By the end of the war over 600 had seen service in the Pacific theatre, the English Channel and Mediterranean Sea. In 1940 the US Navy's PT boats were organised into Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, regularly shortened to the nickname of 'Ron'.

Forty five 'Rons' were commissioned, of which 37 saw service by war's end, including Ron 2, among whose boats was USS PT-109, commanded by future president Lt (JG) John F. Kennedy who would win the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroics.