Fall River in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
PT 617/PT 796
PT Boats
![PT 617/PT 796 Marker [Front plaque] image. Click for full size.](Photos9/978/Photo978598.jpg?105202680400PM "PT 617/PT 796 Marker [Front plaque]. Click for full size.")
PT 617
Elco Boat, "Dragon Lady"
Built by the Elco Boat Company in Bayonne, New Jersey, PT 617 missed the opportunity to serve in WWII. It was sold as surplus and used as a diving platform in Florida before coming to Battleship Cove in 1985. It is the only example of an Elco boat on display in the world.
Length: 80 feet
Displacement: 61 tons
Maximum Speed: 41 knots or 47 MPH
Weapons: (4) Mark-13 torpedoes; 40mm, 37mm, 20mm guns; Twin .50 caliber guns; 5-inch rocket launchers; Depth charges; Smoke screen generator
PT 796
Higgins Boat, "Tail Ender"
Built by the Higgins Boat Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, PT 796 did not serve in WWII, later assigned to a Navy ordnance testing station. In 1961, she was featured in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade, painted with the hull number of JFK's PT boat 109. She was decommissioned in 1970, restored and brought to Battleship Cove.
Length: 78 feet
Displacement: 48 tons Maximum Speed: 40 knots or 46 MPH
Weapons: (4) Mark-13 torpedoes; 40mm, 30mm, 20mm guns; Twin .50 caliber guns; 5-inch rocket launchers; Depth charges; Smoke screen generator
"The monster that roars, flaps its wings, and shoots torpedoes in all directions."-Japanese soldier reflects on PT boats
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PT 617
1945-1946
PT 796
1945-1970
A small boat packs a big punch
A PT boat was a master of the surprise attack. Its small size, low profile, and quiet oeprating systems allowed it to sneak up on enemy vessels at night. Once up close, it unleashed its main weapon: 600 pounds of explosives in the head of a torpedo. Its targets were often Japanese destroyers and submarines.
PT boats served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. They were in remove places of the world, such as the Aleutian Islands near Alaska and the Solomon Islands near Australia. Many PT boats operated out of primitive land bases and crew members regularly interacted with native people.
Numbering over 500 during WWII, these wooden boats were not worth storing after the war. Many were destroyed by the US Navy, burned on the beaches of the Pacific rather than brought home.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1985.
Location. 41° 42.309′ N, 71° 9.778′ W. Marker is in Fall River, Massachusetts, in Bristol
![PT 617/PT 796 Marker [Rear plaque] image. Click for full size.](Photos9/978/Photo978600.jpg?105202680500PM "PT 617/PT 796 Marker [Rear plaque]. Click for full size.")
Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USS Massachusetts (here, next to this marker); USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (here, next to this marker); USS Lionfish (here, next to this marker); PT Boats (here, next to this marker); World War II / Korean War / Vietnam War / Gulf War / September 11 (here, next to this marker); Landing Craft (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Fall River (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Massachusetts (BB59) Propeller (within shouting distance of this marker).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
