Difference between revisions of "PT-6"

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{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=us_pt6
 
|code=us_pt6
−
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
+
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''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 reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as part of the fleet closed beta test.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as part of the fleet closed beta test.
  
−
The PT-6 is the first vehicle of the American naval collection. It is a basic torpedo boat that can hold its own against other reserve rank boats but lacks the firepower to engage heavy targets.
+
The PT-6 is the first vehicle of the American coastal tree. It is a basic torpedo boat that can hold its own against other reserve rank boats but lacks the firepower to engage heavy targets.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 15: Line 15:
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
  
−
The Higgins 81 ft PT-6 has no armour beyond its 40 mm hull and 15 mm superstructure. The rear of the boat is most vulnerable as most high penetrating rounds such as the Oerlikon Mk.II 20 mm on the [[80 ft Nasty]] or the 20 mm MG C/30 automatic cannon on the [[R-boot R-41]] will easily penetrate or do significant damage to the torpedo bays located here. The ammunition magazine for the frontal turrets lay directly behind them but are often not worth focusing on to protect.
+
The Higgins 81 ft PT-6 has no armour beyond its 40 mm hull and 15 mm superstructure. The side of the boat is most vulnerable as most high-penetrating rounds such as the Oerlikon Mk.II 20 mm on the [[PTF-7]] or the 20 mm MG C/30 automatic cannon on the [[R-41]] will quickly shred the crew compartments into pieces. The ammunition magazine for the frontal turrets lay directly behind them, but are often not worth focusing on to protect.
−
[[File:Higgins 81 ft PT-6 Weak Areas.png|350px|thumb|Red box outlines vulnerable areas on the '''Higgins 81 ft PT-6''' and every captain should avoid exposing these segments of the boat to the enemy for extended periods of time.]]
+
[[File:Higgins 81 ft PT-6 Weak Areas.png|350px|thumb|Red box outlines vulnerable areas on the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 and every captain should avoid exposing these segments of the boat to the enemy for extended periods of time.]]
  
−
The crew positioning is fairly centralized towards the middle-front of the boat. The radio station often lays beneath the water and is directly below the main turrets. The main turrets will often be the last compartment of the boat to be damaged due to their smaller hitboxes. The Higgins has 17 crewmembers and can continue to survive with a minimum of five if the crew is aced and the Crew Interchangeability stat is maxed out.
+
The crew positioning is fairly centralized towards the middle-front of the boat. The radio station typically lays beneath the water and is directly below the main turrets. The main turrets will regularly be the last compartment of the boat to be damaged due to their smaller hitboxes. The Higgins has 17 crew members and can continue to survive with a minimum of five if the crew is aced and the Crew Interchangeability stat is maxed out.
  
 
Engine compartments lay towards the middle back of the boat beneath the torpedo tubes. Fuel tanks are placed at the back of the Higgins.
 
Engine compartments lay towards the middle back of the boat beneath the torpedo tubes. Fuel tanks are placed at the back of the Higgins.
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{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
−
The mobility of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat is very good. When all modifications are purchased it has a top speed of 67 kp/h in RB (Realistic Battles) and 93 kp/h in AB (Arcade battles). As with most torpedo boats, the best use for this craft is to engage heavier vessels with torpedos. It is recommended for players to use the mobility of the Higgins 81 ft to line up a good torpedo shot at a larger enemy vessel and then break away to safety. Always try to avoid unnecessary risks due to the very vulnerable wood superstructure and hull of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat.
+
The mobility of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat is very good. When all modifications are purchased, it has a top speed of 67 km/h in RB (Realistic Battles) and 93 km/h in AB (Arcade battles). As with most torpedo boats, the best use for this craft is to engage heavier vessels with torpedoes. It is recommended for players to use the mobility of the Higgins 81 ft to line up a good torpedo shot at a larger enemy vessel and then break away to safety. Always try to avoid unnecessary risks due to the very vulnerable wood superstructure and hull of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat.
  
 
{{NavalMobility}}
 
{{NavalMobility}}
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{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
  
−
The PT-6 has two single M2 Browning machine guns placed on either side of the bridge. This ever-reliable machine guns can effectively deal with any lightly armoured vessel at its BR, thought it lacks firepower to deal damage against larger sub-chaser that is also present at its BR. The gun has an option to load the infamous APIT belts that is similar in effectiveness with an American late-war belts found on a plane, this belts retain its capabilities of lighting enemy boats on fire and is very good against inbound aircraft.
+
The PT-6 has two single AN-M2 Browning machine guns placed on either side of the bridge, with each gun having 400 rounds per magazine and can fire continuously without overheating.
 +
 
 +
This ever-reliable machine guns can effectively deal with any lightly-armoured vessel at its BR, thought it lacks firepower to deal damage against larger sub-chasers. The gun has an option to load the infamous APIT belt that is similar in effectiveness to American late-war belts found on planes. This belt retains the capability to light enemy boats on fire and is very good against inbound aircraft.
 +
 
 +
The Browning is not without downsides, however, as it suffers from a long reload time of 12 seconds (with an aced crew). Being the only guns on the boat, this downtime will leave you vulnerable against any enemy. Thus, it is advised to fire it in a controlled burst to maximize damage, and then "dump" the leftover rounds when disengaging to refill the magazine to its full capacity.
 +
 
 +
3 different ammo belts are available:
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}
 +
* '''.50 AP belt:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}
 +
* '''.50 APIT belt:''' {{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|M20 armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
{{:AN-M2 (12.7 mm)/Ammunition|API-T, AP, I}}
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
Line 46: Line 57:
 
{{main|Mk.8-3 C/D (533 mm)|Mk.6 depth charge}}
 
{{main|Mk.8-3 C/D (533 mm)|Mk.6 depth charge}}
  
−
The PT-6 is loaded with two 533 mm Mk.8-3 C/D torpedoes. They are aimed to fire in the direction of travel. The torpedo must travel a minimum of 50 m in order to arm prior to contact with enemy vessel. Ironically, despite the PT-6's status as a reserve boat, this torpedo is in fact the second most powerful torpedo the US Navy can offer with 435 kg of TNT equivalent. This torpedoes can sunk destroyer in one hit and can even severely damage enemy cruisers. However, the torpedoes has a poor range of just 3.65 km with top speed of only 52 km/h, thus limit the usage of the torpedoes into an ambush weapons.
+
The PT-6 is loaded with two 533 mm Mk.8-3 C/D torpedoes. They are aimed to fire in the direction of travel. The torpedo must travel a minimum of 50 m in order to arm prior to contact with an enemy vessel. Ironically, despite the PT-6's status as a reserve boat, this torpedo is in fact the second most powerful torpedo the US Navy can offer with 435 kg of TNT equivalent. These torpedoes can sink a destroyer in one hit and can even severely damage enemy cruisers. However, the torpedoes have a poor range of just 3.65 km with a top speed of only 52 km/h, thus limiting the usage of the torpedoes as ambush weapons.
  
−
When researched, you can equip 4 Mk.6 depth charges. They are located at the stern of the boat between the torpedo tubes. They are highly situational and is quite tricky to use, so it is better not to use them.
+
When researched, you can equip 4 Mk.6 depth charges. They are located at the stern of the boat between the torpedo tubes. They are highly situational and quite tricky to use.
  
 
== 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).'' -->
 +
As an introductory PT boat, the PT-6 has rather unremarkable characteristics and does not stand out of its peers, save for its slow but powerful torpedoes.
 +
 
 +
Being an early development of the American PT boats, the PT-6 shares the common strengths and weaknesses of the more advanced boats further down the line. The boat is quite large and wide compared to its contemporaries but with very poor protection, while also offering an overall good mobility and stability. The boat is not as good as the others in close-range combat, but performs better at longer range thanks to the accurate Browning MGs.
 +
 
 +
Due to the vulnerable side profile of the boat, it is advised to go "bow-in" when engaging the enemies, as the bow will help absorb the incoming rounds and reduce the crew loss. As the Browning MGs have a long reload time, the boat cannot pursue the enemy for an extended period of time and will be quickly overwhelmed by a pack of enemy boats. Always plan an escape route ahead to retreat when you feel the threat is too much for you to handle, then you can "dump" the leftover ammunition to refill the MG with a full magazine.
 +
 
 +
The slow but powerful torpedoes of the PT-6 offers an opportunity to play as an ambusher against slower and larger opponents. You can find some cover or choke points, then deliver the payload when a hit is most certain, to finally retreat. You can also use the boat's decent manoeuvrability to sail close enough to launch the torpedoes at point-blank range.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 62: Line 80:
 
* Good top speed
 
* Good top speed
 
* Good manoeuvrability
 
* Good manoeuvrability
−
* Extremely powerful torpedoes for its BR, can easily take on destroyer and cruisers
+
* Extremely powerful torpedoes for its BR, can easily take on destroyers and cruisers
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Lack of armour means it will get shredded by bigger ships with heavier armaments
+
* As with all PT boats, its armour is not very good
−
* As with all PT boats, armour is not very good
+
* Long reload time on the Browning MGs (12 seconds), leaving the boat defenseless
−
* Only two machine guns; makes it hard to engage heavier targets
+
* Large profile for its battle rating, making the boat vulnerable especially from the sides
−
* Slower than the other common PT boats in its BR, such as the LS and G-5 series.
+
* Only two machine guns: makes it hard to engage heavier targets
−
* Torpedoes is quite slow with short range, resticting it to ambush tactics
+
* Slower than the other common PT boats at its BR, such as the LS and G-5 series
 +
* Torpedoes are quite slow with short range, restricting it to ambush tactics
 +
 
 
== 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).'' -->
 +
[[File:NH 100907.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|The PT-6 (Higgins) during its high speed tests, 1941.]]
 +
The PT-6 was an experimental PT boat built by the Higgins Industries in 1939. The boat is not the first one to receive this designation, however, as it was originally assigned to the boat designed by the Sparksman and Stevens (S&S) company. Unsatisfied with the original design's shortcomings, Higgins went on to build a redesigned boat, which later replaced the S&S design as the official PT-6.
 +
 
 +
The PT-6 was originally designed as a sister boat to the PT-5, a PT boat designed by the Sparksman and Stevens company. The two boats were ordered from the Higgins Industries shipyard in Louisiana in 1939. As with the early series PT boats, it was an experimential model built for the United States Navy in a design competition for a standardized PT boat fleet. The original design utlized the Vimalet engines. However, Andrew Jackson Higgins Sr., head of Higgins Industries Inc., foresaw that the planned engines would fail to meet the requirements and wanted to redesign the PT-6. His proposal was rejected by the US Navy however, and Higgins had to complete the first PT-6 per the original design. Later, Higgins built a new boat per his own design as a private venture, switching the Vimalet engines with three Packard 4M-2500 engines. The new boat was sent for evaluation in 1940 and proved to have superior performance compared to its predecessor and other competitors, which later caused the US Navy to accept the new Higgins boat and designate it the "PT-6", essentially replacing the original S&S boat.
 +
 
 +
During 1941, the PT-6 was used for testing to gather more development information for the PT boat program. Later, the Higgins boat along with the S&S version were sent to the United Kingdom, the S&S version was then later sent to Finland. The final fate of both boats is unknown, however.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_pt6 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''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.''
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
=== References ===
  
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [http://www.pt103.com/PT_Boat_Manufacturers.html PT103.com's database of the Elco PT boats and other PT boat projects]
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the ship;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 
{{ShipManufacturer Higgins}}
 
{{ShipManufacturer Higgins}}
 
{{USA boats}}
 
{{USA boats}}

Latest revision as of 14:37, 4 May 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
PT-6
us_pt6.png
GarageImage PT-6.jpg
ArtImage PT-6.png
PT-6
USA flag.png USA
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

The Higgins 81 ft PT-6 is a reserve rank I American motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as part of the fleet closed beta test.

The PT-6 is the first vehicle of the American coastal tree. It is a basic torpedo boat that can hold its own against other reserve rank boats but lacks the firepower to engage heavy targets.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 mm (wood)
Superstructure15 mm (wood)
Number of section3
Displacement48 t
Crew17 people

The Higgins 81 ft PT-6 has no armour beyond its 40 mm hull and 15 mm superstructure. The side of the boat is most vulnerable as most high-penetrating rounds such as the Oerlikon Mk.II 20 mm on the PTF-7 or the 20 mm MG C/30 automatic cannon on the R-41 will quickly shred the crew compartments into pieces. The ammunition magazine for the frontal turrets lay directly behind them, but are often not worth focusing on to protect.

Red box outlines vulnerable areas on the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 and every captain should avoid exposing these segments of the boat to the enemy for extended periods of time.

The crew positioning is fairly centralized towards the middle-front of the boat. The radio station typically lays beneath the water and is directly below the main turrets. The main turrets will regularly be the last compartment of the boat to be damaged due to their smaller hitboxes. The Higgins has 17 crew members and can continue to survive with a minimum of five if the crew is aced and the Crew Interchangeability stat is maxed out.

Engine compartments lay towards the middle back of the boat beneath the torpedo tubes. Fuel tanks are placed at the back of the Higgins.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB93 / 35 km/h
RB67 / 25 km/h

The mobility of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat is very good. When all modifications are purchased, it has a top speed of 67 km/h in RB (Realistic Battles) and 93 km/h in AB (Arcade battles). As with most torpedo boats, the best use for this craft is to engage heavier vessels with torpedoes. It is recommended for players to use the mobility of the Higgins 81 ft to line up a good torpedo shot at a larger enemy vessel and then break away to safety. Always try to avoid unnecessary risks due to the very vulnerable wood superstructure and hull of the Higgins 81 ft PT-6 torpedo boat.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 93 35
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 67 25

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
ABfree
RBfree
Total cost of modifications3 620 Rp icon.png
167 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew trainingfree
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces10 Ge icon.png
Research Aces80 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 100 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Mods tank ammo.png
.50 AP belt
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
.50 APIT belt
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Mods depth charge.png
Depth Charges
Research:
540 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods ship art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png

Armament

Primary armament

2 х Turret12.7 mm Browning AN-M2 machine gun
Ammunition2000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Fire rate577 shots/min
Vertical guidance-6° / 60°
Main article: AN-M2 (12.7 mm)

The PT-6 has two single AN-M2 Browning machine guns placed on either side of the bridge, with each gun having 400 rounds per magazine and can fire continuously without overheating.

This ever-reliable machine guns can effectively deal with any lightly-armoured vessel at its BR, thought it lacks firepower to deal damage against larger sub-chasers. The gun has an option to load the infamous APIT belt that is similar in effectiveness to American late-war belts found on planes. This belt retains the capability to light enemy boats on fire and is very good against inbound aircraft.

The Browning is not without downsides, however, as it suffers from a long reload time of 12 seconds (with an aced crew). Being the only guns on the boat, this downtime will leave you vulnerable against any enemy. Thus, it is advised to fire it in a controlled burst to maximize damage, and then "dump" the leftover rounds when disengaging to refill the magazine to its full capacity.

3 different ammo belts are available:

  • Universal: API-T · AP · I · AP
  • .50 AP belt: API-T · AP · AP · AP
  • .50 APIT belt: API-T · API-T · API-T · 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
API-T 28 27 23 19 15 11
AP 29 28 25 20 17 14
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%
API-T 887 0.04 - - - 47° 56° 65°
AP 856 0.05 - - - 47° 56° 65°
I 944 0.04 0.02 0.3 1.2 47° 56° 65°

Additional armament

Setup 12 x 533 mm Mk.8-3 C/D torpedo
Setup 24 x Mk.6 depth charge
Setup 32 x 533 mm Mk.8-3 C/D torpedo
4 x Mk.6 depth charge
Main articles: Mk.8-3 C/D (533 mm), Mk.6 depth charge

The PT-6 is loaded with two 533 mm Mk.8-3 C/D torpedoes. They are aimed to fire in the direction of travel. The torpedo must travel a minimum of 50 m in order to arm prior to contact with an enemy vessel. Ironically, despite the PT-6's status as a reserve boat, this torpedo is in fact the second most powerful torpedo the US Navy can offer with 435 kg of TNT equivalent. These torpedoes can sink a destroyer in one hit and can even severely damage enemy cruisers. However, the torpedoes have a poor range of just 3.65 km with a top speed of only 52 km/h, thus limiting the usage of the torpedoes as ambush weapons.

When researched, you can equip 4 Mk.6 depth charges. They are located at the stern of the boat between the torpedo tubes. They are highly situational and quite tricky to use.

Usage in battles

As an introductory PT boat, the PT-6 has rather unremarkable characteristics and does not stand out of its peers, save for its slow but powerful torpedoes.

Being an early development of the American PT boats, the PT-6 shares the common strengths and weaknesses of the more advanced boats further down the line. The boat is quite large and wide compared to its contemporaries but with very poor protection, while also offering an overall good mobility and stability. The boat is not as good as the others in close-range combat, but performs better at longer range thanks to the accurate Browning MGs.

Due to the vulnerable side profile of the boat, it is advised to go "bow-in" when engaging the enemies, as the bow will help absorb the incoming rounds and reduce the crew loss. As the Browning MGs have a long reload time, the boat cannot pursue the enemy for an extended period of time and will be quickly overwhelmed by a pack of enemy boats. Always plan an escape route ahead to retreat when you feel the threat is too much for you to handle, then you can "dump" the leftover ammunition to refill the MG with a full magazine.

The slow but powerful torpedoes of the PT-6 offers an opportunity to play as an ambusher against slower and larger opponents. You can find some cover or choke points, then deliver the payload when a hit is most certain, to finally retreat. You can also use the boat's decent manoeuvrability to sail close enough to launch the torpedoes at point-blank range.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good armament for a reserve ship
  • Vast amounts of ammo for the machine guns
  • Good top speed
  • Good manoeuvrability
  • Extremely powerful torpedoes for its BR, can easily take on destroyers and cruisers

Cons:

  • As with all PT boats, its armour is not very good
  • Long reload time on the Browning MGs (12 seconds), leaving the boat defenseless
  • Large profile for its battle rating, making the boat vulnerable especially from the sides
  • Only two machine guns: makes it hard to engage heavier targets
  • Slower than the other common PT boats at its BR, such as the LS and G-5 series
  • Torpedoes are quite slow with short range, restricting it to ambush tactics

History

The PT-6 (Higgins) during its high speed tests, 1941.

The PT-6 was an experimental PT boat built by the Higgins Industries in 1939. The boat is not the first one to receive this designation, however, as it was originally assigned to the boat designed by the Sparksman and Stevens (S&S) company. Unsatisfied with the original design's shortcomings, Higgins went on to build a redesigned boat, which later replaced the S&S design as the official PT-6.

The PT-6 was originally designed as a sister boat to the PT-5, a PT boat designed by the Sparksman and Stevens company. The two boats were ordered from the Higgins Industries shipyard in Louisiana in 1939. As with the early series PT boats, it was an experimential model built for the United States Navy in a design competition for a standardized PT boat fleet. The original design utlized the Vimalet engines. However, Andrew Jackson Higgins Sr., head of Higgins Industries Inc., foresaw that the planned engines would fail to meet the requirements and wanted to redesign the PT-6. His proposal was rejected by the US Navy however, and Higgins had to complete the first PT-6 per the original design. Later, Higgins built a new boat per his own design as a private venture, switching the Vimalet engines with three Packard 4M-2500 engines. The new boat was sent for evaluation in 1940 and proved to have superior performance compared to its predecessor and other competitors, which later caused the US Navy to accept the new Higgins boat and designate it the "PT-6", essentially replacing the original S&S boat.

During 1941, the PT-6 was used for testing to gather more development information for the PT boat program. Later, the Higgins boat along with the S&S version were sent to the United Kingdom, the S&S version was then later sent to Finland. The final fate of both boats is unknown, however.

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

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References


Higgins Industries Ships
Patrol Torpedo Boats (PT) 
81' PT Prototype  PT-6
78' PT  PT-71 · PT-200 · PT-658 · MTB-422* · MS 444**
  *PT-92 in UK service
  **PT-94 in Italian service

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

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