

The Higgins 78-foot Patrol Torpedo boat, pennant number PT-658, was launched in April 1945, just as the Second World War was drawing to a close. Originally designated for transfer to the USSR, she did not enter active service until 1946, with her first assignment being as a missile range patrol boat in California, ensuring that no stray vessels entered areas where they might be accidentally struck by missiles or drones under test. She also serviced the radar station on Santa Rosa Island, delivering personnel and equipment. In 1958, she was sold into private hands, renamed Porpoise, and kept largely in her original condition until 1993, when she was transferred to Save the PT Boat, Inc., a non-profit formed by a group of veterans, which restored her to her original 1945 configuration. As of 2012, she was one of only two operational PT boats in the United States, featuring non-functional replicas of the original armament and sailing under her own power from the Vigor Industrial Shipyard in Portland, Oregon.
The Higgins 78 ft PT-658 was introduced during Update "Direct Hit" as a reward for Battle Pass: Season V, "River Hunter" and returned as one of the random rewards in Battle Pass: Season XVI, "Skilled Marksman", inside the level 38 reward - trophy with random naval vessel. The boat is a notable improvement over the PT-200 and other similar US PT boats in this BR range, owing to an additional 20 mm gun and an increased crew count. It offers surprisingly good performance in battles, being able to punch well above its weight class, while still offering high speed, manoeuvrability, and 4 torpedoes typical for the US PT boats. All of this is topped by an RP and SL bonus thanks to its premium status.
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
AP-T/HEFI-T | 81 | 78 | 69 | 61 | 55 | 50 | |
AP-T/AP-T/AP-T/HEFI-T | 81 | 78 | 69 | 61 | 55 | 50 | |
HEFI-T/HEFI-T/HEFI-T/AP-T | 81 | 78 | 69 | 61 | 55 | 50 |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
HEFI-T | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
HEF-T/HEF-I/AP-T | 34 | 32 | 26 | 21 | 18 | 16 | |
AP-T/AP-T/AP-T/HEF-I | 34 | 32 | 26 | 21 | 18 | 16 | |
HEF-T/HEF-I/AP-T/HEF-I | 34 | 32 | 26 | 21 | 18 | 16 |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
API-T/AP/HEI/AP | 29 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 6 |
2 × Mk.6 depth charge
16 × 127 mm Mk.7 rocket
16 × 127 mm Mk.7 rocket
2 × Mk.6 depth charge
Seakeeping |
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Unsinkability | |
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Firepower | ||
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