G.I. Joe Classic Collection PT-Boat Commander

Released in 1998 by Hasbro under the Kenner brand, the 12″ G.I. Joe PT-Boat Commander was a limited edition collectible from their WWII Forces Collection.

The front of the box opens up and the left inside flap contains a brief history of PT boats.

From the box, “Moments after the Japanese began attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a U.S. PT boat stationed there shot down the first enemy plane of World War II. From that moment forward, “patrol-torpedo” crafts and their commanders played a significant role in the success of U.S. naval operations throughout the duration of the conflict. These boats proved to be essential to Allied efforts to reclaim the Pacific from Japan’s Imperial war machine. The number of operational PT boats increased from 29 in December of 1941 to 212 within the span of a few years. The effectiveness of these small vessels was known all too well by the Japanese, who came to fear and despise the boats they called “devil boats” or “green dragons”.
Two standard types of PT boats were being constructed by 1941 – the Higgins 78-footer, which weighed 35 tons, and its 38 ton counterpart, the Elco 80-footer. Each type was made of plywood with no outer armor whatsoever, and was powered by three 12-cylinder Packard marine engines which gave the boats a top speed of at least 40 knots with a full cargo load. PTs were armed with four .50 caliber machine guns and four torpedoes, and they had an effective cruising range of 500 miles.
The success of the PT boats in battle relied largely on the courage and skill of the Commanders in charge of the vessels. The vast majority of PT Boat Commanders were in their twenties and were recent graduates from colleges and universities across the country. Many were athletes while in school, and both their intelligence and their physical health were essential for their roles as commanders. They underwent a training program as rigorous as the programs for elite ground forces such as marines, paratroopers, and rangers. Upon completion of their training, PT Boat Commanders went off to battle with no operational doctrine to follow. Early Commanders literally pioneered the wartime strategies which proved to be so successful. By pulling in part from strategies implemented by the rum runners who smuggled liquor from Canada to points along the eastern seaboard during prohibition (such as operating by night and using more powerful engines to supply more speed), Boat Commanders devised a surprise hit-and-run system of attack which managed to injure and confuse the Japanese Navy ultimately to the point of defeat. PT boats, often in pairs, would stealthily approach enemy ships, strafe them with the mounted .50 caliber guns, fire their torpedoes, and then speed off zigzagging into the darkness of the night behind a smoke screen which cloaked their escape. The method proved highly successful, and the enemy was never certain when, where, or from what direction an attack might occur.
Commanders routinely battled against warships many times the size of their PT boats, took part in sabotage and intelligence missions deep within enemy territory, acted as scouts for American warships, destroyed enemy and despite insurmountable odds, they managed to emerge victorious. The PTs might have been outsized, outnumbered, and out-gunned by the Japanese but the Imperial forces were otclassed by the daring and clever commanders of the U.S. Navy’s PT boat fleets.“

The giveaway entry period for this G.I. Joe Classic Collection PT-Boat Commander collectible will run for four weeks. You can enter as many times as you like!

Giveaway Entry Start Date: 09/12/2022
Giveaway Entry End Date: 10/24/2022
DRAWING DATE: 10/26/2022