The War Below

The Story of Three Submarines That Battled Japan

De: James Scott

Narrado por: Donald Corren

The riveting story of the submarine force that helped win World War II by ravaging Japan’s merchant fleet and destroying its economy.

The War Below is a dramatic account of extraordinary heroism, ingenuity, and perseverance—and the vital role American submarines played in winning the Pacific War. Focusing on the unique stories of the submarines Silversides, Drum, and Tang—and the men who skippered and crewed them—James Scott takes readers beneath the waves to experience the thrill of a direct hit on a merchant ship and the terror of depth charge attacks. It’s a story filled with incredible feats of courage, including an emergency appendectomy performed with spoons by an inexperienced medic and the desperate struggle of sailors to escape from a flooded submarine stuck on the bottom, as well as tragic moments such as American submarines sinking an unmarked enemy ship carrying some 1,800 American POWs.

The casualty rate among submariners topped that of all military branches, a staggering six times higher than the surface navy. The war claimed almost one out of every five boats. But Japan was so ravaged by the loss of precious fuel and supplies that by war’s end, Japanese warships lay at anchor while hungry civilians ate sawdust. Scott paints an unforgettable picture of the dangerous life submariners endured, including the atrocious prison camps where the Japanese beat, tortured, and starved captured Allied troops. Based on more than one hundred interviews with submarine veterans and a review of more than three thousand pages of previously unpublished letters, diaries, and personal writings, The War Below allows readers to experience the Pacific War as never before.

©2013 James M. Scott (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Using voluminous official records plus interviews and an amazing number of unpublished diaries and letters, former Charleston Post and Courier investigative reporter Scott delivers a gripping, almost day-by-day account of the actions of three submarines…Military buffs will lap it up, but general readers may find it difficult to resist the tension, drama, and fireworks of this underappreciated but dazzlingly destructive American weapon of World War II.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

“This is the most absorbing narrative of submarine warfare that I’ve read in years. The research is so deep, and the writing so vivid, I could practically feel the vast ocean closing over me as these three boats ranged the Pacific looking for the kill.” (James D. Hornfischer, New York Times bestselling author)

“Beautifully researched and masterfully told, James Scott’s book is an enthralling and important addition to the story of undersea warfare.” (Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from the Deep)

I Wish 10 Stars Were An Option For Narration

Yes, this non-fiction account of the daring Pacific and Asiatic Submarine Fleets was superb, however Donald Corren is masterful in his narration, and with an audio book that makes all the difference. He reminds me of the late Edward Herrmann who remains an all time favorite. My Dad served in WWI era Pig Boats based in Manila before Pearl Harbor. 6 December 1941, things got very real for these boat crews. After 2 war patrols and some unfortunate food poisoning in Java, Dad was reassigned to the USS Sailfish, a sleek, air conditioned and modern fleet boat, and after the P.I. was attacked, the boat moved to Australia. The Sailfish even got some "Ink" in James Scott's book in chapter 8. I have been Dad's archivist and web master since before his passing in 2000. Trust me when I say "The War Below" is an epic and vivid account of a portion of the sub war which helped immeasurably to bring Japan to it's knees unconditionally in 1945. Rig for depth charge, take a comfortable seat and immerse yourself is some of the history of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation" during a time when our nation endured so much!

Wonderful read!

As a former bubblehead, I found this to be a fascinating book. I highly recommend it.

Amazing story about American Submarines

Great story and insight into WWII suvmarine warfare. As a modern day Submariner its great to learn more about our heros.

A Tribute to the Silent Service

Would you listen to The War Below again? Why?

I once toured Silversides when she was tied up at Navy Pier in Chicago . She was being rehabed before being moved to Mackinac Island where she is a memorial boat. That alone would lead me to listen to this more than once.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The War Below?

Dick O'Kanes last patrol in Tang was excellent, and moving considering the end result. The POW Camp was chilling. And I once met Pappy Boyington who was there with the Tang survivors.

Which scene was your favorite?

The appendectomy in Silversides was special. I have stood at that wardroom table and could envision it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I have loved the submarine service since I was 10 or 11. Mush Morton, Howard Gilmore, Red Ramage, Dick O'Kane--they were my heroes. This is an excellent addition to my WWII SubOps library. And the frustration Uncle charlie and his boys had with Washington's refusal to acknowledge the torpedo problem until late in the war was palpable.

Any additional comments?

Kudos to the author and narrator for properly omitting "the" from the name of the ships and boats named in the book. And the author got one of my pet gripes right. Too many woukld be WWII historians and authors refer to :The Mariannas Turkey Shoot." as if it was just a weekend sporting event. It was, is, and always will be "The Great Mariannas Turkey Shoot.However, for the narrator, there were some glaring mispronunciations: It is "Yokooska", not "yo-ko-sooka." There were others, but it must be obvious that if they are my only complaint, the rest of the book and the narration are noteworthy.

Essential History

I have read so many books about the Pacific war, as both by father and step-father flew P51s during that conflict. I am well-educated on the aviation, ground war and surface war aspects, but I had never read anything about the submarine war. This book was exceptional in helping me understand how important the submariners were and what these brave men went through, and how essential their role was. Highly Recommended.

Amazing historical account

The story was told in a very matter of fact manner. I am a WW II buff and loved the way the story evolved from the Day of Infamy to an epplogie that tied all of the events and people together. Had no idea so many battles were fought using submarines.

Fills The Room

Very much enjoyed this book. All the stories are well told and all are very interesting. I was pleasantly surprised that the author continued to follow the sailors even after some were captured.

Amazing story about true American heroes.

The story was absolutely incredible! The performance lacked a little bit in my opinion.
While the narrator of the story had a fantastic voice for telling such a story, he obviously didn't do his research on the pronunciation of a lot of naval terms which was a bit disconcerting. He pronounce boatswains mate how it's spelled which isn't how it's pronounced. Anybody that's been around naval service knows it's pronounced more like bosun's mate.
The sub Wahoo is pronounced like the fish not like the exclamation of excitement which is how the narrator pronounced it. I know I'm being nitpicky but just a little research would reveal that

Good Submarine History

I really liked this audiobook. Highly recommend.

That being said:

Be forwarned, if you’re familiar with WW2 submarine operations (specifically Clay Blair or Theodore Roscoe), a lot of this will be familiar to you. Similarly, the author rehashes some operational-level ground in successive chapters. This isn’t totally bad given the book’s episodic nature. But if you’re, say, listening to it across West Virginia / Virginia, you may be annoyed at times.

Gripping, Fascinating, and Harrowing

This book follows three is subs during WWII. The writing is relatable yet engaging. You don't need to be a navy expert to understand it or learn from it all while being very entertained by the incredible stories. the voice acting is also great, easy to listen to and understand.