Restoring PT3
PT3:
A Journey Through Three Nations
PT3 was launched by Fisher Boat Works in Detroit, Michigan on April 18, 1940, and completed on June 20, 1940. This experimental patrol torpedo boat was one of the early prototypes designed by George Crouch, featuring unique lightweight planing hull construction methods. PT3 represents one of only two surviving experimental PT boats from the early development program that led to the famous PT boat fleet of World War II. Her unique construction and international service history make her a particularly significant piece of naval heritage.
The US Military commissioned Walk DIsney to create a logo for the PT Fleet. Walt Disney used the mosquito because he thought it was “small, but pesky;” hence, the name “mosquito torpedo.”
US Navy Service (1940-1942)
PT3 was placed in service on July 24, 1940, and assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron ONE (MTBRon 1). With a displacement of 25 tons and powered by two 1,350 hp Packard gasoline engines, she had a top speed of 30 knots and an 18-foot beam.
On April 19, 1942, the PT3 was initially scheduled to be transferred to the Royal Navy as HM MTB-273, but this transfer was canceled. Instead, she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force and renamed Bras D'Or (M-413), later reclassified as B-119, for use as a High Speed Rescue Boat to recover downed pilots.
US Navy Service (1940-1942)
PT3 was returned to the U.S. Navy on April 10, 1945, then transferred to the War Shipping Administration on May 2, 1946, and sold to civilian ownership. She was located at Flanigan Brothers Boatyard in Fairton, New Jersey, until she was transferred to Brooklin Boat Yard in August of 2025 for restoration.
Return to America and Civilian Life
