PT 23 saw action on December 7, 1941

As the armed forces of Imperial Japan launched their surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the PT crews of PT Squadron (RON) 1 were among the first to swing into action. It was the intrepid gunners aboard PT 23 that were credited with the first kill on that unforgettable day in American history. In the face of overwhelming devastation, chaos, and confusion it was the Navy’s PT boats that moved with speed and determination to fight back and draw blood.

As the horrific news about the attack on Pearl Harbor spread across the nation, and across the world, the story of the PT boats was a bright note on a very, very dark day. The legendary story of the Navy’s Mosquito Fleet in WWII began on December 7, 1941. It was a story that would grow dramatically over the remainder of the war.