re: WWII aficionados- were PT boats an effective part of the war effort?

I think there's been some speculation that his engine(s) were muffled and he didn't raise the exhaust before he throttled up, causing the engine(s) to stall. Not sure of the particulars, but that's what I remember reading.
In any event, it was a a near moonless night and the Japanese destroyer was making 15 or 20 knots. PT-109 was in the wrong place at the wrong time. LT(jg) Kennedy showed leadership and heroic action in organizing 11 of the 13 surviving crew members rescue. Not sure if it was worthy of a Navy Cross, but I wasn't there.