One of the more exciting and innovative boats to come from WWII was the high speed PT or Patrol, Torpedo boat. These small boats packed a considerable punch thanks to the torpedoes they carried and the heavy machine guns and cannons that were attached to their decks. These very fast boats were all powered by three specially built Packard marine engines. 

Developed just prior to WWII by the British, the design was developed in the US by three companies: Elco, Higgins and Huckins. By far the most often seen were the Elco boats, which were built in rather large numbers, followed by the Higgins boats and a few Huckins-designed craft. There were differences in the design philosophy of all three types. The Huckins boats were the slowest, but the most maneuverable. Almost all of these boats were used as training boats or in the Canal Zone and Hawaii and did not see combat. The Higgins boats had the least cluttered upper deck area, but did not have as much in the way of crew comforts as did the Elco boats. When you see a PT boat movie, the chances are that of the three types produced, you'll be seeing an Elco boat.

Of course, none of the boat designs were static and as the war progressed, the boats were improved in various ways including heavier cannon armament and when radar became more available, that was added to the boats as well.

Author David Doyle takes us through the history of the PT boat and the various designs and modifications. These books are first and foremost photo books and those that have been chosen are superbly done. I was pleased to see a considerable number of period color photos in this one. Scattered throughout the book are the full color profiles for which this series is well known.

Most of you will recall that this is not the first In Action to cover these boats. However, it seems that most of the 180 plus images are brand new to this edition, making this a most desirable read and reference for the modeler. Buy this one with confidence that you are getting an excellent book.

April 2010

My thanks to Squadron Products for the review copy. Get yours today at your favorite shop or on-line retailer.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.