This, the third volume in this ten-volume set, continues its complete timeline of significant events in the history of the torpedo boat in all navies and all oceans. This volume, which covers the period 1900 to August 1939, includes thirty-six illustrations and rare photographs in a full-color interior. The narrative covers the role of the torpedo boat at Tsushima, in World War I, in the interwar period, in the Spanish Civil War, and in many other more obscure conflicts. The global coverage includes stories and illustrations of torpedo boats from the navies of Austria, Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, the United States, and more.
This, the second volume in this ten-volume set, provides a complete timeline of significant events in the history of the torpedo boat throughout the world, with seventy-five magnificent illustrations in a full-color interior. This is the first book to provide the history and color illustrations of the "Al Rammah" torpedo invented by that Syrian engineer in 1280 AD-a full three hundred years and thousands of miles from the beginnings of European torpedo warfare in the Netherlands in 1585. Over time, new methods of naval architecture led to astounding vessels, large and small, that proved their value in the dozens of small wars that raged across the calendar and around the globe. The American Civil War was a cauldron of innovation in the technology of the "torpedo"-thoroughly documented here-while Russia was the first European nation to embrace the concept of spar-torpedo boat warfare. Quickly following were Italy, with is need small craft in the confines of the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas. The nations of the world raced to build bigger, faster, and more powerful Torpedo Boats. It would be the Japanese who proved the investment in these new craft were worth every hour and every dime spent in their production. By 1899, small fast boats were here to stay.
This, the fourth volume in this ten-volume set, continues its complete timeline of significant events in the history of the torpedo boat in all navies and all oceans. The full-color interior of this volume, which covers the period September 1939 to December 1940, includes twenty-five illustrations and rare photographs in a full-color interior. The global coverage includes stories and illustrations of torpedo boats from the navies of France, Germany, the Philippines, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more.
The complete history of the building of PT boats for the U.S. Navy at the Elco, Higgins, and Huckins plants. One hundred sixty-two full-page illustrations, selected by Frank J. Andruss Sr., curator of the acclaimed Mosquito Fleet Exhibit, give the reader an unparalleled understanding of the construction and operation of U.S. Navy torpedo boats. It's the closest thing to being on board! This book will take its place on the shelf alongside other essential references to U.S. Navy ship types; an essential companion to similar books about battleships, cruisers, and carriers.
“An inspirational/enjoyable book with excellent representations of a wide variety of [Motor Torpedo Boats] by various modelers in a variety of scales.”—ModelGeek The ShipCraft series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeler through a brief history of the subject class, highlighting differences between sisterships and changes in their appearance over their careers. This includes paint schemes and camouflage, featuring color profiles and highly detailed line drawings and scale plans. The modeling section reviews the strengths and weaknesses of available kits, lists commercial accessory sets for super-detailing of the ships, and provides hints on modifying and improving the basic kit. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery of selected high-quality models in a variety of scales, and the book concludes with a section on research references—books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites. This volume follows the format of the highly successful Flower Class Corvettes where the extent has been doubled to include far more detailed drawings of the many different designs of British MTBs and US PT-boats, including their fittings, sensors and weapons. “The content is packed with information that makes you want to turn a page, from the history of torpedo boats from 1915-1945, which then goes on to model products, showcase, construction, aftermarket products for scales 1-1200 to 1-100 . . . Not only a reference to torpedo boats, but a wonderful guide to building and getting the best out of a model.”—AutoModeler
The Fairmile Type D was designed to combat the known advantages of German S-boats (Schnellboote - but always called 'E-boats' by the Allies) over previous British coastal craft designs. Designed for 31 knots at 80 tons' displacement, the Fairmile Ds were the most potent and heavily-armed coastal forces type of any navy. They fulfilled various roles, from the original MTB/MGB role to anti-submarine and mine operations. This book is the most comprehensive body of information available anywhere in a single volume on this important type. This book provides the finest documentation of these uniquely fast small warships ever produced, through a complete set of superbly executed line drawings offering enthusiasts a novel insight into ship design and construction. In addition, it includes a service and design history and a pictorial section emphasising close-up and on-board photographs.
At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the U.S. Navy, first published in 1962, is the official Navy history of Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats during World War II. The book, in a new, easy-to-read format, opens with a look at PT boat design and construction, naval activities in the Philippines and the evacuation of MacArthur from Corregidor (conducted via PT boat by the book's author, himself a PT skipper), followed by chapters on PT activities in the Pacific (including the Aleutian Island campaign), plus the Mediterranean and English Channel theaters where the PT boats faced Italian and German boats of similar design. The role of PT boats in support of the D-Day landings in Normandy is also discussed. Profusely illustrated and fully indexed, and with a Foreword by John F. Kennedy, At Close Quarters remains the authoritative work on PT boats in the Second World War.
Hunters in the Shallows is the first book to examine the development and role of the small torpedo boat in U.S. naval history, from William Cushing's heroic attack on the Confederate ram Albemarle in 1864, to PT operations in World War II. Moreover, it offers the first critical analysis of the PT's operational value. Culled from primary sources, this myth-buster covers the inside story of the scandalous 1939 Elco deal, offers new insight into the roles of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Douglas MacArthur in PT development, dares a shocking reappraisal of MacArthur's dramatic escape from Corregidor by PT boat in 1942, and reassesses the sinking of John F. Kennedy's PT-109. It also contains numerous photos and illustrations tracing American small torpedo boat development from the Civil War through World War II. Sure to be controversial, Hunters in the Shallows is a must read for naval professionals, military historians, and PT boat buffs alike.
