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4.5
I became interested in PT boats in my reading of Pacific battles in World War Two. I was hoping to learn more about the bigger picture with regards to leadership, campaigns, development, tactics and relationships with the big boat navy. The book concentrated on first hand accounts while briefly summarizing the bigger picture. Assertions and assumptions were made that really didn’t ring true in my opinion. It was an entertaining book if not a little far fetched and repetitive in my opinion.Funny thing, I just finished reading this book not 5 minutes before I logged onto my email box and found this request from Amazon for a review. "Devil Boats" is a great little book and a lively read.In the early months of World War 2 the US Pacific Fleet was decimated. After Pearl Harbor the US surface fleet was neutered and the only Naval vessels capable of sustained operations against the Japanese were the submarines and a very small handful of PT boats.Devil Boats tells the history of the PT Boats throughout the war, mostly in the Pacific theater, by the telling of small unit actions.PT Boats were fast and very heavily armed, but completely unarmored craft that operated in enemy waters against forces many times their size and numbers. The speed, tactics, stealth and daring of the PT Boats Skippers and crewmen made their combat actions legend. PT Boat operations in the Pacific were really guerilla warfare in enemy controlled coastal waters and frequently on land as well.The tales of daring, bravery and heroism of the sailors of the PT Boats makes fascinating reading. These brave Americans, along with our allies including the Australians, the British, the New Zealanders, the Filipinos and the many natives friendly to the Allies together brought the war to the Japanese in the Pacific. This is their story.If you like true tales of courage and valor then “Devil Boats” is a book for you.This is my first book on PTs. There is not a lot of details on the boats themselves or the day to day life on board. It is chapter after chapter of different battles or missions executed by different boats in the Pacific Theater. It goes from Pearl Harbor, to the Philippines, to Guadalcanal, to New Guinea and back to the Philippines. It tends to get repetitive. A lot of the battles read exactly the same. He mentions several times about how PT crews were know to be resourceful to make up for lack of resources. Well, how? Sounds like there are some good stories in there. How did they get the motors to run 3 or 4 times longer than specified? What did they pilfer, trade, machine, etc? There was no discussion on multi boat tactics. Based on the description of the battles, it doesn't sound like there was much strategy or cooperation between boats. Is this the case? Was it basically sneak close and every boat for itself? It does make it's case that PTs did make a significant impact in the battles they fought. It may not be in the way it was intended (sinking capital ships close to shore), but definitely in helping to choke off supplies and reinforcements in the island fighting of the Pacific. It is certainly better than not reading anything on PTs, if they strike your fancy, but there may be better books out there.Very good book. In very good condition. Quick service. Glad it was available. Would order from this seller and amazon again. Am very interested in PT boat operations during WW II probably because my shop/manual arts teacher was a PT boat skipper in the Mediterranean during WW II. He was a super guy. Happy that this book was available and hope I can find one about PT operations in the European theater,especially the Mediterranean which is where my shop teacher served. Have not searched for one yet.Regards, Gene BarnesI really just started the book, but it definitely holds my interest. The book is unique in that it addresses a topic - PT boats in WWII - that is rarely written about.This one's for history buffs that would like to learn more about "PT Boats" in the South Pacific during WWII. Well written and informative, only wish it was longer. A good read.I OWN A COPY THE BOOK OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE CATALOG. I WANTED TWO MORE COPIES OF THE ONE PICTURED. WHAT I GOT WAS A SMALL PRINT PAPERBACK, WITH A DIFFERENT COVER ALL TOGETHER BY " JOVE WAR BOOK" NOT BY "BALLANTINE BOOKS" AS PICTURED IN THE AD. THIS ORDER WAS MADE WITH "YANKEECOZY". I WILL KEEP THIS BOOK AND GIVE MY GOOD ONE TO A FRIEND TO HAVE. THE OTHER ORDER I MADE WAS WITH A DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTOR. HOPEFULLY I WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED AGAIN.IN THIS BOOK THE THE MAPS AND PICTURES ARE HALF THE SIZE OF THE ADVERTISED BOOK.IF THIS IS THE WAY "YANKEECOZY" DOES BUSINESS I CAN'T RECOMMEND THEM FOR THEIR UNSATISFACTORY SWITCH OF PRODUCTS.If you love history, you will love this book. It is amazing to get the insight on things that happened and the specifics of this book. I'm not sure if there are any others writen this way but this book was definitely amazing and I recommend it to anyone. It's exciting, fun and insightful.good bool well researched
