U.S. Navy Patrol Vessels: A History and Directory from World War I to Today

The U.S. Navy has used patrol vessels to operate in places larger warships could not, performing roles such as antisubmarine warfare, convoy escort, and offensive operations. This comprehensive survey covers over 1000 small combatants, including PT boats, submarine chasers, swift boats, and less well-known ships, and provides all-time rosters, histories, specifications, and illustrations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 329 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2021
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

The United States Navy has deployed its patrol vessels to diverse locations throughout the past century, including areas where larger warships could not operate. These diminutive yet formidable vessels have assumed a wide range of roles, ranging from antisubmarine warfare to convoy escort and offensive operations against enemy forces afloat and ashore. During World War II, PT boats and submarine chasers played crucial roles in the Mediterranean, while swift boats were instrumental in the Vietnam War. Additionally, lesser-known ships such as Eagle boats, patrol yachts, hydrofoil gunboats, and control escorts have also been part of the Navy's patrol vessel fleet. This comprehensive survey encompasses over 1000 small combatants of the Navy, providing all-time rosters, histories, specifications, and illustrations of these vessels from before World War I to the present. It also includes a detailed account of patrol vessel exports, transfers, and shipbuilders. By examining the deployment and contributions of these patrol vessels, we gain a deeper understanding of the Navy's strategic and operational capabilities in various theaters of conflict.

Weight: 1016g
Dimension: 179 x 256 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476676500