Book recommendations for PT boat operations in WW2 and Swift Boats in Vietnam?

[Scott Kenny]

Gonna park this in the Bar for now, if there's a better spot the mods can move it.

I'm looking for a good book on PT boat operations in WW2, and a separate book about Swift Boats in Vietnam (I doubt there's one book that covers both).

Anyone got some suggestions? Books written by PT or Swift Boat captains are fine, I'm really hoping there was an author the likes of Gene Fluckey or Ned Beach.

 

[BlackBat242]

Well, the book "They Were Expendable" (later made into a movie) was written in 1942 by W. L. White.

While it only covers the initial operations, the lessons learned provided the base for future PT Boat doctrine.

It was written with the co-operation and active participation of 4 officers from Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 - which had been in Manila, Philippines from mid-1941 until its destruction in early 1942.

Those officers were: L. John Bulkeley (commander of MTB-3), Lt. Bolling Kelly (who provided most of the "filling-out" details), Ens. Anthony Akers, and Ens. George Cox.

The interviews etc. were given to the Author at Motor Torpedo Boat Station Melville, Rhode Island.

Of course the info is "what the Navy wanted the Public to know", but I found it to be an interesting book.


I'm sure that John Kerry wrote something about how he almost won the Vietnam War single-handedly, but you'll have to find that yourself.
just kidding

 

[Scott Kenny]

Well, the book "They Were Expendable" (later made into a movie) was written in 1942 by W. L. White.

Thank you!