Offshore Patrol

The Offshore Patrol (also known as the Mosquito Fleet) was a small naval force, intended for inshore defense of the Philippines.

It was called for by the Philippine National Assembly in its National Defense Act of 1935. This act called for the creation, by 1946, of a force of 36 fast torpedo boats (PT) as part of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. These were to be British designed 41 knot boats armed with two torpedo tubes; built by British shipbuilders. [1] Two of the boats had been delivered by 1939, when the war in Europe began which curtailed any further supply. By October 1941, a third boat had been assembled locally. There were five boats built eventually and attached to United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) which had assumed overall control of military forces on the Philippines, although they are not always listed in strength and composition tables. The Filipino commander for these boats was Colonel Rafael T. Ramos (1903–1945) of the Philippine Commonwealth Navy.

On December 4, 1941 Enrique L. “Henry” Jurado (1911–1944), a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, became the officer-in-command of the OSP, just before the Pearl Harbor attack. [2]

Offshore patrol torpedo boat designs

The PT-boats of the Offshore Patrol were to be 65 ft long (20 m), with a 13-foot (4.0 m) beam. They were to have three 12-cylinder engines, and a speed of 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph). Their armament was to consist of two torpedo tubes, depth charges, and light antiaircraft guns.[3]

US Military Advisor to the Commonwealth of the Philippines General Douglas MacArthur states, "A small fleet of such vessels will have distinct effect in compelling any hostile force to approach cautiously."[3]

Torpedo boats of the Offshore Patrol

These boats were based at Cavite Naval Base, Luzon

The Off Shore Patrol craft were berthed at "Muele del Codo" Engineer Island in Manila's Port Area. During the Japanese campaign against Bataan they operated out of Sisiman bay. The American navy PT boats Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three under Lt. Bulkeley were also in the same bay but alongside a tender the requisitioned tug Trabajador:[4]

References

  1. ↑ Morton, Louis, "Chapter I: The Philippine Islands", The Fall of the Philippines, United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific, Part One: Prewar Plans and Preparations, p. 11
  2. ↑ 1934: Wartime Patrol 1941, U.S. Naval Academy: Alumni Association & Foundation, 1999. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Morton, Louis. The War in the Pacific: Fall of the Philippines. 1953. Washington D.C.: Government Printing House Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  4. ↑ Naval History And Heritage Command. "Trabajador". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 20 December 2013.

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