Difference between revisions of "PT-174"

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(wrote some basic stuff about the boat)
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{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=us_elco_80ft_pt174
 
|code=us_elco_80ft_pt174
−
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
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<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]].
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]].
 +
 +
The PT-174 is one of the more distinctive member of the Elco PT boat family. Instead of focusing its firepower at a chasing enemy from the stern, the PT-174's main firepower, a powerful 40 mm Bofors autocannon, is placed at the bow instead. This allows the PT-174 to be played more aggressively than its counterparts. Although it does share the weak hull of the Elco family, the PT-174 has a great potential when its strengths and weaknesses are well understood, thus allowing it to tackle even the seemingly superior coastal boats at higher ranks.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
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Being one of the numerous 80 ft Elco PT boats, the PT-174's protection is rather poor. The 6.35 mm of armor around the helmsman being the only protection this wooden-hull boat has to offer. The boat has a crew of 12, up to 9 of them can be lost before the boat starts to sink. Due to the boat has only three sections with three crews each, it is particularly vulnerable against shell with high penetration at the front and any autocannons at the sides.
+
Being one of the numerous 80 ft Elco PT boats, the PT-174's protection is rather poor. The 12.7 mm of the Oerlikon autocannon gun shield and the 6.35 mm of armour around the helmsman being the only protection this wooden-hull boat has to offer. The boat has a crew of 12 men, up to 9 of them can be lost before the boat starts to sink. Due to the boat having only three sections with three crews each, it is particularly vulnerable against shell with high penetration at the front and any autocannons at the sides.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
  
−
As with the other Elco boats, the PT-174 offers great all-around mobility. The boat is easy to handle and has quick acceleration and deceleration. This allows the PT-174 to quickly move and reposition around the map, and finding a good spot for taking on an enemy.
+
As with the other Elco boats, the PT-174 offers great all-around mobility. The boat is easy to handle and has quick acceleration and deceleration. This allows the PT-174 to quickly move and reposition around the map, to find a good spot for taking on an enemy.
  
 
{{NavalMobility}}
 
{{NavalMobility}}
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{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)}}
 
{{main|Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)}}
  
−
The PT-174 features the 40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 autocannon placed at the bow of the boat. This peculiar placement is unusual compared to the other Elco boats, as they were usually placed at the stern, and this feature cannot be found until the rank V [[PT-810]]. Due to this, the PT-174 has a unique offensive capabilities compared to its brethren. Unlike the other Elco boats that were forced to show its boardsides to utilize their Bofors, the PT-174 is capable of going "bow-in" against the enemy, offers easy gun handling while reducing the boat's vulnerability to enemy fire in the process.
+
The PT-174 features the 40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 autocannon placed at the bow of the boat. This peculiar placement is unusual compared to the other Elco boats, as they were usually placed at the stern, and this feature cannot be found until the rank V [[PT-810]]. Due to this, the PT-174 has a unique offensive capability compared to its brethren. Unlike the other Elco boats that were forced to show its broadsides to utilize their Bofors, the PT-174 is capable of going "bow-in" against the enemy, and offers easy gun handling while reducing the boat's vulnerability to enemy fire in the process.
 +
 
 +
The Bofors utilize two shells; an AP-T round with high penetration of 58 mm at 1,000 m and 41 mm at 2,000 m, and an HEFI-T shell with a large explosive filler. Due to the boat's fragile hull, the AP-T belt is preferred due to its effectiveness at long range engagements (up to 2.5 km), although an "Universal" belt with a balance mix of AP-T and HEFI-T can also be considered for engaging aircraft.
 +
 
 +
While having a frontally-mounted Bofors has many benefits, it's not without downsides. The gun lacks any shield to protect it and its gunner from any enemy fire, exposing it to any incoming shot and made it rather easy to get disabled and leaving the boat vulnerable. The PT-174 is also a rather unstable gun platform at high speed, which significantly hampers the gun handling, especially in rough sea conditions. This can be partially remedied by slowing the boat down to around 60-70 km/h.
  
−
The Bofors utilize two shells; an AP-T with high penetration of 58 mm at 1 km and 41 mm at 2 km, and an HEFI-T shell with high filler. Due to the boat's fragile hull, the AP-T belt is preferred due to its effectiveness at long range engagements, although an "universal" belt with a balance mix of AP-T and HEFI-T can also be considered for engaging aircrafts.
+
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''40 mm AP clips:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''40 mm HE clips:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
  
−
While having a frontally-mounted Bofors has many benefits, it's not without downsides, however. The gun lacks any shield to protect it and its gunner from any enemy fire, exposing it to the enemy fire and made it rather easy to get disabled and leaving the boat vulnerable. The PT-174 is also a rather unstable gun platform at high speed, which significantly hampers the gun handling, especially in rough sea conditions.
+
{{:Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T, AP-T}}
  
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
=== Secondary armament ===
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{{main|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}
 
{{main|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}
  
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''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''
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The PT-174 features a single 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.II autocannon at the stern as a secondary armament. While not as impressive as the Bofors at the bow, the Oerlikon offers good damage output within the 2 km range. Due to the vulnerable broadsides of the boat, however, the Oerlikon is best reserved for countering flankers and inbound aircraft.
 +
 
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|HEF-T|High-explosive fragmentation tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
 +
* '''20 mm HE:''' {{Annotation|HEF-T|High-explosive fragmentation tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}
 +
* '''20 mm AP:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
{{:20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEF-T, AP-T, HEF-I}}
  
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
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{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
  
−
''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''
+
As with the other 80 ft Elco boats, the PT-174 features two pairs of 12.7 mm AN-M2 Browning machine guns in offset baskets. These guns offers reasonable supplementary firepower against both surface and air targets alike. In case the Bofors autocannon is disabled, these machine guns are a failsafe weapon to retaliate against the enemy while repairing your main gun.
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
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{{main|Mk.13 (569 mm)}}
 
{{main|Mk.13 (569 mm)}}
  
−
''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.''
+
The PT-174 carries four standard-issued Mk.13 torpedoes. The torpedoes were positioned almost directly forward and thus is easy to aim. While each individual torpedo is fairly slow with a top speed of 50 km/h and has a small warhead of 173 kg TNT equivalent. They can be useful as an ambush weapon against a slower and larger ship, especially in a saturation barrage.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
The PT-174 can be best described as a glass cannon, as its powerful and easy-to-use 40 mm Bofors autocannon is balanced by its poor protection. Unlike the other Elco boats which primarily excels at hit-and-run, however, the PT-174 has more utility than its counterparts owing to the frontal-heavy firepower, thus allowing the ship to tackle almost any enemy if its capabilities are utilized to its fullest.
 +
 
 +
Due to a rather mediocre broadsides firepower, exposing the vulnerable sides of the boat to use both the Bofors and Oerlikons are not recommended. Instead, try to minimize your side profile as much as possible and going "bow-in" while engaging. The boat can easily dispatch most boats in 1-on-1 engagements, though it can be easily overwhelmed by a group of enemies. Situation awareness is a key to know when to engage and when to retreat to avoid overextending.
 +
 
 +
While it is tempting to chase the enemy across the open water, sometimes it is better to stick behind some cover and strike at the right moment. The PT-174 offers such an opportunity, as the boat's great handling characteristic allows you to travel around and precisely stop at the right spot behind some cover. Here is where the frontally-mounted Bofors comes into play, as the boat's positioning can be adjusted more easily than for the rear-mounted counterparts. You can either wait for some unwitting enemy to venture within your firing range or come out at the right moment when your allies make a push to provide a surprise fire support. Against larger or slower vessels, the four torpedoes will come in handy to bring them down.
 +
 
 +
Due to the Bofors' range and accuracy, the PT-174 is also capable in a fire support role. At 2.5 km effective range, the Bofors outranges most of the PT boats within its BR range, and is capable of dealing significant damage against boats at higher BRs. You can either sit behind some low cover at range, within a pack of friendly boats or the line of sight of a certain choke point, then reposition when a looming threat i.e. certain sub-chasers or frigates with high-calibre guns appear or an incoming artillery barrage is inbound.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
* Features a frontally-mounted Bofors autocannon with wide coverage
 
* Features a frontally-mounted Bofors autocannon with wide coverage
−
* Rapid firing and accurate Bofors autocannon offers great damage output, especially at longer ranges (~ 2.5 km)
+
* Rapid-firing and accurate Bofors autocannon offers great damage output, especially at longer ranges (~ 2.5 km)
−
* High mobility and manoverability, easy to move and reposition around
+
* High mobility and manoeuvrability, easy to move and reposition around
−
* Four Browning MGs and Oeklikon autocannons provides good anti-air coverage
+
* Four Browning MGs and Oerlikon autocannons provides good anti-air coverage
 
* Has four torpedoes for saturated barrage
 
* Has four torpedoes for saturated barrage
 +
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 
* Very poor survivability, especially from the sides
 
* Very poor survivability, especially from the sides
−
* The lack of gun shield made the Bofors autocannon quite easy to get disabled
+
* The lack of gun shield makes the Bofors autocannon quite easy to disable
 
* Tends to bounce in sea condition, especially at high speed, thus making lining up shot difficult
 
* Tends to bounce in sea condition, especially at high speed, thus making lining up shot difficult
 
* Individual torpedoes are fairy slow and weak, limiting its use to close-range engagements
 
* Individual torpedoes are fairy slow and weak, limiting its use to close-range engagements
 +
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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[[File:PT boats on USS Atascosa.jpg|300px|thumb|right|USS Atascosa (AO-66) carrying four Elco 80 ft PT boats. The PT-174 were located at the aft starboard (centre right) of the ship.]]
 +
The PT-174 was the Elco 80 ft-class PT boat of the United States Navy. The boat was one of the first batch of the 93 PT-103 sub-class of the Elco PT boats, which is the first standardized design of the Elco PT boats for mass-production. The PT-174 was laid down and completed in January 1943 by the Electric Launch Company (Elco)
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{{Clear}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
 
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
=== References ===
−
* ''other literature.''
+
 
 +
* [http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Manufacturers.html PT103.com's database of the Elco PT boats]
  
 
{{ShipManufacturer Elco}}
 
{{ShipManufacturer Elco}}
 
{{USA boats}}
 
{{USA boats}}
 
{{USA premium ships}}
 
{{USA premium ships}}

Latest revision as of 06:14, 19 February 2024

Introducing Wiki 3.0
PT-174
us_elco_80ft_pt174.png
GarageImage PT-174.png
PT-174
USA flag.png USA
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.3 2.3 2.3
Class:
PREMIUM
Purchase:1 150 Specs-Card-Eagle.png

Description

The Elco 80 ft PT-174 is a premium rank II American motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ground Breaking".

The PT-174 is one of the more distinctive member of the Elco PT boat family. Instead of focusing its firepower at a chasing enemy from the stern, the PT-174's main firepower, a powerful 40 mm Bofors autocannon, is placed at the bow instead. This allows the PT-174 to be played more aggressively than its counterparts. Although it does share the weak hull of the Elco family, the PT-174 has a great potential when its strengths and weaknesses are well understood, thus allowing it to tackle even the seemingly superior coastal boats at higher ranks.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 mm (wood)
Superstructure15 mm (wood)
Number of section3
Displacement51 t
Crew12 people

Being one of the numerous 80 ft Elco PT boats, the PT-174's protection is rather poor. The 12.7 mm of the Oerlikon autocannon gun shield and the 6.35 mm of armour around the helmsman being the only protection this wooden-hull boat has to offer. The boat has a crew of 12 men, up to 9 of them can be lost before the boat starts to sink. Due to the boat having only three sections with three crews each, it is particularly vulnerable against shell with high penetration at the front and any autocannons at the sides.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB106 / 30 km/h
RB76 / 22 km/h

As with the other Elco boats, the PT-174 offers great all-around mobility. The boat is easy to handle and has quick acceleration and deceleration. This allows the PT-174 to quickly move and reposition around the map, to find a good spot for taking on an enemy.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 106 30
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 76 22

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB1 367 Sl icon.png
RB1 371 Sl icon.png
Crew training6 900 Sl icon.png
Experts46 000 Sl icon.png
Aces320 Ge icon.png
Research Aces500 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 90 / 130 / 50 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 130 / 130 / 130 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Mods new aa caliber turrets.png
Anti-Air Armament Targeting
Mods ammo.png
40 mm HE clips
Mods ammo.png
20 mm HE magazines
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Mods ammo.png
40 mm AP clips
Mods ammo.png
20 mm AP magazines
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Mods ship art support.png
Artillery Support

Armament

Primary armament

Turret40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 gun
Ammunition2000 rounds
Belt capacity4 rounds
Fire rate160 shots/min
Vertical guidance-7° / 88°
Main article: Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)

The PT-174 features the 40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 autocannon placed at the bow of the boat. This peculiar placement is unusual compared to the other Elco boats, as they were usually placed at the stern, and this feature cannot be found until the rank V PT-810. Due to this, the PT-174 has a unique offensive capability compared to its brethren. Unlike the other Elco boats that were forced to show its broadsides to utilize their Bofors, the PT-174 is capable of going "bow-in" against the enemy, and offers easy gun handling while reducing the boat's vulnerability to enemy fire in the process.

The Bofors utilize two shells; an AP-T round with high penetration of 58 mm at 1,000 m and 41 mm at 2,000 m, and an HEFI-T shell with a large explosive filler. Due to the boat's fragile hull, the AP-T belt is preferred due to its effectiveness at long range engagements (up to 2.5 km), although an "Universal" belt with a balance mix of AP-T and HEFI-T can also be considered for engaging aircraft.

While having a frontally-mounted Bofors has many benefits, it's not without downsides. The gun lacks any shield to protect it and its gunner from any enemy fire, exposing it to any incoming shot and made it rather easy to get disabled and leaving the boat vulnerable. The PT-174 is also a rather unstable gun platform at high speed, which significantly hampers the gun handling, especially in rough sea conditions. This can be partially remedied by slowing the boat down to around 60-70 km/h.

  • Universal: AP-T · HEFI-T
  • 40 mm AP clips: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEFI-T
  • 40 mm HE clips: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · AP-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEFI-T 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP-T 81 78 68 58 49 41
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEFI-T 874 0.9 0 0.1 67.13 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 874 0.89 - - - 47° 60° 65°

Secondary armament

Turret20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II autocannon
Ammunition1800 rounds
Belt capacity60 rounds
Fire rate450 shots/min
Main article: 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)

The PT-174 features a single 20 mm Oerlikon Mk.II autocannon at the stern as a secondary armament. While not as impressive as the Bofors at the bow, the Oerlikon offers good damage output within the 2 km range. Due to the vulnerable broadsides of the boat, however, the Oerlikon is best reserved for countering flankers and inbound aircraft.

  • Universal: HEF-T · HEF-I · AP-T
  • 20 mm HE: HEF-T · HEF-I · AP-T · HEF-I
  • 20 mm AP: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEF-I

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEF-T 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP-T 34 32 24 17 12 8
HEF-I 2 2 2 2 2 2
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEF-T 830 0.12 0 0.1 6.57 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 830 0.12 - - - 47° 60° 65°
HEF-I 830 0.12 0 0.1 11.17 79° 80° 81°

Anti-aircraft armament

2 х Turret2 x 12.7 mm Browning AN-M2 machine gun
Ammunition4000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Fire rate577 shots/min
Main article: AN-M2 (12.7 mm)

As with the other 80 ft Elco boats, the PT-174 features two pairs of 12.7 mm AN-M2 Browning machine guns in offset baskets. These guns offers reasonable supplementary firepower against both surface and air targets alike. In case the Bofors autocannon is disabled, these machine guns are a failsafe weapon to retaliate against the enemy while repairing your main gun.

Additional armament

Setup 14 x 569 mm Mk.13 torpedo
Main article: Mk.13 (569 mm)

The PT-174 carries four standard-issued Mk.13 torpedoes. The torpedoes were positioned almost directly forward and thus is easy to aim. While each individual torpedo is fairly slow with a top speed of 50 km/h and has a small warhead of 173 kg TNT equivalent. They can be useful as an ambush weapon against a slower and larger ship, especially in a saturation barrage.

Usage in battles

The PT-174 can be best described as a glass cannon, as its powerful and easy-to-use 40 mm Bofors autocannon is balanced by its poor protection. Unlike the other Elco boats which primarily excels at hit-and-run, however, the PT-174 has more utility than its counterparts owing to the frontal-heavy firepower, thus allowing the ship to tackle almost any enemy if its capabilities are utilized to its fullest.

Due to a rather mediocre broadsides firepower, exposing the vulnerable sides of the boat to use both the Bofors and Oerlikons are not recommended. Instead, try to minimize your side profile as much as possible and going "bow-in" while engaging. The boat can easily dispatch most boats in 1-on-1 engagements, though it can be easily overwhelmed by a group of enemies. Situation awareness is a key to know when to engage and when to retreat to avoid overextending.

While it is tempting to chase the enemy across the open water, sometimes it is better to stick behind some cover and strike at the right moment. The PT-174 offers such an opportunity, as the boat's great handling characteristic allows you to travel around and precisely stop at the right spot behind some cover. Here is where the frontally-mounted Bofors comes into play, as the boat's positioning can be adjusted more easily than for the rear-mounted counterparts. You can either wait for some unwitting enemy to venture within your firing range or come out at the right moment when your allies make a push to provide a surprise fire support. Against larger or slower vessels, the four torpedoes will come in handy to bring them down.

Due to the Bofors' range and accuracy, the PT-174 is also capable in a fire support role. At 2.5 km effective range, the Bofors outranges most of the PT boats within its BR range, and is capable of dealing significant damage against boats at higher BRs. You can either sit behind some low cover at range, within a pack of friendly boats or the line of sight of a certain choke point, then reposition when a looming threat i.e. certain sub-chasers or frigates with high-calibre guns appear or an incoming artillery barrage is inbound.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Features a frontally-mounted Bofors autocannon with wide coverage
  • Rapid-firing and accurate Bofors autocannon offers great damage output, especially at longer ranges (~ 2.5 km)
  • High mobility and manoeuvrability, easy to move and reposition around
  • Four Browning MGs and Oerlikon autocannons provides good anti-air coverage
  • Has four torpedoes for saturated barrage

Cons:

  • Very poor survivability, especially from the sides
  • The lack of gun shield makes the Bofors autocannon quite easy to disable
  • Tends to bounce in sea condition, especially at high speed, thus making lining up shot difficult
  • Individual torpedoes are fairy slow and weak, limiting its use to close-range engagements

History

USS Atascosa (AO-66) carrying four Elco 80 ft PT boats. The PT-174 were located at the aft starboard (centre right) of the ship.

The PT-174 was the Elco 80 ft-class PT boat of the United States Navy. The boat was one of the first batch of the 93 PT-103 sub-class of the Elco PT boats, which is the first standardized design of the Elco PT boats for mass-production. The PT-174 was laid down and completed in January 1943 by the Electric Launch Company (Elco)

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the ship;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References


Electric Launch Company (Elco) Ships
Patrol Torpedo Boats (PT) 
77' PT  PT-20 · PT-59
80' PT  PT-103 · PT-109 · PT-174 · PT-314 · Thunderbolt (PT-556) · PT-565

USA boats
Motor torpedo boats  PT-3 · PT-6 · PT-20 · PT-71 · PT-103 · PT-109 · PT-174
  PT-200 · PT-314 · Thunderbolt (PT-556) · PT-565 · PT-658 · PT-810 · PT-811 · PT-812
Motor gun boats  Kim Qui · LCS(L)(3) · PT-59 · PTF-7 · USS Candid · USS Asheville · USS Douglas · USS Flagstaff · USS Tucumcari · USS Cyclone
Armoured gun boats  LCM(6) Zippo

USA premium ships
Motor torpedo boats  PT-3 · PT-109 · PT-174 · Thunderbolt (PT-556) · PT-658 · PT-811
Motor gun boats  LCM(6) Zippo · USS Douglas · USS Flagstaff
Sub-chasers  Carmi (PC-466)
Destroyers  USS Welborn C. Wood · USS Wilkinson · USS Bennion · USS Cowell · USS Davis · USS Moffett · USS Phelps · USS Frank Knox
Light cruisers  USS Detroit · USS Helena
Heavy cruisers  USS Des Moines
Battleships  USS Arkansas

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