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PT Boat Squadrons - US Navy Torpedo Boats

$24.95

Spearhead - Book 18
By Angus Konstam
Published in 2005 by Ian Allen Publishing, UK
SOFTCOVER, 96 Pages
Size - 25cm * 19cm

Motor torpedo boat development began in the early 1900s but it was not until the late 1930s that the US Navy seriously took on the challenge to create its own programme. The first US PT boats to see action in World War II were at Pearl Harbor and in the Philippines.

By the end of the war over 600 had seen service in the Pacific theatre, the English Channel and Mediterranean Sea. In 1940 the US Navy's PT boats were organised into Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, regularly shortened to the nickname of 'Ron'.

Forty five 'Rons' were commissioned, of which 37 saw service by war's end, including Ron 2, among whose boats was USS PT-109, commanded by future president Lt (JG) John F. Kennedy who would win the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroics.

Spearhead looks at the cutting edge of war, units capable of operating completely independently in the forefront of battle. The series examines the unit's:

* Origins and history
* Organisation, order of battle and how this changed
* Battle history, theatre by theatre
* Insignia and Markings
* Top people biographies of commanders and personalities

Each book ends with an assessment of unit effectiveness – as seen by itself, its opponents and the wider viewpoint of history – and a full reterence section including:

* Critical bibliography
* Relevant museums or exhibits
* Website links
* Re-enactment groups
* Memorials

About the author

Angus Konstam was Chief Curator at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, Key West, Florida, having been for many years a member of the curatorial staff at the Royal Armouries in Britain following service with the Royal Navy. He has been a long-term student of military history and is the author of books and articles on international conflicts. His recent works have included Union Monitor: 1861-1865 (Osprey, New Vanguard Series) and Atlas of Medieval Europe (Facts on File).

Fully Illustrated with B&W photos, 12 colour maps and 6 colour photos/drawings.

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