PC Patrol Craft of World War II: A History of the Ships and Their Crews [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

William J. Viegele (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0964586711 | ISBN-13: 978-0964586710 | Edition: 1st

This book is a history of all the PC Patrol Craft of WWII and their crews. It describes the need for, construction of, crew training, exploits and action, losses, and disposition of the ships. The book has more than 150 photographs and drawings and a plan for a PC.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Wm. J. (Bill) Veigele served two years on a PC in the Pacific during WWII as an enlisted man. He spent twenty-two years in the Naval Reserve as an enlisted man and commissioned officer. He is a physicist and has had seventy publications including five books. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Astral Pub Co; 1st edition (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964586711
• ISBN-13: 978-0964586710
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive work on World War II PCs ("subchasers"), December 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: PC Patrol Craft of World War II: A History of the Ships and Their Crews (Hardcover)

Popularly known as "sub chasers", the 369 patrol craft ("PCs") launched during WW2 escorted convoys, hunted submarines, sank small craft, shot down airplanes, bombarded landing areas and led landing craft on to invasion beaches. None have been preserved, however, and their exploits are largely forgotten. William J. Veigele's "Patrol Craft of World War II", is an effort to rectify this oversight. The 400 page hardcover volume examines every aspect of the PC, including design, construction, crew training (most of the 50,000 men who served on PCs were reservists who had never been to sea), day-to-day life, exploits and disposition. It is supplemented by 118 b&w photographs, and 30 pages of excellent drawings showing every above-deck fitting. These drawings, compiled from sketches made by a 19-year-old sailor serving aboard PC 541, are especially noteworthy. They provide invaluable information for the model builder as well as anyone curious about the nuts and bolts of these hearty vessels.

The book's description of life aboard a PC is particularly fascinating. To put it mildly, these 174' vessels (by way of comparison, Flower class corvettes were 200' in length) were "lively". They pitched and rolled with a vengeance, and seasoned sailors aboard larger ships were amazed at the fearsome battering a heavy sea could inflict on a PC.

"PC 486 was escorting an American submarine returning from war patrol. The sea was rough with waves towering over the mast of the PC, which was often lost to view from men on the submarine. As the two vessels soared above the waves together, the Skipper on the submarine signaled to the PC, "We have an extra periscope on board. You're welcome to use it." The two ships disappeared from each other's views. A few minutes later they rose on the crest of waves into each other's views. Back flashed a reply from the Skipper of the PC, "Thank you, but we are below periscope depth."

Life for the 70 man PC crew was cramped and difficult. The constant battering and seasickness wore down even experienced sailors. But the hardship bred both camaraderie and an absence of formality not found on larger ships.

I highly recommend this book both to students of the US Navy and would be PC modelers. There is a wealth of technical information between its covers and even a set of fold out plans. But the books most valuable legacy is the way in which it captures the essence of life aboard these tough little ships. William Veigele can take pride in having written the definitive book about PCs and in doing so he has preserved their memory for future generations.

Contents

400 Pages, hardcover, 6"W x 9"L, 118 b+w photos

Chapter Headings

1. Need for and deployment of PCs 2. The design of PCs 3. The construction of PCs 4. PC crews and their training 5. Life aboard a PC 6. PC exploits - General 7. PC exploits - American Theater of War 8. PC exploits - European, African, Middle Eastern Theatres

9. PC exploits - Asiatic, Pacific Theatres 10. PC Casualties 11. The naming, decommissioning and disposition of PCs 12. The Patrol Craft Sailors Association

Appendix

A: Technical characteristics of the PC Class B: Thirty engineering drawings showing PC design details C: Sixteen shipyards building PCs D: PCs built at each of the 16 yards showing hull number, date keel laid, launched and commissioned, deactivation date, disposition E: Construction program statistics F: Rates of enlisted men aboard WWII PCs G: Decorations and awards won by PCs H: The story behind PC 1264, the first ship with an all black crew I: PC crew casualties J: PC Sailor Association Museum

Notes: 18 pages

Index: 13 pages

Drawings: PC 461 class 12.5"x20" foldout plan (1 sheet reduced from 1/48 scale. Effective scale of the included plan is about 1:135) showing deck levels, fittings, profile, external details. Drawn by John Tombaugh, this is plate 1 of 2. Presumably plate 2 of 2 shows hull lines and cross sections. Both plates are available in 1/48th scale.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pricey book but full of detail on the subject matter, June 22, 2008

By 

greg "gymshoe" (seattle wa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: PC Patrol Craft of World War II: A History of the Ships and Their Crews (Paperback)

A dry read, very dry, but the book is filled with detail, pictures, plans and drawings regarding patrol craft.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PC Patrol Craft Of World War11, Interesting reading -details, December 15, 2000

By 

william yarberry,sr. (knoxville, tn. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PC Patrol Craft of World War II: A History of the Ships and Their Crews (Hardcover)

I had often wondered whatever happened to the old PC's after the war. This book documents where the ships were made, where they served,and what happened to them. This is a well written book and of special interest to old sailors. If you've never been to sea, you will gain an insight into life on a small ship engaged in the search for enemy submarines.