You can't beat a good book

[Nisgeis]

I've seen some books recommended in this forum and I have just ordered some of them, including:

U.S. Submarines Through 1945
Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanalm Midway - The Great Naval Battles as Seen Through Japanese Eyes
Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-45
Thunder Below
Iron Coffins: A U-boat Commander's War, 1939-45
War in the Boats: My WWII Submarine Battles (Memories of War)
Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack SubmarineIs there anything else anyone would recommend?

[mookiemookie]

Shadow Divers http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Divers-Adventure-Americans-Everything/dp/0375508589

Torpedo Junction
http://www.amazon.com/Torpedo-Junction-U-Boat-Americas-Bluejacket/dp/1557503621/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207147805&sr=1-1

Shattered Sword
http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Sword-Untold-Battle-Midway/dp/1574889249/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207147848&sr=1-1

[seafarer]

I enjoyed The Submarine: A History by Tom Parrish (2004). It's a good attempt (not perfect) at providing a history of submarines, from The Turtle in 1776, to modern nukes - very readable and IMO well researched.

[tedhealy]

Thunder Below! by Fluckey

http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Below-Revolutionizes-Submarine-Warfare/dp/0252066707/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207150967&sr=8-1

[Nisgeis]

Thunder Below! by Fluckey

http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Below-Revolutionizes-Submarine-Warfare/dp/0252066707/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207150967&sr=8-1

Yeah, that one comes up a lot, it's one of the ones I have already ordered. Good suggestion :D .

[Sonarman]

Interestingly "Thunder Below" was optioned by Steven Spielberg about six years ago and a screenplay was written, hopefully one day it will be a film.


To Quote Wikipedia...
"Salerno's first feature film screenplay was the fact-based World War II submarine thriller Thunder Below for producer-director Steven Spielberg and his newly formed Dreamworks Pictures."

[tedhealy]

Interestingly "Thunder Below" was optioned by Steven Spielberg about six years ago and a screenplay was written, hopefully one day it will be a film.


To Quote Wikipedia...
"Salerno's first feature film screenplay was the fact-based World War II submarine thriller Thunder Below for producer-director Steven Spielberg and his newly formed Dreamworks Pictures."

Interesting, though I'd put my faith in hollywood screwing it up somehow.

[cherbert]

I have just started reading the book, Silent Running. In the beginning he highlights that their biggest fear was enemy submarines!

Does SH4 have enemy Subs?

[Wilcke]

Interestingly "Thunder Below" was optioned by Steven Spielberg about six years ago and a screenplay was written, hopefully one day it will be a film.


To Quote Wikipedia...
"Salerno's first feature film screenplay was the fact-based World War II submarine thriller Thunder Below for producer-director Steven Spielberg and his newly formed Dreamworks Pictures."

Interesting, though I'd put my faith in hollywood screwing it up somehow.

Oh, you can count on that! Expect subs doing barrel rolls and pulling G's to evade dstroyers.

The sub movie "we" would like is not going to sell many tickets or DVD's!

[GeoffBelding]

Thanks for a most interesting post.

I have just ordered Thunder Below from abebooks.co.uk - and cheaper than Amazon.

Happy barrel rolls:damn:

Geoff

[FIREWALL]

U-BOAT ACE The Story of Wolgang Luth by Jordan Vause

[WhiskeyBravo]

Don't forget Silent Victory by Clay Blair. Excellent for finding out about any patrol made during the war in the Pacific.

WB.

[Powerthighs]

Submarine! by Ned Beach

[badaboom]

I'm currently reading 'Iron Coffins' what a fantastic read!!!!! I highly recommend it.:up:

[CDR Resser]

Both of O'Kanes books are worth a read:
Clear The Bridge-The War Patrols of USS Tang
Wahoo-The War Partols of the USS Wahoo
For a more technical history:
The Fleet Submarine in the US Navy- A Design and Construction History by Commander John Alden
Other really good reads include:
War in the Boats by Ruhe
Shinano by Enright
Batfish by Lowder and Scott
Gallant Lady by Henry and Keith
Can't really go wrong with any of them.

Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[CDR Resser]

Interestingly "Thunder Below" was optioned by Steven Spielberg about six years ago and a screenplay was written, hopefully one day it will be a film.


To Quote Wikipedia...
"Salerno's first feature film screenplay was the fact-based World War II submarine thriller Thunder Below for producer-director Steven Spielberg and his newly formed Dreamworks Pictures."
Interesting, though I'd put my faith in hollywood screwing it up somehow.
Oh, you can count on that! Expect subs doing barrel rolls and pulling G's to evade dstroyers.

The sub movie "we" would like is not going to sell many tickets or DVD's!

Das Boot was relatively popular, or maybe I just hang out with the wrong crowd.:D

Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[gumbeau]

Clear the Bridge by Dick O'Kane

[Rockin Robbins]

Lotsa books to be cited here:

The Run Silent Run Deep trilogy, RSRD, Cold Is the Sea, Dust on the Sea by Edward Beach--a post-graduate course in how to run a fleet boat. After you read and understand these you'll be as crazy as I am.

I-Boat Caoptain by Zenji Orita with Joseph D Harrington. This rare book is just outstanding if you want to understand the Japanese side of the sub war.

The Admiral's Wolfpack by Jean Noli. A Donitz-centric view of the U-Boat war. Wonderful book.

Wake of the Wahoo by Forest J Sterling. Introduction by Admiral Lockwood! My copy is totally worn out and doesn't have another reading left in it.

The Boat by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim. The Das Boot story without the sniveling Everyman who mucks up the whole movie with his "noble suffering." These were warriors, damn it, not girlie men. Yea they suffered, but not that way. The movie makes me sick. The book hits a note of unparalleled purity.

Submarines at War-the History of the American Silent Service by Edwin P Hoyt. I love this author. Silent Victory without the dryness. You won't wade through this one.

The Destroyer Killer--the true story of Commander Sam Dealey and the men of the submarine Harder--heroes of the pacific in World War II! by Edwin P Hoyt. See a pattern here? If you want to understand Eugene Fluckey you must understand Sam Dealey first.

Japanese Destroyer Captain by Captain Tameichi Hara with Fred Saito and Rober Pineau. Absolutely irreplaceable!!!!

War Patrols of the USS Flasher by William R McCants. Personally autographed by Capt McCants to my wife's grandfather from the Kraken. Why is this book not always mentioned in the same sentence as "Thunder Below?" You wonder where I get my heretical ideas?

Silent Running-My years on a World War II Attack Submarine by Vice Admiral James F Calvert. President George Bush, Admiral Nimitz, Admiral J L Holloway, and Admiral Fredrick B Warder (of Seawolf) signed on to plug this book's back cover. You don't have to buy a vowel to get a clue on whether this is worth obtaining.

Torpedoman by Ron Smith. This actual torpedoman wrote a fictional account from the viewpoint of the grunts in the torpedo room. This is not particularly well written and is more marvelous for it's unpolished grit. From the back cover, "The story moves into the real arfea of combat unique to submarines with its physical and emotional demands that challenge human endurance--where the desire to perform one's duty is in constant conflict with the desire to live. A near mutiny occurs as the crew struggles with the decision of sacrificing themselves by blindly following orders or disobeying and surviving." Yeah, it's fiction but there is reality here that no other source covers. Where in the world are you going to find this book? My copy may be one of only several dozen.

Fresh Water Submarines--the Manitowoc Story. Wooooo Hooooo! Loved this book by Rear Admiral William T Nelson.

The Last Patrol by Harry Holmes. In chronological order the story of every American submarine lost in World War II.

Threshold of Hell by Albert Rupp. The story of a crewman of the USS Grenadier, scuttled, crew captured and imprisoned for the duration by the Japanese. What was his attitude after the war? The inscription reads "To Warren Watkins/Diesel Boats Forever/Best Wishes, Albert Rupp" Captured but never defeated.:up:

Sub Duty by Grover S McLeod. Crewman on board the Halibut, Finback and Hawkbill during the war. A great read!

I tried to list books that haven't been mentioned. All the ones previously mentioned are also excellent. You're set for a couple of years there! Get to work.:rotfl:

[Da_Junka]

Of Ice and Steel. Best read I have had in years, great story and very well told. It's about a German u-boat but with a incredable twist.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-Steel-Cataclysmic-International-Conflict/dp/0977143120/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207203119&sr=1-5

[Nisgeis]

Japanese Destroyer Captain by Captain Tameichi Hara with Fred Saito and Rober Pineau. Absolutely irreplaceable!!!!

Silent Running-My years on a World War II Attack Submarine by Vice Admiral James F Calvert. President George Bush, Admiral Nimitz, Admiral J L Holloway, and Admiral Fredrick B Warder (of Seawolf) signed on to plug this book's back cover. You don't have to buy a vowel to get a clue on whether this is worth obtaining.


Yep, those I have already ordered, great recommendations! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to write out a little synopsis of each book they recommend, it's really useful.


Submarine! by Ned Beach


I did look for that one, but amazon.co.uk didn't want to list it.

My wallet is now sweating with anxiety with all these great recommendations.

[GeoffBelding]

Many thanks for this and other recommendations.

I have finished reading this, and so enthralled that I am reading it for the second time!

I was amazed that no US sub sunk more than 5 ships by 1944, and how SH4 does not incorporate so many things described - weather boats, straits patrol ships, schooners, etc. etc

Cheers

Geoff (ignorant Brit!)

[Joe S]

Thunder Below is my favorite, but I also highly recommend Silent Service by Clay Blair, Operation Drumbeat and Bucheims' Das Boot(a novel but a good one). There are many others, such as Dick O'Kanes books and The Golden Horseshoe etc .Your mileage may vary, Joe S

[Nuc]

Spadefish: On Patrol with a Top-Scoring WWII Submarine by Stephen L. Moore (Paperback - Jun 1, 2006)

I am currently about a quarter of the way through this and see it as a great resource. It has a lot of information on day to day operation and duties of the crew. It is well researched history book and not a memoir. It has a detailed Index, Bibliography and extensive chapter end notes.

http://www.amazon.com/Spadefish-Patrol-Top-Scoring-WWII-Submarine/dp/1933177071/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208718179&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Spadefish-Patrol-Top-Scoring-WWII-Submarine/dp/1933177071/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208718179&sr=8-1)

[Rip]

Just finished Unrestricted Warfare by James DeRose and enjoyed it immensley. Working on The Bravest Man by William Tuohy now and have Iron Coffins by Herbert Werner in the queue behind that. I wish I could just take a few month and spend them reading/playing sub games.

I always said I would never retire because I couldn't spend that much time fishing. Now I know what I will be doing if I ever do manage to retire.

[Gezoes]

Don't forget Silent Victory by Clay Blair. Excellent for finding out about any patrol made during the war in the Pacific.

WB.
Blair wrote about the Pacific? Another thing to find for me there :up:

I shall then recommend The Hunters (1939-1942) by his hand, and 'The Hunted', the second installment from 1943 onwards. Both books mention various exceptional patrols and such, but I especially like the overall picture he provides.

Just like John Keegan does when land is involved ;)

[vinceor]

Submarine! was written by Edward L. Beach. Who also wrote Run Silent Run Deep. It's located at http://www.amazon.com/Submarine-Edward-L-Beach/dp/0743487990/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209005792&sr=8-1 .

I really enjoyed Red Scorpin: The War Patrols of the USS Rasher . This book started me on departing from Australia instead of Pearl. You get into the action quicker.

[Aur0ra145]

The Winds of War

and

War and Rememberance

both were written by Herman Wouk (yeah, same fellow wrote The Caine Mutiny.) The books are a 2 volume series about a Naval family from the US and events leading up to WWII in the first book, and the second one takes the family through all of WWII

There are about 3-4 stories going on at the same time, but one of the threads is about a submariner, and the dad is naval attache' to Berlin before America got in the war and what not.

They're a good read, and my 2 favorite books in the world.

[mookiemookie]

Working on The Bravest Man by William Tuohy now
I may be crucified around here for saying this, but I enjoyed that one more than Clear the Bridge. :up:

[bammac3]

Don't forget Silent Victory by Clay Blair. Excellent for finding out about any patrol made during the war in the Pacific.

WB.

This one may be a bit dated, but I have to second this vote. This book is the one I would take if I could only have one. I go back to it time after time. An excellent reference.

Bam

[GeoffBelding]

I have just ordered this!

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Cheers

Geoff

[howler93]

Just finished the Subsim 2008 Submarine Almanac...great reading! :up:

Howler :arrgh!:

[Deimos01]

"U-BOAT KILLER". Cant remember the authors name but it is the real account of his service as captain of a british destroyer in the atlantic. If I remember correctly he is the guy that nailed Otto Kreschmer.

[CDR Resser]

Working on The Bravest Man by William Tuohy now
I may be crucified around here for saying this, but I enjoyed that one more than Clear the Bridge. :up:

That is an excellent book. I think that it puts Clear the Bribge in context with some of the other sub skippers. I have always wondered what happened between a couple of Wahoo's patrols where O'Kane ended up with a black eye. Forest Sterling mentions it in his book, and I think Tuohy has more detail if I remember right.

Respectfully Submitted;
CDR Resser

[Sailor Steve]

"U-BOAT KILLER". Cant remember the authors name but it is the real account of his service as captain of a british destroyer in the atlantic. If I remember correctly he is the guy that nailed Otto Kreschmer.
Donald MacIntyre. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=donald+macintyre&sts=t&tn=u-boat+killer&x=61&y=13

[steinbeck]

The one I have is: 'Silent Victory' by Clay Blair jr. (The U.S. Submarine War against Japan)

Published by the 'Naval institute Press' Annapolis, Maryland


steinbeck (in UK)