Below are listed a number of engagements in the South Pacific during World War Two which can be the basis for designing challenging scenarios. This is not a total list of patrols or attacks. I did not list many actions such as the nightly encounters with armed barges. Nor the common missions of picking up/ dropping off of coast watchers or the air-sea rescue of downed pilots.

This vast area of operations was further divided into operational regions based on the area's main campaign. Ironically by 1943 many PT boats were modified to encounter the type of common foes found in their area. Those boats which fought armed barges regularly had 40mm guns placed on the bow and stern with some having their torpedo launchers removed to reduce weight.

In other areas where enemy destroyers were still engaged, the tubes were kept with some PTs mounting a 37mm gun on the bow. In addition various patrol support options were used. Sometimes a destroyer accompanied boats or a heavily armed LCM may add more firepower. A frequent and very effective support craft was the PBY equipped with bombs and radar. Being airborne, the PBY radar was less affected by bad seas or island blind spots which hampered PT boat radar systems. All of these support options provided PTs with extended vision for their night sojourns which was a vast improvement from early 1942 when a night patrol may become aware of enemy craft because their boats would begin to rock due to the enemy's wake.

Besides the formidable Japanese destroyers, US PTs in the Pacific had to deal with other types of deadly foes. Until the Allies gained air superiority, the PTs were often attacked by Japanese Zeros and float planes. Even at night the planes could spot the PTs due to the white form wake trails on the black water. Another underestimated foe was the Japanese barges. Small barges were easy prey but the Medium barges often had 20mm and/or MGs mounted on them. A very difficult opponent was the Large barges which were more heavily armored than the PTs and mounted 40mm and 20mm guns as well as several MGs. Also the Japanese began to place shore batteries along the routes taken by the barges which also proved dangerous for the PTs.

All Allied ships are USA and Axis ships are Japanese unless noted otherwise

1941

Dec 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor. Day. 6 PTs responded quickly to the Japanese attacking aircraft. Though moored they fired over 4000 rounds of .50 caliber ammo at the enemy.
Dec 10, 1941. Cavite Bay, Philippines. Day. 6 PTs vs 5 JN Dive bombers

1942

Jan 18. Binanga P.I. 2 PTs (31, 34) vs Shore Btys + Armed Cargo ship w/ 2 x 5.5" guns
Jan 22. ? Subic Bay P.I. 2 Pts (34, 41) vs 2 Landing Barges
Jan 24. Subic Bay P.I. PT 41 vs Armed Cargo ship + Shore Btys.
Feb 1. Subic Bay P.I. PT 32 vs Minelayer 'Yaeyama'
Apr 8 P.I. 2 PTs (34, 41) vs CL 'Kuma' + reinforced by 2 DDs. A good scenario with most of the action between the PTs and the CLs. The Dds arrive and pursue the PTs as they retreat.
Apr 9 P.I. PT ? vs 4 Floatplanes armed with two bombs each.
June 4. Midway. Day. 11 PTs vs japanese planes as they attack the Midway Island airfield.
Oct 11. Guadelcanal. 4 PTs (38, 46, 48, 60) vs CL + 4-6 DDs. The object of the mission is to make the ships stop bombarding Marines positions on the island and attack the PTs.
Oct 29. Cape Esperance. 2 PTs (38, 39) vs 3 DDs
Nov 5. Cape Esperance. 3 PTs vs 2 DDs. No radar , PTs are alerted by wakes rocking the boats.
Nov 6. Koli Point. PT 48 vs DD
Nov 8. Savo Island. 3 PTs (37, 39, 61) vs 3 DDs
Nov 10. Savo Island. 3 PTs vs 4 DDs
Dec 3. Savo Island. 8 PTs in three groups (109, 43/ 40. 48/ 59, 44, 36, 37) vs CL + 5 DDs
Dec 9. Kamimbo Bay. PT 44 vs Sub (I3) + Armed barge
Dec 11. Kamimbo Bay. 8 PT vs 5 DD + Cargo ship

1943

Jan 10, '43. Kamimbo Bay. 10 PT vs 8 DD
Jan 14, '43. ?? 13 PT vs 9 DD
Feb 1, '43. 11 PT in 5 groups (47, 39 / 111, 48 / 109, 36 / 123, 124 / 37, 59, 115) vs 12 DD + 3 supply barges. A minefield was also in the area.
July 3, '43. Rendova. 3 PT vs 4 DD
July 23, '43. Blackett Strait. 3 PT (117, 154, 155) vs 3 DD
July 26, '43. Blackett Strait. 3 PT (117, 154, 106) vs 6 Armed Barges
Aug 1, '43. Vila. 15 PT vs 4 DD.
Aug 22, '43. Vila. Day ! 6 PT in 2 groups vs Shore Byts + MG positions + Barges

1944

Feb 25, '44. Emp Augusta Bay. 2 PT (251, 252) + Armed LCI vs Shore Bty + 9 Barges
Mar 17, '44. Emp Augusta Bay. 2 PT (283, 284) + PBY + DD 'Guest' vs Shore Bty + Barges
May 5, '44. "The Rantaw Trap". 3 PT (247, 245, 250) vs Shore Btys + 8 Large Armed barges in three groups which approach the PT boats from three directions and encircle them.

As I stated earlier, there were almost daily contact with barges. In 1944 and 1945 with the increased air bombardment of Japan, PT boats were utilized in the air-sea rescue role.

More US Patrol Boat Operations During World War Two

Introduction
English Channel Engagements 1944
South Pacific Engagements 1941-1945
Mediterranean Engagements 1943-1945
PT Boat Squadrons, Numbers And Boat Models Used Plus Other Notes