Full Description
During the past century, U.S. Navy patrol vessels have operated everywhere larger warships have--as well as in places where the big boats could not operate. These bantam warriors have performed in a variety of roles, from antisubmarine warfare to convoy escort and offensive operations against enemy forces afloat and ashore. Patrol vessels battled German units in the Mediterranean, fought insurgents along rivers and canals in China and Vietnam and protected U.S. ships and facilities in the Persian Gulf. Covering more than 1000 of the Navy's small combatants, this comprehensive survey provides all-time rosters, histories, specifications and illustrations of patrol vessels from before World War I to the present. World War II PT boats and submarine chasers and Vietnam War swift boats are covered, along with less well known ships such as Eagle boats, patrol yachts, hydrofoil gunboats and control escorts. A detailed accounting of patrol vessel exports, transfers and shipbuilders is included.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Patrol Air Cushion Vehicles (PACV)
2. River Patrol Boats (PBR)
3. Submarine Chasers (PC)
4. Patrol Coastal Ships (PC)
5. Control Submarine Chasers (PC[C]) and Patrol Control Craft (PCC)
6. Patrol Escorts (PCE)
7. Control Escorts (PCEC)
8. Patrol Rescue Escorts (PCER) and Experimental Patrol Rescue Escorts (EPCER)
9. Fast Patrol Craft (PCF) and Inshore Patrol Craft (PCF)
10. Patrol Craft—Hydrofoil (PCH)
11. Patrol Craft Sweepers (PCS) and Patrol Craft Control Sweepers (PCSC)
12. Eagle Boats (PE)
13. Patrol Frigates (PF)
14. Nineteenth Century Gunboats
15. Prewar Gunboats (PG)
16. World War II Gunboats (PG)
17. Temptress-Class Patrol Gunboats (PG)
18. Patrol Gunboat—Hydrofoils (PGH)
19. Motor Gunboats (PGM)
20. Patrol Combatant Missile—Hydrofoils (PHM)
21. River Gunboats (PR)
22. Motor Torpedo Boats (PT)
23. Motor Torpedo Boat Submarine Chasers (PTC)
24. Fast Patrol Boats (PTF)
25. Patrol Yachts (PY)
26. Coastal Patrol Yachts (PYc)
27. Submarine Chasers (SC)
28. Patrol Potpourri
29. U.S. Patrol Vessels Built for Foreign Navies
30. Patrol Vessel Transfers
31. Patrol Vessel Builders
Bibliography
Index
