PBY Catalina // Coastal CommandA total of approximately 4000 Catalinas were built between 1936 and 1945. Because of their worldwide popularity, there was scarcely a maritime battle in WW II in which they were not involved. The PBY had its vulnerabilities: it was slow, with a maximum speed of 179 mph, and with no crew armor or self sealing tanks, it was highly vulnerable to anti aircraft attack. However it was these weaknesses, coincident with the development of effective radar, and