Featured Product:
PT-796 HIGGINS PATROL TORPEDO BOAT .

THE THIRD IN OUR SERIES OF MATCHING,

NOW AVAILABLE!

LASER-ENGRAVED DESK ACCESSORIES MADE FROM ORIGINAL TEAK FROM THE USS MASSACHUSETTS

THIS MODEL PROFILES PT-796, THE HIGGINS PATROL TORPEDO BOAT PROUDLY ON DISPLAY AT OUR NAVAL MUSEUM. IT HONORS THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE HIGGINS PT SQUADRONS WHO SERVED WITH SUCH DARING AND DISTINCTION DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THEATERS FROM THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND SOUTHWEST PACIFIC TO THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ENGLISH CHANNEL.

THESE STEALTHY, 78-FOOT ATTACK SPEEDBOATS CARRIED A CREW OF JUST 2 OFFICERS AND 9 ENLISTED. (CHANGES MADE IN 1945 INCREASED THE COMPLEMENT TO 3 OFFICERS AND 14 ENLISTED.) THEY WOULD TYPICALLY PATROL AT NIGHT NEAR ENEMY HARBORS AND SHORELINES, BECOMING RENOWNED AND FEARED FOR THEIR LIGHTNING-FAST TORPEDO, ROCKET AND DECK GUN RAIDS. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED DEFENDING AGAINST ENEMY WARSHIPS, LAYING MINES, MAKING TACTICAL SMOKE SCREENS AND RESCUING DOWNED AVIATORS.

EARLY HIGGINS SQUADRONS WERE DEPLOYED IN THE BATTLE FOR THE ISLANDS OF ATTU AND KISKA IN ALASKA. MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS RELENTLESSLY HARRIED AXIS SHIPPING AND SAW CONSTANT DUELS WITH GERMAN S-BOATS AND ARMED F-LIGHTERS. IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THE MISSION WAS TO DISRUPT AND CONTROL JAPANESE BARGE TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING TO RESUPPLY OR TRANSFER GARRISONS STRATEGICALLY ISOLATED BY ALLIED FORCES. HIGGINS BOATS ALSO PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT AGAINST GERMAN SHORE BATTERIES AT THE NORMANDY D-DAY LANDINGS.

THE BOATS WERE BUILT BY HIGGINS INDUSTRIES OF NEW ORLEANS. 146 WERE DELIVERED TO THE U.S. NAVY. IN ADDITION, 46 WERE SENT TO THE SOVIET UNION AND 7 TO GREAT BRITAIN UNDER THE LEND-LEASE PROGRAM. THE POWER PLANT FOR PRE-1945 UNITS CONSISTED OF THREE 1350 hp V-12 PACKARD ENGINES THAT DROVE THREE PROPELLERS AND COULD GENERATE FLANK SPEEDS UPWARDS OF 40 KNOTS. HULL CONSTRUCTION WAS A TOUGH BUT LIGHTWEIGHT SANDWICH OF TWO 1-INCH MAHOGONY PLANKS WITH A LAYER OF GLUE-IMPREGNATED CANVAS IN BETWEEN, ALL SECURED BY THOUSANDS OF BRONZE SCREWS AND COPPER RIVETS. THREE LARGE RUDDERS ENHANCED MANEUVERABILITY AND GAVE THE BOAT AN ULTRA-TIGHT TURNING RADIUS. PT-796 IS ONE OF ONLY SEVEN HIGGINS BOATS STILL SURVIVING, AND ONE OF ONLY THREE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL WARTIME CONFIGURATION.

DON’T PASS UP THE CHANCE TO OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY. THIS ATTRACTIVE 6-INCH TEAKWOOD COMMEMORATIVE IS DESTINED TO BECOME A COLLECTOR’S ITEM AS RARE AS PT-796 ITSELF.

SUPPLY IS LIMITED, SO ORDER TODAY. PRICE: $19.95