• Surface at the Pole

  • The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate
  • By: James Calvert
  • Narrated by: Tom Perkins
  • Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (36 ratings)

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Surface at the Pole  By  cover art

Surface at the Pole

By: James Calvert
Narrated by: Tom Perkins
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Publisher's summary

On 17 March 1959, the USS Skate became the first submarine to surface at the North Pole.

Under the guidance of James Calvert this nuclear submarine had navigated through polar ice packs, braved atrociously cold conditions, and broken through layers of thick ice to arrive at their destination; the northernmost point of the world.

This mission, however, was not just about completing a seemingly impossibly feat of Arctic exploration. It also had huge implications for military strategy during the height of the Cold War. Now that submarines were able to travel under and break through the ice, it gave the US military the capability of being avoid detection under the ice while being able to launch their Polaris missiles from points far closer to the Soviet Union.

James Calvert's remarkable account of his two voyages to the Arctic with the USS Skate provides vivid insight into life in a nuclear submarine and how these men were able to complete this treacherous mission.

Public Domain (P)2020 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Surface at the Pole

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Disappointed

Narrator was not enjoyable. Not as well written as his book about the USS Jack

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A great read!

The audio quality of this book is worlds better than the book about the USS Jack. Don’t listen to other reviews, the narrator is great. I loved the story of the USS Skate and wish there were more like it!

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a great true story

I've become an avid reader of US Navy submarine history and the boats that have sailed. While i was familiar with the USS Nautilus, i did not know about the USS Skate, the third nuclear submarine built. i enjoyed the Captain's telling of her adventure with the crew in the waters of the North Pole. The reader tends to be a bit slow... but that's easily corrected in the Audible app as you can speed it up. if you love true tales from US submarine history, you'll love this book.

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A well written look at history in the making

An easy listening account of the early days of Arctic operations by submarines. Riveting and well worth your time.

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