Scorpion Down

By: Ed Offley

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 15 hrs

Publisher's summary

One Navy admiral called it "one of the greatest unsolved sea mysteries of our era". To this day, the U.S. Navy officially describes it an inexplicable accident. For decades, the real story of the disaster has eluded journalists, historians, and the family members of the lost crew. But a small handful of Navy and government officials knew the truth from the very beginning: the sinking of the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Scorpion and its crew of 99 men, on May 22, 1968, was an act of war.

In this major work of historical reporting, Ed Offley reveals that the sinking of the Scorpion has never been a mystery, but rather a secret buried by the U.S. government in a frantic attempt to keep the Cold War from turning into a hot war. The Soviets had torpedoed the Scorpion in reprisal for the destruction of the Soviet missile sub K-129, which the Americans had sunk in the Pacific just 10 weeks earlier. But why does the U.S. Navy continue to hide the real story of what happened on that fateful day in 1968?

In Scorpion Down, military reporter Ed Offley tells the true story for the first time and dramatically recounts a little-known episode that nearly brought about World War III. And he conclusively demonstrates that the Navy's official account of the Scorpion incident, from the frantic open-ocean hunt for the wreckage to a court of inquiry's final conclusions, is nothing more than a carefully constructed series of lies.

©2007 Ed Offley (P)2007 HighBridge Company

Should be in Journalism schools everywhere

This is an astonishingly well researched book. This book gives me enormous faith in the research abilities of the author. This is an endlessly complex story of lie after obfuscation of facts wrapped in subterfuge but it is an unusual book, told unusually. The author takes the reader down every zig and zag of the research, rather than to lead them around like a horse to water. A little unusual in its 4th-wall-shattering perspective, journalist talking to reader directly as he was convinced of one version of the story after another, and sometimes invalidating his previously held thoughts. This is just the kind of story where that unusual technique works. In the end, submarine stuff is about as interesting as it gets so it held me fast. Excellent book, exhaustively researched, and very much a new important text on the subject. As for the narrator, about as good as they get - this narrator does an amazing job with technical military stuff. I really enjoyed how he played this book. I loved this one.

always interesting details

As I continue my journey into submarine history this was an interesting accounting of the Scorpion and of submarine history. It's nice to hear some of details confirmed one reads in other books and interesting to hear theories unique to the author.
The only weird thing was the voice of the narrator. You get use to it eventually... but that smoky, gravel- like voice makes you think of some guy dressed in a raincoat, hat, and sunglasses is secretly whispering to you, than an author reading the book.

Excellent read.

Well researched and written as an interesting tale of the time. Looking forward to Offley's next update on the incident as more information is available.

Where is the evidence from Russia?

I found this book very interesting and it makes many good points about the loss of the Scorpion.
I was disappointed,however,that very little evidence from Russia was given by the author to make his case. Certainly,many Russians must have taken part in or known of the sinking but only one is cited and his statement needs support.
I feel the author has only proved that it is
probable and not certain that the Russians are responsible for the loss of the Scorpion.

A story of mute "silent" service

Tantalizing at first, and increasingly revealing at every next phase. A listener unfamiliar with submarines are given the insights needed to understand what occured. Excellent narrative.

Excellent book

A thoroughly riveting account of the loss of the United States submarine "Scorpion".

Well worth your time and the money to purchase.

The narration is superbly done as well.

I recommend this book without reservation.

Good insight into sub warfare during cold war

Apparently a topic of decades long interest for the author, he presents a detailed history of submarine tactics during the cold war in an interesting (if occasionally repetitive) chronological manner. His continuous re-examination of the available facts surrounding the loss of the Scorpion, spanning many years, gradually fills in the gaps in the official record to present a credible scenario of the last hours of the sub's existence. The last twist in the story was so unexpected (at least to me) and yet made so much sense in the context of the cold war and the condition of the Soviet navy, that it makes the author's case for me.

As time passes, and more naval records become declassified, it is interesting to imagine what further twists this story will take when the next layer of this onion is pealed away.

OK...

This book was OK. It was interesting to hear more about the history of submarine warfare, etc. The question of what happened to the Scorpion really wasn't definitively answered by this book, however.

I also feel that the narrator should have consulted more with someone from the Navy more familiar with the terminology. His pronunciation of certain things demonstrated his unfamiliarity with Navy terms, places, etc.

I am, however, glad that I read this book.

Great 'Burn before you read' stuff!

More riveting than Clancy because it is true! It took an ex military journalist who is adept at sorting through SNAFU's to finally figure out the truth about the Scorpion. God bless those families who had to endure not knowing. A must read for military and CIA types. I would like to see this author tackle the lies behind nuclear cover-ups like Palomares, as well.

Great memories

As a former Cold War submariner it brought back great memories of my involvement in these secretive times. Well done.