PBY Catalina US NavyConsolidated PBY Catalina airplane model. A 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