The last vessels commissioned before the war were six Thornycroft 60 foot Coastal Motor Boats.
The motor torpedo boats were a new direction for the Texas Navy, powered by modified gasoline-fueled aircraft engines instead of steam engines. Their speed was incredible - up to 41 knots with well-maintained motors. Each carried two 18" torpedoes and 4 .308 machine guns. Crews were all enlisted under a coxswain; the squadron of six had three officers.
During the war they were modified to employ a single torpedo and two depth charges, or no torpedoes and 4 depth charges for chasing submarines.