USS PGM-3 - Service at Motor Torpedo Base 9, Treasury Islands

Service At Motor Torpedo Base 9, Treasury Islands

During the month of June, PGM-3 completed four 2-day patrols of the southeast coast of Bougainville Island and Bougainville Strait, working variously with PGM’s 1, 5, 6, 8, USS LCI 61, and a PBY seaplane. These were anti-barge patrols at night and mine patrols during the day. The ship fired upon many coastal locations and destroyed two drifting mines by gunfire.

On 27 June, PGM-3 departed MTB Base 9 in the company of PGM-1, en route to Carter City, Florida Island. After arrival the ship was moored next to PGM-2. The ship underwent repairs and alterations at Carter City, including the installation of sound gear and a 3-inch/50 gun. 26 July, PGM-3 was moored next to PGM-6. PGM-3 returned to MTB Base 9 at the Treasury Islands on 27 July.

PGM-3 participated in three extended anti-barge patrols along the western coast of New Ireland in August and September. 1 August at 0550 hours, the ship departed MTB Base 9 in company of PGM’s 1 and 2, and arrived at the patrol location at 0115 hours the next day, where the PGMs worked with a PBY seaplane. 4 August, the ships arrived at MTB Advanced Base, Homestead Lagoon, Emirau Island and took on water and fuel the next day at Hamburg Bay. PGM’s 3 and 2 departed Emirau Island on 8 August en route to MTB Base 9, Treasury Islands. 27 August, PGM-3 departed MTB Base 9 in company with PGM’s 5 and 8 to patrol area “uncle” on the southwest coast of New Ireland. The PGMs arrived at MTB Base 7, Green Islands on 30 August for a layover, departing on patrol again on 2 September. On this patrol the ships worked with four F4U aircraft and PT boats from the Green Islands and then departed the patrol on the morning of 5 September en route to MTB Base 9. PGM’s 3, 5 and 6 departed MBT Base 9 at 0259 hours on 19 September for another anti-barge patrol along the coast of New Ireland, arriving on station at 2353 hours the same day. During the afternoon of 21 September, the ships were patrolling in an area 30 miles northwest of Duke of York Islands and in the evening were patrolling along the west coast of New Ireland again, working with the PBY seaplane, call sign “Charcoal.” Charcoal dropped several incendiary bombs in the area of a barge canal at Matakan Plantation, starting several fires that lasted about 10 minutes. At 0047 hours PGM-3 fired a burst of .50 caliber tracers into Matakan Plantation to point out a target to the PBY. Charcoal dropped flares to illuminate targets and the PGMs strafed Matakan Plantation for two miles along the coast. The ships departed the patrol area early in the morning of 22 September and headed for MTB Base 7, Green Islands.

While at the Green Islands, the PGMs received emergency orders to intercept the hospital ship USS Samaritan, which had been damaged by a mine. The hospital ship was acting as formation guide for a convoy that included the following ships: USS Osmus (DE-701), OTC; USS Whitehurst (DE-634); USS Algorma (AT-34); SS Poleau Laut. PGMs 3, 5 and 6 departed the Green Islands at 1437 hours on 24 September, setting a course of 258 degrees true at 1450 hours and then 109 degrees true at 1516 hours, following the latter course until reaching the hospital ship at 1122 hours the next day. The hospital ship was proceeding on a course of 127 degrees true at the time. The PGMs served on scouting lines for the convoy until 1700 hours on 26 September, when they were detached from the mission. The PGMs then proceeded to Tulagi, Florida Islands, reaching their destination the next day. PGM-3 departed Govanna Inlet, Florida Island on 29 September in company of PGM’s 5 and 6 and arrived at MTB Base 9, Treasury Islands the next day.

The day following its arrival back at base, PGM-3 headed out again for another patrol of area “uncle” on southwest coast of New Ireland in the company of PGM’s 6 and 8. The PGMs arrived on station off Huru Point at 1930 hours on 2 October. A PBY was dropping flares along the coast to illuminate possible targets. In the area of Matakan Plantation, the PBY dropped a bomb close to a hut on the beach and PGM-3 shelled the vicinity of the hut with their 60 mm mortar. At 0106 hours, a PBY illuminated a loaded barge 1500 yards off Huru Point. The PGMs and PT boats arrived on scene 30 minutes later and made runs against the barge. The PTs scored several hits and in the following runs, the PGMs scored hits with their 3-inch/50 and 40 mm guns. The barge was destroyed during the 20-minute attack. After completing their patrol the following night, the PMGs set out on the morning of 5 October for MTB Base 7, Green Islands. After a layover, the PGMs returned to patrol on 9 October. Near the end of the day on 11 October, the PGMs were working with the PBY seaplane, call sign “Tarbaby.” At 0500 hours on 12 October, the PGMs finished their patrol off Tambaker Point, arriving back at MTB Base 9 the following day at 0652 hours.

During the latter two weeks of October, PGM-3 was assigned escort duty, making two round trips to Finschhafen, New Guinea, returning alone each time to MTB Base 9. The first round trip spanned the dates 14 October to 19, escorting the merchant ship SS Marmacsea. SS Wilfred Grenfell was escorted on the second round trip, 24 October to 29.

In November and December PGM-3 conducted four patrols of the southwest and southeast coasts of Bougainville Island, Bougainville Strait and the northwest coast of Choiseul Island. One trip was in the company of 2 PT boats (call signs “Gum King” and “Gum 131”), one apparently alone, one in company with PGM-8 and one in company with PGM-2. In addition, the ship made two quick round trips to Cape Torokina, escorting USS General W. F. Hase (AP-146) to the cape on the second trip on 10 December.

PGM-3 departed the base at Treasury Islands for its last patrol along the west coast of New Ireland at 2159 hours on 25 December in the company of PGM-2. The ships arrived at their patrol station the next day at 1932 hours, 2 miles off Huru Point. The PGMs were still patrolling in the second hour of 29 December, working with the Black PBY Catalina, call sign “Charcoal.” Charcoal was strafing the beach of the Chinese Plantation and illuminating the area for the PGMs. PGM-3 fired upon the beach with gun number 6 (40 mm). Not long thereafter, the PGMs were abeam of Ulpatur Plantation where Charcoal dropped a flare and four bombs. Early in the morning, the PGMs departed their patrol and set a course to the naval base on Green Island, arriving there at 1520 hours. A layover there ended 1 January 1945, when the ships returned to the patrol area, arriving 5 miles off Huru Point at 2145 hours. At 0615 hours on 4 January, the PGMs departed their patrol at Huru Point, making their way back to base at the Treasury Islands. Near midnight, PGM’s 3 and 2 passed PGM’s 1 and 5, who were headed in the opposite direction, making their way from base to the same patrol area.

PGM-3’s last patrol in the Solomon Islands commenced 16 January and ended the next day. The anti-barge patrol was conducted in area “Queen” along the west coast of Choiseul Island. For this last patrol PGM-3 was once again in the company of PGM-2. Shortly before arriving on station, the PGM-3 sank a drifting mine with gunfire. The next morning at 0625 hours, four F4U Corsairs arrived overhead to participate in bombardment activities at Kuku Point, followed by gunfire into the same area by the PGMs. Continuing on patrol, the PGM-3 shelled a reported enemy concentration in a cave. At 0946 hours the ships arrived at Sangigai, anchored off shore, and commenced unloading supplies for “Australians.” The PGMs were underway to their home base at 1204 hours, reaching their destination at 1815 hours.

In February the PGM ships of Division One were wrapping up operations in the Solomon Islands and preparing for advancement to the Philippines. On 2 February the main engines of PGM-3 were hoisted out of the ship for replacement.