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 Author  Topic: The Book Is Here
  Jerry Beasley

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Beasley  Posted on: Feb 24, 2010 - 8:15pm
I haven't been able to spend more than a few minutes with it but Garth's book arrived this evening and it's very well done and will be a nice addition to anyone's PT Boat reference library - Didn't read any text yet other than photo captions but there are a number of pictures I have not seen before and the resolution is quite good on most of them - Good Job Garth - it's nice to open a book and see something new.
Jerry

Jerry Beasley

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TGConnelly

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 25, 2010 - 7:01am
Thank you very much Jerry. I'm glad that you like the book. When my brother showed me the copy he ordered (I've yet to receive my 5 gratis copies) - I was both pleased and impressed with the quality of the book. I'm glad that you like the book Jerry.

Garth


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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Feb 27, 2010 - 6:05am
Good job, T.G. The book is a worthy addition to PT lore. Thanks for helping to keep the legend alive......

Will

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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Feb 27, 2010 - 4:52pm
I'm going to order a copy tomorrow. I didn't think it would be out until April? I saw Jerry's today. Looks good Garth.
Dave

David Waples

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Feb 27, 2010 - 5:49pm
The book contains a fair amount of information. Unfortunately, much of it is wrong. While there is no bibliography provided, if you know the literature, it’s clear what the majority of the sources used were. These sources are generally reliable, being either primary documents or based on primary documents. They‘ve been available for decades and are easily accessed, at least four of them being available on-line. The information is clear in the sources. Why the author chose to make the statements he did is unknown to me.

A few of the errors noted include:

a. The V-drive system is described as the two wing engines driving the center shaft. The two wing engines on an ELCO were not coupled to the center shaft. They drove their respective shafts through a V-drive (essentially a transfer case similar in concept to those fitted to four-wheel drive vehicles) while the center engine drove its shaft directly.

b. The four 70’ Canadian Power Boat Company boats (PT368-371), along with PT 362-367, are listed as RON11 boats. RON11 comprised PT 175-186 (80’ ELCOs); the four CPB boats and PT 362-367 were assigned to RON18.

c. The author states that Higgins boats from PT197 on came from the factory fitted with the MK13 torpedoes. Photos clearly show the RON15 boats (PT 201-218) operating in the Med fitted with the MK19 tubes and the RON23 boats (241-244, 277-288) at the squadron’s commissioning ceremony also fitted with the MK19 tubes. This is consistent with the Higgins factory drawings (available from PT BOATS INC for decades), which indicate the 302 boat as the first to be factory fitted with the MK13.

d. The author states the Dewandre turrets (which were Belgian, not Dutch) were designated as MK17 mounts. The MK17 mounts were the Bell Aircraft designed mounts fitted to the Higgins, Huckins, and 80’ ELCOs and bore no resemblance to the Dewandre mounts.

e. The 105 boat is described as carrying “…eight ‘Type C’ depth charges“... The depth charges are MK6; the racks in which they are carried are Type C.

There are more errors, but I’ll quit here.

Documentation used for my comments includes:

Bulkley, R.J. At Close Quarters. (Washington, DC: GPO). 1962
Friedman, Norman. U.S. Small Combatants. (Annapolis, MD: U.S. Naval Institute Press). 1987.
BUSHIPS drawings 553600, 603267, 603275, 603288, 603286
Motor Torpedo Boat Manual (February 1943)
OP 951 (MK17 manual)
Operating Instructions Dewandre-ELCO Power-operated Machine Gun Turret

Al Ross


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TGConnelly

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 28, 2010 - 8:52am
Will,

Thank you for your kind words about the book, I appreciate them greatly.

Now, ... Mr. Ross? I'd very much like to make a personal request of you, if I may?

The next time you decide to lambast me and my work, as you did with my SC book and now, with this one, if you would at least show me the respect and common courtesy of emailing me off-site (and that includes whatever site you choose to say something on regarding the book) and discussing whatever errors I may have made in it BEFORE publically discussing them sir ... Is that agreeable sir?

I have never badmouthed any of your books in public Mr. Ross, and in fact, I highly recommend them to people as I hold them in high regard. But, you, you seem bent on destroying my reputation and my work and I don't know why Mr. Ross. I can only imagine that your continually ripping into my books stems back to a situation between you and I for which I apologized for (as my brother and your co-author John Lambert can both attest to. I apologized for what I said and told you why I was so angry at you and at least I have tried to bury the hatchet Mr. Ross, but your comments about my SC book and then, how you've ripped into this book sir, it tells me that you can't let it go.

Yes, I admit I got Squadron 11 mixed up with Squadron 18, I am sorry about that.

Please email me offsite so we can finally clear the air between you and I ONCE AND FOR ALL, I've grown tired of you slamming me every freaking time ..........

Garth


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Feb 28, 2010 - 10:12am
Although I hate to take part in this so called fued, I must say that doing my first book, "Building the PT Boats" I tried to take the good with the bad. I received many good reviews on the book, but I did get some that were not so good. I never pretended to be an Author, but in doing any book, this is the title you have, and as the Author you must be prepared to take the shots so to speak. I never once thought about writing anyone who gave my book a less then stellar review and jump down their throat. Everyone has a right to his or her own opinion, and if that person comes up with the cash to buy your book, they certainly have the right to love it or hate it. True, most folks that purchase these books do not leave reviews but when they do, you read it and move on. Garth, if Al Ross has problems with any book you do, it is his right to voice those views anywhere he chooses. I think with all the books you have done, you will find a heck more folks liked them then not.

The books you have put out have certainly helped many readers over the years and you have no doubt dedicated your life to the PT BOATS of WWII. I commend your hard work, but along those same lines you must be willing to take the blows. When you or anyone else publically comes on this type of forum to inform the group about your books, you are asking them not only to purchase them, but you open the door for debate. My new book will be out this year as well, and I too must be prepared for the good and the bad. if Al Ross continues to buy my books
but has problems with them, so be it, It is his right as an author, and as a customer who layed out the money for that book. I think you will find Garth, that your new book will sell no matter what anyone says. We all like good reviews, but than again anyone has the right to voice thier owb feelings. Lighten up and enjoy your status as a good guy with a passion for History.........


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TGConnelly

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Feb 28, 2010 - 10:47am
I'm not disputing his right to voice his opinion. Yes, he certainly does have that right. And, yes, I know full well that not everyone will not like me or my books.

THAT said, I do have an issue with Mr. Ross slamming everything I do, and I have an issue in which how he presents his unrequested reviews of my books.

Last year, he stated that I had (to quote him) unaccredited paraphrased Mr. Theodore Treadwell's book on SCs in writing mine. Unaccredited paraphrased is nothing more than an euphenism for plaigarism. Whether that was what he was trying to imply or not, that implication was not only gotten loud and clear by me but by many others.

Mr. Treadwell even emailed me and told me flat out that I did not unaccredited paraphrased him and even added that I did a surperb on the book. I'm sure that if HE had an issue with how I used the information from his book, he would have told me BEFORE it went to print.

But, Mr. Ross' comments (being WHO and WHAT he is - to many out there) do carry more weight than a lay-person's comments. His comments do and will have an impact both on my reputation and on the sales of the book Frank.

He does not like me? I'm fine with that. He has issues with my work? Again, fine by me, this is a free country. HOWEVER, with my SC book and this book? I feel that he has allowed his personal feelings color his assessment(s) of my work.

All I am saying is that, both times, he should have come to me first and said, "Garth, ... this, why?" Or, "Garth, ... that, why?" He didn't, he just unloaded on them (and via his unaccredited paraphrasing comment of last year, took aim at me personally) ...

Garth


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Feb 28, 2010 - 1:49pm
Garth,
I am planning on purchasing several of your books. Congratulations on getting it published! Jerry PT658 Portland OR

Jerry Gilmartin

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Feb 28, 2010 - 2:39pm
Sigh… The phrase was “…uncredited paraphrasing…”. If you look in a thesaurus, you’ll discover that the terms “paraphrase” and “plagiarism” are not synonyms. The actual comment, published on the Steelnavy message board, was: “Based on a direct comparison, much of the text is little more than an uncredited paraphrasing of Ted Treadwell’s book SPLINTER FLEET. Apparently, little or no verification of facts was accomplished either, as the text perpetuates the errors from the source (for instance, the non-existent RN destroyer TAMBY)…” The SC book, like the current PT book, did not contain a bibliography nor did the text refer to Treadwell’s book. In addition, Garth confirmed on the board that he had paraphrased Treadwell’s book. Thus, the phrase “…uncredited paraphrasing…” is a valid observation.
Authors are responsible for what they write. In non-fiction writing, an author’s “reputation” is built on his/her level of credibility, which is based on the reliability and accuracy of what they write and illustrate. The prudent non-fiction author carefully researches his/her topic and ensures that every statement and graphic produced is defensible before committing it to publication. This requires checking the material against a number of primary references and/or secondary references based on primary sources. . It also includes peer review – having someone who actually has more than a passing acquaintance with the topic look over the material and make observations before it is sent to the publisher. If a reviewer points out multiple errors in the published work and can support those observations with defensible data (photos, primary documentation, factory/official drawings, etc.), any resulting “damage” to an author’s reputation is the fault of the author for not ensuring the accuracy of his/her work. For example, the PT book states that Higgins boats from 197 on left the factory fitted with the MK13 torpedoes. Photos contradicting this statement are in, among others, Garth’s previous PT monograph published by Squadron , Victor Chun’s book, and in At Close Quarters, so he clearly had access to information that contradicted this statement; yet, he wrote what he did. From whence comes the “damage”?
As for “slamming” everything Garth does, the comments on the SC book began: “There are about 100 photos in this monograph, most of which are clearly reproduced and sufficiently large to be useful. These images range from general overall views to detailed close-ups. Of particular interest to me were the construction photos, images seldom reproduced.
The line drawings ranged from a well-drawn, nicely detailed 3”/23 to a poorly-proportioned, vaguely-detailed depth charge on what is supposedly a Type C rack. The line drawings of the two boats suggest the draftsperson has little familiarity with the vessels.
The color renderings are a nice inclusion.”
Regarding Garth’s comments about my reasons for “slamming” everything he does, well, he will believe what he wishes to believe. I will not presume to claim to know what goes on in his mind.
Al Ross



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