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At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy

Average customer rating:

A cornerstone
Thorough but a little dry
Definitive

At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy
Robert J. Bulkley
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591140951

Book Description

Foreword by President John F. Kennedy. Small though they were, PT boats played a key role in World War II, carrying out an astonishing variety of missions where fast, versatile, and strongly armed vessels were needed. Called "weapons of opportunity," they met the enemy at closer quarters and with greater frequency than any other type of surface craft. Among the most famous PT commanders was John F. Kennedy, whose courageous actions in the Pacific are now well known to the American public. The author of the book, another distinguished PT boat commander in the Pacific, compiled this history of PT-boat operations in World War II for the U.S. Navy shortly after V-J Day, when memories were fresh and records easily assessable. The book was first made available to the public in 1962 after Kennedy's inauguration as president of the United States interest in PTs was at a peak.

Bulkley provides a wealth of facts about these motor torpedo boats, whose vast range of operation covered two oceans as well as the Mediterranean and the English Channel. Although their primary mission was to attack surface ships and craft close to shore, they were also used effectively to lay mines and smoke screens, to rescue downed aviators, and to carry out intelligence and raider operations. The author gives special attention to the crews, paying well-deserved tribute to their heroism, skill, and sacrifice that helped to win the war. 604 pages. 109 photographs. 7 maps. Appendixes. Notes. Index. Paperback. 6 x 9 inches.

Customer Reviews:

A cornerstone.......2006-10-28

My father was a PT sailor during World War II in the Solomon Islands, then stateside for the last 2 years of the war. He gave me this book when it first published in the 1960's. It is the cornerstone of my library of PT boat books.

It is not the easiest book to read, but it is simply loaded with information about all PT's during the war. This book and PT 105 will give you an excellent overview of both history, and what it was like to be there.

Thorough but a little dry .......2005-10-06

This book is a thorough history of American PT boat operations in World War Two. It covers all battle actions of the boats and what they accomplished in all theaters that the boats operated in -- the South Pacific, the Aleutians, and in Europe and the Mediterranean, an area of the PT boat war that, for some reaon, has had much less coverage than what these boats did in the Pacific. It also details the origins and developements of the boats, and the vastly complicated logistical problems covering huge distances that often bedeviled the boats and their crews. The book features many photographs of the boats and their crews and how they lived, as well as a complete list of every man killed or wounded on a PT boat during the war, as well as the numerous medals awarded to pt boat crews. It is a great record of these versatile boats and their courageous sailors.

Yet, it is a dry history. There is little or nothing about the men that sailed these boats into harm's way. Where did they come from? Why did they choose the dangers of a PT boat? What led them to go up against destroyers in plywood/mahongeny boats? A little bit of that and it would have been a fantastic account of the pt boats. Still, for anyone that loves naval history this is an incredible book.

Definitive.......2003-08-04

Anyone who genuinely wishes to understand PT combat tactics and operations must read this book. It may not be the easiest to read at first, but it gains its own rhythm.

Bulkley was the man who was at the center of the development of the PT as a useful combat platform. At first underarmed and under-appreciated, it became the workhorse of the patrol mission and was greatly feared by the Japanese navy.

Pay attention as the nature of the role of the PT changes from the beginning of the war to the end. Bulkley was an Admiral (an Lt. during the war) and is certainly subtle in his finger waving, but it is there.

Even though some Japanese destroyers could actually outrun the PT in straight flight (a highly classified secret), the manuevering characteristics of the PT and the tremendous boldness of the crews were enough to make Japanese officers decline combat with the much smaller craft.

In one case (told by my grandfather, a PT veteran) a PT patrol encountered a Japanese destroyer patrol during the day (marked Japanese advantage). The PT's scrambled accidentally into a closed lagoon.

Fearing a bombardment if they stayed and attack upon leaving, they geared up and flew out through the inlet. To their surprise, they only saw a group of ships in flight at flank (pouring smoke).

Any patrol of wooden boats that can make a destroyer patrol do this has got to be studied.

A PT man might experience as many as 80 or 90 armed engagements. Only 3 of the 18 original crew on my grandfathers boat actually walked off. These were dramatic conflicts and tremendously brave men.

I encourage all who are interested in naval military history to understand this piece of the puzzle. Those who don't will have a notable void. This book is a good place to start for it will eventually be essential in that pursuit.

Average customer rating:

At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy
Robert J. Buckley Jr.
Manufacturer: Naval History Division Dept. Of the Navy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J445HQ

Average customer rating:

At Close Quarters: Pt Boats in the United States Navy
Capt. Robert J. Jr. Bulkley
Manufacturer: Naval History Division, Washington DC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IY85N2

Average customer rating:

At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy
Robert J., Jr. Bulkney
Manufacturer: United States Government Printing Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KNG4X4

Average customer rating:

At Close Quarters PT Boats in the United States Navy
Robert J. Bulkley
Manufacturer: Naval History Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O04U5W

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