Sunrise - Sunset 0628 - 1833

Moonrise - Moonset 0653 - 1828

The time's for the journal entry are color coded to match the sunrise/sunset brightness of the day. You'll see that the Japanese fighters usually attack during strong daylight, more PT patrol action takes place at night, and some real action occurs on a New Moon (when there is no moon at night).

Sunrise

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Midday

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Sunset

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Midnight

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The Japanese fighter planes in the South Pacific were the best they could muster (lesser planes were used against China). Despite the high cost of a fighter plane, the Japanese would launch kamakazie attacks against US ships, including PT boats.

PTs performed a many different duties, including transporting dignitaries -- the most famous of whom was General MacArthur, both when he left Corregidor and when he returned. They also carried mail, rescued downed pilots, dropped and picked up spies, terrorized Japanese supply lines and harassed German E-boats.

Repairs done 'where-ever' and 'when-ever' the need arised. A proper dry-dock was not available, so more inventive ideas were used to fix broken propellers - intentionally beaching the boat on a sand-bar at low-tide.

PT boats had more firepower per pound than most any other type of craft in the U.S. Navy:
 2 - Mark 13 Aircraft-type Torpedoes in open racks
 2 - Twin Fifty Caliber Machine Guns in turrets
 2 - Depth Charges for ASW operations
 1 - 37mm Anti-Aircraft Gun mounted on the forward deck
 1 - 40mm Dual Purpose Gun mounted on the after deck
 1 - Smoke Screen Generator mounted on the stern
  Various small arms including a BAR automatic rifle

PT Boats were made out of wood, so they didnt hold up well against bullets, bombs and coral-reef. Repairs were made at sea, sometimes even on an intentional beaching.

Engine repairs were a frequent problem with the PT boats.

Underway could mean underway for patrol, but also it meant 'doing errands' such as delivery of people and equipment.
Jeeps, motorcycles, food, and Generals were all transported by PT boats.

A chronometer is simply a mechanical clock, but, very rugged, air tight, and accurate. Before the days of GPS, the only way to determine a position was to take a maesurement of the angle to a star, and the time of day. The difference of a minute can be the difference of a mile, which could easily put an 80' wooden boat in harms way. Winding the clock was an absolute must, and the Navy manuals required a full winding every 24 hours, prefererrably at the same time each day. There is only 1 instance of the clock not being wound daily in this log.

USS Mobjack: During the war it was a 1,760-ton motor torpedo boat tender, was built at Houghton, Washington, and was commissioned in October 1943. After shakedown, she departed the West Coast in December 1943 and commenced duty tending PT boats in the Solomon Islands. In March 1944 she helped establish a PT boat base in the Bismarcks at Emirau, and in May she returned to the Solomons to tend PTs, PGMs, and LCIs in the Treasury Islands. In July she joined operations in New Guinea and tended PT boats at Aitape. Between September 1944 and February 1945 she supported PT boats and seaplanes at Morotai Island. More