PT-321 was an Elco 80-footer from the Elco Works at Bayonne: about 56 tons, three Packard gasoline engines, roughly 40 knots, and a crew of about 14 to 17. She was laid down on 2 January 1943, launched on 11 March 1943, and placed in service on 8 April 1943 in Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 21. She carried several names in service, among them Death's Hand.
On the night of 24-25 October 1944 Ensign Louis E. Thomas had her in Lieutenant Carl T. Gleason's section, about eight miles north of Lieutenant (junior grade) John M. McElfresh. The boats were among 39 under Commander Selman S. Bowling.
She reported the retiring ships, watched three destroyers and larger ships pass, and later closed an apparently undamaged destroyer that was screening a burning one. Accurate fire wounded a torpedoman. She launched torpedoes at 3,000 to 4,000 yards and retired without seeing a hit. After daylight she helped pull Japanese survivors out of the water. She was not lost that night.
She did not survive the campaign. She grounded and was damaged on 10 November 1944 in San Isidro Bay, Leyte, at about 11 degrees 25 minutes N, 124 degrees 19 minutes E. She was destroyed the next day to prevent capture. That loss was not in Surigao Strait.
