Regular price: $18.17
Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.
This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen.
One of America's preeminent military historians, James D. Hornfischer has written his most expansive and ambitious book to date. Drawing on new primary sources and personal accounts of Americans and Japanese alike, here is a thrilling narrative of the climactic end stage of the Pacific War, focusing on the US invasion of the Mariana Islands in June 1944 and the momentous events that it triggered.
Darting back and forth across the icy North Atlantic, Compass Rose played a deadly cat-and-mouse game with packs of German U-boats lying in wait beneath the ocean waves. Packed with tension and vivid descriptions of agonizing U-boat hunts, this tale of the most bitter and chilling campaign of the war tells of ordinary men who had to master their own fears before they could face a brutal menace - one that would strike without warning from the deep.
Admittedly small and vulnerable, PT boats were, nevertheless, fast - the fastest craft on the water during World War II - and Dick Keresey's account of these tough little fighters throws new light on their contributions to the war effort. As captain of PT 105, the author was in the same battle as John F. Kennedy when Kennedy's PT 109 was rammed and sunk. The famous incident, Keresey says, has often been described inaccurately and the PT boat depicted as unreliable and ineffective.
From the authors of the New York Times best-selling The Heart of Everything That Is and Halsey's Typhoon comes the dramatic untold story of a daredevil bomber pilot and his misfit crew who fly their lone B-17 into the teeth of the Japanese Empire in 1943, engage in the longest dogfight in history, and change the momentum of the war in the Pacific - but not without making the ultimate sacrifice.
From the moment radiation was discovered in the late nineteenth century, nuclear science has had a rich history of innovative scientific exploration and discovery, coupled with mistakes, accidents, and downright disasters.
Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.
This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen.
One of America's preeminent military historians, James D. Hornfischer has written his most expansive and ambitious book to date. Drawing on new primary sources and personal accounts of Americans and Japanese alike, here is a thrilling narrative of the climactic end stage of the Pacific War, focusing on the US invasion of the Mariana Islands in June 1944 and the momentous events that it triggered.
Darting back and forth across the icy North Atlantic, Compass Rose played a deadly cat-and-mouse game with packs of German U-boats lying in wait beneath the ocean waves. Packed with tension and vivid descriptions of agonizing U-boat hunts, this tale of the most bitter and chilling campaign of the war tells of ordinary men who had to master their own fears before they could face a brutal menace - one that would strike without warning from the deep.
Admittedly small and vulnerable, PT boats were, nevertheless, fast - the fastest craft on the water during World War II - and Dick Keresey's account of these tough little fighters throws new light on their contributions to the war effort. As captain of PT 105, the author was in the same battle as John F. Kennedy when Kennedy's PT 109 was rammed and sunk. The famous incident, Keresey says, has often been described inaccurately and the PT boat depicted as unreliable and ineffective.
From the authors of the New York Times best-selling The Heart of Everything That Is and Halsey's Typhoon comes the dramatic untold story of a daredevil bomber pilot and his misfit crew who fly their lone B-17 into the teeth of the Japanese Empire in 1943, engage in the longest dogfight in history, and change the momentum of the war in the Pacific - but not without making the ultimate sacrifice.
From the moment radiation was discovered in the late nineteenth century, nuclear science has had a rich history of innovative scientific exploration and discovery, coupled with mistakes, accidents, and downright disasters.
When Admiral William Halsey selected Destroyer Squadron 21 to lead his victorious ships into Tokyo Bay to accept the Japanese surrender, it was the most battle-hardened US naval squadron of the war. But it was not the squadron of ships that had accumulated such an inspiring résumé; it was the people serving aboard them. Through diaries, personal interviews with survivors, and letters written to and by the crews during the war, preeminent historian of the Pacific theater John Wukovits brings to life the human story of the squadron and its men.
John Foster Dulles was secretary of state while his brother, Allen Dulles, was director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In this book, Stephen Kinzer places their extraordinary lives against the backdrop ofAmerican culture and history. He uses the framework of biography to ask: Why does the United States behave as it does in the world?
She was a monster, sleek and gleaming, designed to strike without warning like the dreaded shark. She was the USS Mako, as fearless and bold as any submarine that ever prowled the blue Pacific. Her mission: seek out and destroy the hitherto invincible ships of the Japanese Imperial Navy - and revenge the earlier defeats of a long and dirty war. Here is the story of the men who pitted their lives against impossible odds in the most dangerous branch of the American armed services.
Team Yankee, the New York Times best-seller by Harold Coyle, presents a glimpse of what it would have been like for the soldiers who would have had to meet the relentless onslaught of Soviet and Warsaw Pact divisions. Using the geo-political and military scenarios described by General Sir John Hackett, former NORTHAG commander and author of World War Three; August 1985, Team Yankee follows the war as seen from the turret of Captain Sean Bannon's tank.
With The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors and Ship of Ghosts, James D. Hornfischer created essential and enduring narratives about America’s World War II Navy, works of unique immediacy distinguished by rich portraits of ordinary men in extremis and exclusive new information. Now he does the same for the deadliest, most pivotal naval campaign of the Pacific war: Guadalcanal.
Following the disastrous Java Sea campaign, the Allies went on the offensive in the Pacific in a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. With the conquest of Australia a very real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target: the Japanese-held Soloman Islands, in particular the southern island of Guadalcanal. Hamstrung by arcane pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mind-set, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly in order to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire.
In this riveting personal account, an authentic American hero relives the perils and triumphs of eight harrowing patrols aboard one of America's most successful World War II submarines. Courageous deeds and terror-filled moments - as well as the endless hard work of maintaining and operating a combat sub - are vividly recalled in Calvert's candid portrait.
When Guy Sajer joins the infantry full of ideals in the summer of 1942, the German army is enjoying unparalleled success in Russia. However, he quickly finds that for the foot soldier the glory of military success hides a much harsher reality of hunger, fatigue, and constant deprivation. Posted to the elite Grosse Deutschland division, he enters a violent and remorseless world where all youthful hope is gradually ground down, and all that matters is the brute will to survive.
The Battle of Britain paints a stirring picture of an extraordinary summer when the fate of the world hung by a thread. Historian James Holland has now written the definitive account of those months based on extensive new research from around the world, including thousands of new interviews with people on both sides of the battle.
In the dark winter of 1917, as World War I was deadlocked, Britain knew that Europe could be saved only if the United States joined the war. But President Wilson remained unshakable in his neutrality. Then, with a single stroke, the tool to propel America into the war came into a quiet British office. One of countless messages intercepted by the crack team of British decoders, the Zimmermann telegram was a top-secret message from Berlin inviting Mexico to join Japan in an invasion of the United States.
In this dramatic story of World War II, Jay A. Stout describes how the US built an air force of 2.3 million men after starting with 45,000 and defeated the world's best air force. In order to defeat Germany in World War II, the Allies needed to destroy the Third Reich's industry and invade its territory, but before they could effectively do either, they had to defeat the Luftwaffe, whose state-of-the-art aircraft and experienced pilots protected German industry and would batter any attempted invasion.
On 27 October 1942, four "Long Lance" torpedoes fired by the Japanese destroyers Makigumo and Akigumo exploded in the hull of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8). Minutes later, the ship that had launched the Doolitte Raid six months earlier slipped beneath the waves of the Coral Sea 100 miles northeast of the island of Guadalcanal and just north of the Santa Cruz Islands, taking with her 140 of her sailors. With the loss of Hornet, the United States Navy now had one aircraft carrier left in the South Pacific.
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.
My review may be biased as I am the daughter of a WWII submarine skipper. I knew only one of the men but I knew their children. The traits shared by these men come through in the details of this chronicle. It is these details that make this so riveting. A must read (or listen) for those interested in the submarine aspect of WWII. I wish the narrator had put in a little research before he read the script....he mispronounced naval terms and even the name of one of the subs.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Any additional comments?
Shortly after the incidents of Dec. 7 1941, the United States unleashed its fleet of what was at the time an unproven and (in comparison to Germany's U-Boats) relatively novice submarines. These brave men participated in a "learn as you go" strategy during the early months of the war, dealing with design and structural failures in their subs, torpedo's that ran amok (and often back at their own boats), and a brutal enemy determined to rule the Pacific.
What this story is really about is the trials and errors, the unfortunate lethal consequences of learning as you go, and the uncanny courage and bravery of crews from three famous submarines of WWII: Silversides, Drum, and Tang.
The facts are the facts, but the author does a great job of bringing personal accounts and emotion into the story. As it follows the plights of these three subs, the listener not only gains a certain affection for their crews, but also an appreciation and respect for the bravery and sheer determination these men displayed on a daily basis. Imagine being stuck 250ft below the surface of the Pacific ocean in a disabled submarine, while your captors circle above, as you slowly run out of oxygen in the darkness. What would you do?
I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you're just looking for a good story or a lesson in history. Many of the details in this book are very hard to come by and James Scott brought them together masterfully.
14 of 15 people found this review helpful
I've listened to this book twice and will listen to it again. It is a very well written and an extremely well narrated book. What is particularly good is the manner in which the author switches between the three submarines and still manages to tie the various stories together. Contrary to becoming confusing or disjointed, for my part, it made the listening even more riveting. I'm constantly looking for good books about American sub warfare and so far the others pale in comparison. Although a story might be well written and well researched, let's face it, narration is huge and Donald Corren is now in my top five narrators because of his performance in this book. The author also manages to relate facts without making it sound like a captains daily log or a statistics lecture. If you are in any manner a WWII, naval, or submarine buff you should get this one for your library.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I've read and listened to countless books on WWII Naval history, most recently The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailers which was excellent I might add. Flyboys, and The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945, were also excellent. When I read a book on Naval history, I don't want to read anything that has even the slightest hint of Hollywood embellishment, or one-sided heroic anecdotes making a ship, crew, or skipper look far greater than what history can prove. And having served in the world's finest Navy, I like to use my experience, as well as adaptations of naval jargon to test the validity of what I'm being told. The War Below met, and often exceeded my expectations.
I was a surface sailer, and having only toured a few subs while in port, I have no desire to get underway on a ship designed to sink. Those guys are simply nuts! But to hear their story, and what type of person it took to both lead, and man a sub in war time had my attention. As stated, I cannot imagine going under water intentionally, but to hunt, and be hunted with the primitive sonar and radar capabilities of the 1940's is far beyond my comprehension and something that I can only marvel at.
The War Below does an excellent job of depicting life in a WWII submarine, what it was like to live on those fish, and what it was like to go to war. Every chapter provided a glimpse at what a crew was like, how they were commanded, and what was needed by each crew member to remain undetected in a target rich environment, the China Sea, and the Sea of Japan. I enjoyed this one, cover to cover
I give this book two thumbs up, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a read that is unlike the typical WWII Naval war story.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about The War Below?
As a student of military history, I tend to focus on the western theater of war during WWII. This book, however, gives amazing detail on the lives and woes of those brave sailors aboard submarines during the "wild west era". You get to see the perspectives not only from the captain and officers, but from the crew. The fact that James Scott also took the time to dig through Japanese records of the convoys adds even more reliability and impact to the book.
What did you like best about this story?
I liked best the stories (can't stay with just one) which showed the hearts and souls of the crew (there are too many to count throughout) and I especially found interesting the various good luck rituals each captain had.
Have you listened to any of Donald Corren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not. He's no Stefan Rudnicki, but he's a good narrator. He's perfect for historical books, I think. He can put emotion into the words in a way that makes you pay attention and, in some cases, feel as if you were really with these men, hearing their thoughts and words.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Yes. There is a point near the end where a captain does the most moving thing he can do in his situation. He looks out for his mens' well being above his own and bears punishment himself.
Any additional comments?
HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!! Because of this book, I'm doing more research on the submariners of WWII and WWI. This is probably my new favorite book.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
James Scott follows three ships, but writes of several others, in this masterful display of history and epic. The personal accounts of the skippers and crews on these World War 2 submarines outlines the danger and heroism that would come to define them. The history of the boats as well as the careers of many of the officers and crews gives this an extremely personal feel.
This is a solid history with direct quotes and referenced information, but it is far from a simple history and acts as a full suspenseful narrative.
Donald Corren beautifully narrates this piece. His tone and cadence embody the importance and measured passion of the story.
A must read for any interested and in submarine ware fare, naval history, world war 2, or the Pacific Theater.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Worth reading. The engagements started running together after awhile. Although the author developed the captains' personalities, the tension I have found in other books like "Silent Running" was not present. Did not read like a novel as some great war accounts do.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
If you haven't read much about submarine warfare in the Pacific, this is a great book. It does a terrific job describing the life, action, and heroics of American submariners. I especially liked the escape scene from Tang. Unfortunately, for more experienced readers, once you've read through one depth charge attack, you've read them all - so nothing new there. I also didn't care about the last third of the book as it is all about conditions in a Japanese POW camp. Horrifying yes, but I had just read through all that stuff in "Unbroken", and much of the material was repetitive. I would have rather of used that space to work in more of the US submarine strategy, logistics, and other operational arts that impacted the activities of these three subs. So first timers, you will enjoy this book. For the more experienced, not much new here.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a look inside the most dangerous job in US Navy during WWII. The author & narrator injects you into the story with the sub's crews. It shows our freedom comes with a price.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Good book to listen to. It did a good job explaining the life of a submariner during WWII. The good times and the bad.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful