PT-796
U.S. Navy Photograph supplied by U.S. Naval Institute
Class: 791 Series
Length: 78 feet, 9 inches
Information:
Physical Address:
PT-796, nicknamed "Tail Ender," patrolled the Caribbean and East Coast waters and was temporarily part of Post War Squadron 1. She initially carried full armament; however, her assignment changed and armament was removed. Assignments included the Navy Operational Development Force and Naval Ship Research Development Laboratory in Panama City, Florida, where she performed high-speed towing work to develop specialized equipment for use in Vietnam riverine warfare operations. In 1961, she joined her present berth-mate, Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. in Washington, DC, where each participated in President Kennedy's inaugural celebration. Although she is a Higgins boat, PT-796 was painted with the hull number "109" and towed as a float in the President's inaugural parade. She was actively used until she was decommissioned on 7 Jul 1970, and signed over to J.M. "Boats" Newberry, founder of PT Boats, Inc. After resting in a cradle in Memphis, Tennessee for several years, PT-796 was restored by PT Boats, Inc. and brought to Battleship Cove on August 14, 1975. PT-796, PT-617, and the National PT Museum on board battleship Massachusetts represent the world's largest collection of PT artifacts and memorabilia. The world's only restored pair of PT Boats, PT-617 and PT-796 are two of five National Historic Landmarks on exhibit at Battleship Cove, the world's largest collection of historic naval ships. PT-796 is owned by PT Boats, Inc., headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee.
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