Submarine Commander

A Story of World War II and Korea

By: Paul R. Schratz

Narrated by: John N. Gully

A fascinating personal memoir of underwater combat in World War II, told by a man who played a major role in those dangerous operations. Frank and beautifully written, this book will be of lasting value as a submarine history by an expert and as an enduring military and political analysis.

In early 1943, the submarine USS Scorpion, with Paul R. Schratz as torpedo officer, slipped into the shallow waters east of Tokyo, laid a minefield, and made successful torpedo attacks on merchant shipping. Schratz participated in many more patrols in heavily mined Japanese waters as executive officer of the Sterlet and the Atule. At war's end, he participated in the Japanese surrender, aided the release of American POWs, and had a key role in the disarming of enemy suicide submarines. He then took command of the revolutionary new Japanese submarine I-203 and returned it to Pearl Harbor. But this was far from the end of Schratz's submarine career.

In 1949, he commissioned the ultramodern USS Pickerel, the most deadly submarine then afloat, and set a world's record in a 21-day, 5,200-mile submerged passage from Hong Kong to Honolulu. With the outbreak of the Korean War, the Pickerel was immediately sent to Korea to participate in secret intelligence operations only recently declassified and never before revealed in print. Schratz's broad military experience makes this a far from ordinary memoir.

©1988 The University Press of Kentucky (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"An authoritative, useful, and interesting view of Pacific Ocean submarine operations." ( American Historical Review)

"Fascinating... A delight to read not only because it is well written but because it is so very real seen through the eyes of a completely involved observer." ( Submarine Review)

"A commanding and well told tale.... Schratz succeeds in making wartime submarining come alive for nonsubmariners." ( Shipmate)

Great story about WWII submarines

Would you listen to Submarine Commander again? Why?

No. I've listened to several books but although the story is very good, the editing of this audio book results in chapters being randomly repeated.

Biography Through Sub Command

Would you consider the audio edition of Submarine Commander to be better than the print version?

Didn't read print version so can't say

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I found the narrator's style a bit stoic for my taste. Also, being a retired Naval Officer (not subs) a found a few Navy vocabulary not the way a sailor would have said it.

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

Mentioned how a shipmate who had been home for one day after at 2-yr-ish absence made the mistake of disciplining his [tween-age?] child. Hey, the instant dad returned home all was not as though he never left.

Any additional comments?

This was the real story of a real Naval Officer basically from commissioning through relief in command. It's not all general quarters and action. It's a lot of long monotonous time too. Painted a decent picture of the family separation and it's impact.

WWII Submarine stories at their finest.

Great audiobook. Makes you feel all the tension and boredom of the WWII submariner. Narrator was not very animated but got the job done.

Great book, bad narration

An amazing and gripping account of an incredible submariner. Well written and exciting. The reading however was terrible. They made exciting war action seem like an insurance seminar. Still, on ballance very good listen.

Good Overall

Great story ok reader. Parts are slow, but it heats up. Good first WWIi submarine book to get an overall feel.