PT-601 – The Last Elite of the Elco 80-Foot Patrol Boat

In the final years of World War II, when American military technology reached its peak, the PT-601 was born as one of the most typical representatives of the high-speed patrol boat line (Patrol Torpedo boat) manufactured by Elco (Electric Launch Company). Completed in 1945, the PT-601 was one of the last and most modern 80-foot PT boats, belonging to the Elco 80-ft class, which was famous for its flexibility, high speed and rapid attack ability.

Outstanding design and features
The PT-601 carries within it the pinnacle of technical refinement of an entire generation of compact but powerful warships. With an 80-foot (about 24 meters) long wooden hull, the PT-601 was designed to operate flexibly in coastal waters and in short-range strike operations.

The ship was equipped with three high-power Packard 4M-2500 engines, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 40–45 knots, a respectable speed on the sea at that time. In terms of firepower, the PT-601 possessed:

2 Mark 13 torpedo tubes, used to attack large enemy warships.

1 40mm Bofors gun at the rear, extremely effective in anti-aircraft and attacking small targets.

2 0.50 inch Browning M2 machine guns mounted on firing platforms on both sides of the cabin.

Along with many other light weapons such as grenade launchers, flamethrowers or anti-ship rockets.

Background and historical role

The PT-601 was launched at the end of World War II, as the Pacific War was coming to an end. Although it was launched too late to participate in many major battles, the appearance of the PT-601 still had strategic significance: it demonstrated the technical evolution of the PT boat line from the first simple models to the pinnacle of speed, firepower and maneuverability.

PT boats like the PT-601 were used by the US Navy to carry out patrol, ambush, close-to-shore operations, and often operated at night to avoid enemy radar. They were once the nightmare of Japanese transport ships, and played an important role in special operations in the Pacific.

The legacy of a small legend
Although the war ended shortly after the PT-601 was commissioned, the ship remains a testament to the spirit of continuous innovation of the US defense industry. PT boats like the PT-601 not only contributed to the strategy of asymmetric warfare, but also went down in history as symbols of courage, speed and flexibility.

Today, only a handful of Elco 80-footers remain in museums or are restored by private organizations, but the PT-601 lives on as one of the last and most outstanding technical achievements of this famous patrol boat line.

The PT-601, a small but mighty boat, represented an era in which agility and tactics were key. Though not as prolific on the battlefield as its predecessors, its birth in 1945 was a testament to the U.S. Navy’s relentless spirit of innovation and readiness during the decisive days of World War II.