The US Navy entered the late 1930s with little active motor-torpedo-boat experience beyond old rescue craft and two interwar British coastal motor boats. Its July 1938 competition requested two subchasers and two motor-boat types, including an 80-foot torpedo boat able to make 40 knots while carrying torpedoes, depth charges, and heavy machine guns. The notice specifically excluded Albert Hickman's established sea-sled form, even though winning designer George Crouch later argued that it was superior. The many designs, yards, prizes, and redesigns raise questions about whether the programme reflected the urgency of an approaching war. The episode illustrates how procurement procedures can delay use of an available technical starting point.
Notable Point · 20:44-28:23
The US Navy excluded a ready sea-sled starting point
The 1938 PT competition set demanding speed, range, and weapons requirements while excluding an existing sea-sled design that might have shortened development.