USS PT-196 was a motor torpedo boat of the United States Navy, the hull numbered PT-196. On the night of 24–25 October 1944 she was on patrol in Surigao Strait, one of the motor torpedo boats then out in that water.
The patrol was part of the Battle of Surigao Strait, dated 25 October 1944. In that battle PT-196 was in the motor torpedo boat patrol.
Thirty-nine boats made up the patrol. PT-196 was one of them, in Surigao Strait through the night that ran from 24 October into 25 October.
For this boat the battle is that patrol. She was one of the thirty-nine motor torpedo boats on patrol in Surigao Strait on the night of 24–25 October 1944, and the Battle of Surigao Strait on 25 October is the action in which that patrol took its place.