War Diary of MTB Squadron 13 on Action in Batangas-Balayan Area, Feb 1945

Transcription of a war diary for March 1945 filed by the MTB¹ Squadron 13 dated February 1945. This is a declassified document² taken from the United States National Archives. Originally an 8-page document, this transcription only includes the cover page and the last, with details of action in the Batangas-Balayan area.

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Historic documents relevant to the Province of Batangas.

MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON THIRTEEN
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.

CONFIDENTIAL

27 March 1945.

From:	The Commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THIRTEEN.
To:	Commander-in-Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
Subject:	War Diary – Forwarding of.
Enclosure:	(A) War Diary for month of February 1945.

1. Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith.

[Sgd.] A. W. FARGO, JR.

ConCPacFlt
ComMTBRons, 7thFlt.

[Note: pages 2-7 have no relevance to Batangas and have been omitted.]

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MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON THIRTEEN
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.

ENCLOSURE (A)

1 WAR DIARY FOR MONTH OF FEBRUARY 1945 (CONTINUED)

25 February 1945 (Continued)

1730 PT 78, in company with PT 298 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN returned to base.

1915 PT 84 in company with PT’s 226, 228 and 232 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SEVENTEEN, returned to base.

1930 PT 82, in company with PT 225 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SEVENTEEN returned to base.

26 February 1945

No patrols were run by Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THIRTEEN on this date.

27 February 1945

1800 PT 78, in company with PT 298 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN, departed base to assume Lubang anti-shipping patrol.

28 February 1945

1000 PT’s 82 and 74 in company with PT’s 225 and 226 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SEVENTEEN departed base for joint air sea strike on Japanese installations in the Batangas-Balayan area.

1415 Boats rendezvoused with 4 P-47’s of the FIFTH Fighter Command.

1500 PT 78, in company with PT 298 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SIXTEEN, returned to base.

1510 PT 82 in company with PT 226 of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron SEVENTEEN, discovered camouflaged suicide boat shelters in Batangas Bay. The two boats made strafing runs on all the shelters which resulted in 13 large explosions which occurred after the gasoline in the suicide boats began to burn with a dense black smoke. Thirteen shelters were sighted, and there appeared to be boats in all these shelters except one.

1600 Boats retired from area without encountering any return fire.

2020 PT’s 74, 82, 225 and 226 returned to base.

AMMUNITION EXPENDED DURING THIS PERIOD

60mm Mortar 40mm 37mm 20mm .50 cal. .45 cal. .30 cal.

5 rounds 1065 rounds 270 rounds 3950 rounds 14,050 rounds 50 rounds 250 rounds

To view or download the original document, please refer to Item ² below under Notes and References.

Notes and references: