15. Kennedy elected to remain in the Southwest Pacific
Naval tradition allowed a period of survival leave in the United States following the loss of a ship. Kennedy elected to remain in the Solomon Islands. He was assigned to command PT 59, a slightly smaller boat than his previous command. Like PT 109, his new command was powered by three 1,500 horsepower Packard engines which ran on aviation gasoline. A pair of 3,000-gallon gasoline tanks provided fuel. Fourteen officers and men provided the crew. Admiral Halsey ordered some PT Boats converted to gunboats. Halsey lost faith in PT Boats opposite destroyers using torpedoes. But he still liked their maneuverability and speed.
Kennedy supervised and designed much of the conversion of his boat. The torpedo tubes were removed. Additional guns were added. Armor was installed around the fuel tanks. Three fifty-caliber machine gun nests were added to each side, and twin-gun mounts were installed. Heavy anti-aircraft guns were mounted fore and aft. A superior radar system was installed, with longer range and a clearer readout. Kennedy lived aboard the boat during the refit, rather than ashore in the officer’s barracks. Lenny Thom assisted in the refit, until he was assigned his own boat, on which he adopted many of the modifications designed by Kennedy.
