More recent investigations, however, have thrown doubt on this assessment. The object of the 122's attack and the degree of damage inflicted must still be considered uncertain.

Ten minutes after the submarine exploded, the 122 had to maneuver to avoid four torpedoes. Apparently the other submarine had submerged and was trying to pay back the PT in kind.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

I have read variations of this story in a few places on the internet. I have actually just started reading at close quarters after finding it for free on Google books.

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 6:14pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Hey BR
Yes I would be interested in seeing exactly what they are referring to when they said "More recent investigations, however, have thrown doubt on this assessment". Like for instance What "recent Investigations"? and what did they find? I say if you cannot prove the claim of PT122 having sunk I-22 to be wrong, then it should stand as the truth until proven otherwise. As far as the timeline of when PT122 was assigned from RON6 over to RON8, it is listed in the Appendix of "At Close Quarters" as April 1, 1943.
Also, that photo was taken when Bill Skade was in RON8 sometimes in late 1944 to mid 1945, so I doubt PT122 appeared like that in 1942, when your Grandfather was on Board.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:01pm
Total Posts: 1498 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate the help.

I had also found a few advertisements for Electric boat company from the 40s that I acquired to put in my display.

I found it fitting that they both reference the sinking of a submarine. So I assume they must be referencing either the PT-59 or the PT-122 as I believe they were the only 2 boats of the war to sink a submarine.

I tried to upload images of them here to the post, but unfortunately I canâ€™t get them to upload.

Edit: I was able to upload one of the images, but not the second.

Again, thank you for the time!

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 3, 2024 - 12:30pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Photo added by Dick . . . .

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 3, 2024 - 12:31pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Here is what I have found on PT 122. Most of the info was sent to me by Earl Brown a Skipper on the 122 boat, At the time he was the President of the PT boat officers organization named Peter Tare. We communicated over the phone and in emails for about a three year period. During that time he mailed me copies of his commissioned painting, several photgraphs and a couple of documents. The document PDFâ€™s are link below the photos, and include Out in the Area, and a text document Earl sent along, Along with Cousin Sam, a story by Major, J. H. Throsby, Australian Imperial Force.

This is a poster of a painting Lt. (jg) Earl Palmer Brown, a Skipper of PT 122 commisioned.

This is a water color paintiing of PT 122, sold as small poster at PT Boats Inc.

Photo of PT 122, then Preident of Peter Tare Org, Earl Brown sent to me.

Not sure where these next three came from, they were in my Earl Brown Folder.

Photo of PT 122 Crew

Photo of PT 122 Crew

Documents:

[b]OUT IN THE AREA[/b]
A document written by Lt. (jg) Earl P. Brown as President of the Peter Tare Organization

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/8-OUT_OF_THE_AREA_by_Earl_Palmer.pdf[/url]

[b]Along with Cousin Sam,[/b]
a story by Major, J. H. Throsby, Australian Imperial Force.
This originally was a tathered typewritten dcoument that I formatted and created as a PDF for viewing.

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/9-Along-With-Cousin-SAM-Publication.pdf[/url]

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Jul 5, 2024 - 12:50pm
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

This is a water color paintiing of PT 122, sold as small poster at PT Boats Inc.

Photo of PT 122, then Preident of Peter Tare Org, Earl Brown sent to me.

Not sure where these next three came from, they were in my Earl Brown Folder.

Photo of PT 122 Crew

Photo of PT 122 Crew

Documents:

[b]OUT IN THE AREA{/b]
A document written by Lt. (jg) Earl P. Brown as President of the Peter Tare Organization

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/8-OUT_OF_THE_AREA_by_Earl_Palmer.pdf[/url]

[b]Along with Cousin Sam,[/b]
a story by Major, J. H. Throsby, Australian Imperial Force.
This originally was a tathered typewritten dcoument that I formatted and created as a PDF for viewing.

[url]http://www.ptboatforum.com/9-Along-With-Cousin-SAM-Publication.pdf[/url]

Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Jul 5, 2024 - 12:53pm
Total Posts: 1489 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm

More than likely the other photo was not accepted because of file size limits. Reduce the file size to under 1mb and it should work. or send me/email me the photo and I will handle it for you.

I have some info and image that I will post in a day or so. Some of the info was given to me by Lt. Earl Palmer Brown, skipper of the 122 boat. Most of which has been previously posted on this forum.

Dick . . .

Iâ€™ll email that picture out to you, I appreciate the help with that.

And those pictures you posted are amazing, thank you!

The painting, the second one down of the 122 at speed from the port side. I have that exact painting hung on my wall, and it graced my grandfathers wall before that.

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 5, 2024 - 1:24pm
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Two nice crew photos I have of PT-122.She was assigned to Ron 6 under the command of Lt. Comdr. Clifton B. Maddox, USN. Other photo shows PT-122 docked.

Ron 6 arrived in the South Pacific in time for its boats to participate in some of the last actions with the Tokyo Express at Guadalcanal. Later it had action at Rendova, Vella Lavella, Treasury,Bougainville, Green, and Emirau. After its transfer to the Southwest Pacific in May 1944, the squadron was decommissioned and its boats were distributed to replenish other squadrons which had suffered operational losses. PT's 119-122, with PT's 113 and114 of Ron 2, were designated Motor Torpedo Boat Division SEVENTEEN and were sent to the Southwest Pacific in December 1942. MTB Div 17, under command of Lt. Daniel S. Baughman, USN was the first PT unit to operate in New Guinea waters. It was absorbed by Ron 8 on 1 April 1943
Sank the Japanese submarine I-22, 12 November 1942 off the mouth of the Kumusi River, 15 miles southwest of Buna, Papua, New Guinea at 08Â° 32' S., 148Â° 17' E. Japanese credited the PT with the sinking although other reports suggest it was sunk by a PBY plane
Transferred 1 April 1943 to Ron 8 under the command of Lt. Comdr. Barry K. Atkins, USN
Ron 8, assigned to the Southwest Pacific, had action in New Guinea waters at Tufi, Morobe, Kiriwina, and Aitape; at Rein Bay and Talasea on New Britain, and in Philippine waters at Mindoro,Zamboanga, and Tawi Tawi. The squadron based for a time at Kana Kopa, Dreger Harbor, and Mios Woendi, New Guinea, and at San Pedro Bay in the Philippines, but had no action at these bases

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jul 6, 2024 - 5:55am
Total Posts: 3547 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Wow, these pics are great.

Thank you! And thanks to all of you for sharing them all. Iâ€™ve searched the internet for days and weeks and a few times over the years and havenâ€™t seen a lot of these pictures.

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 7, 2024 - 4:08am
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am

Wow, these pics are great.

Thank you! And thanks to all of you for sharing them all. Iâ€™ve searched the internet for days and weeks and a few times over the years and havenâ€™t seen a lot of these pictures.

Posted By: Boat Researching | Posted on: Jul 7, 2024 - 5:49am
Total Posts: 9 | Joined: Jul 2, 2024 - 11:55am