Reviewed by Glen Porter

I have often read about US Subchasers without realy knowing what kind of craft they were except that they were small. Now, T. Garth Connelly, via Squadron Signal Publications, has given us a book which well and truly answers all normal questions on the subject. US 110' Subchasers In Action is the usual “In Action” format, landscape A4 and soft cover, with 64 pages of easy to read text.

It begins with an introduction into why and how the class was begun when the US entered the First World War, followed by the SC-1 class, its specs and uses during WWI  with many B&W photos to illustrate the text. Mr. Connelly then moves on to experiments to find a similar craft for WWII which culminated in the SC-497 class. With sections on construction, power plants, armament and camouflage and again many photos and line drawings, this is the biggest part of the text.

Some of the SC-497 class boats, particularly those with the more powerful “Pancake” engine, were converted to Patrol Motor Gunboats (PGM) to accompany PT Boats on operations, hopefully giving them more fire-power to deal with heavily armed and armoured Japanese landing barges. Although the idear was good, it failed simply because the PGMs still weren't fast enough to keep up with the PT Boats. These converted craft are covered in their own section along with many good photographs.

Used extensively during WWII, the SC-497 class fought in every theatre and there are sections on both European and Pacific operations.

I've always been a fan of Don Greer's art-work and this book is no exception. With action paintings on the front and rear covers plus 6 profiles with-in, depicting 1 SC-1 from the Great War, 2 SC-497s and a PGM from WWII plus the two experimental pre-war boats, all in full colour and in most cases, the colours called out in the captions.

There are good clear close-up photos of most aspects of these craft but none of the various guns carried and only one of the more powerful General Motor's “Pancake” engine which powered some, but not all, of the WWII SC-497 class, including those converted to PGMs.

Okay. So now I know what a Subchaser is or was, all I have to do is find a model to build, preferably in 1/350th scale or bigger. Hmm, now where's that White Ensign Catalogue?

Review Copyright © 2010 by Glen Porter
Page Created 2 March, 2010
Last updated 2 March, 2010

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