The PTF-3 Fast Torpedo Boat isn’t just a historic vessel—it’s the last surviving boat of its fleet. A true relic of naval warfare, this 80-foot mahogany-hulled craft represents an era of high-speed, high-risk operations that shaped military history.
Built for Speed, Designed for Covert Missions
Commissioned in 1962, PTF-3 was the first of 20 Nasty-class Patrol Torpedo Fast Boats built as part of a U.S.-Norwegian collaboration. Nicknamed “Fast and Nasty,” she was deployed to DaNang, South Vietnam, where she undertook hundreds of covert missions during the Vietnam War. From raiding enemy positions to inserting SEAL teams and South Vietnamese commandos, PTF-3 played a critical role in secret operations that remained classified for years.
A Second Chance at History
After her wartime service, PTF-3 was repurposed as a dive boat for the U.S. Navy in Key West, Florida, before being retired and sold for scrap in 1977. The boat sat abandoned in South Florida—until 2003 Boy Scout Troop 544 of Orange City, Florida, stepped in to rescue her.
After years of effort, PTF-3 found a permanent home at the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum. Today, the boat is undergoing a full restoration thanks to support from the National Vietnam War Museum, Vietnam Veterans of Central Florida, the City of DeLand, the City of Sanford, and dedicated volunteers.
The Mission: Keep History Alive
As the last remaining Nasty-class PTF boat, PTF-3 carries the weight of history on its hull. The restoration team’s mission is to preserve her as a stationary legendary boat, ensuring that future generations can experience and learn from this remarkable piece of naval history.
Visit the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum to see PTF-3 up close and support the effort to keep her legacy afloat. The last of her kind, but never forgotten.