What are some great Fleet boat books??

fastfed · 03-10-13, 03:44 AM

I read a few u-boat books (Iron Coffins,Steel boats, etc..)

And absolutely LOVED the way they were written.. From 1 person and the feeling of being there was present with all of them..

Recently I was recommended "War in the boats, my wwii submarine battles"

and I must say, I rather impressed.. The danger and grit isn't really there and many of the torpedo attacks he talks about happen within a sentence and its over, but I still love the book.

I'm almost finished with it and I started thinking, there must be more out there.

I think the U-boat books I mentioned are two of the most popular/best

are there any like that for the Pacific Fleet ?

THANKS

Sailor Steve · 03-10-13, 09:55 AM

Wahoo and Clear The Bridge! by Dick O'Kane.

Submarine! The Classic Account of Undersea Combat in World War II, by Edward L. Beach (author of the fiction classic Run Silent, Run Deep)

Thunder Below! by Eugene B. Fluckey.

Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine, by James F. Calvert.

fastfed · 03-10-13, 02:40 PM

Clear The Bridge!

Is that a good story? or is it broken down into little stories?

I want to know throughout the patrols and even back at base..

I got one of those books a while back and remember how terrible it was, I don't think it was Clear the bridge, because that book is really popular.

Jimbuna · 03-10-13, 03:43 PM

The best INMHO:

Silent Victory by Clay Blair

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Victory.../dp/155750217X

sharkbit · 03-10-13, 03:59 PM

They're fiction but I always recommend Edward L. Beach's "trilogy" "Run Silent, Run Deep", "Dust on the Sea", and "Cold is the Sea".

The first two take place on Fleet Boats during WWII but are very realistic. Beach served on subs during the war(Sailor Steve mentions his other book based on his experiences above, which is very good too

)

The third one takes place during the Cold War with the same main characters and is very good.

I'll definitely second O'Kane's "Wahoo" and "Clear the Bridge". When I was much younger, I read "Clear the Bridge" and remember not really liking it but I read it again in the last couple of years along with "Wahoo" and enjoyed both of them, "Wahoo" more than "Clear the Bridge" though.

Another might be "War in the Boats: My WWII Submarine Battles" by William Ruhe. I have it but haven't read it though. I've heard it is good. I believe it documents some of his experiences in S Boats early in the war.

Sailor Steve · 03-10-13, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfed

Clear The Bridge!

Is that a good story? or is it broken down into little stories?

I honestly don't remember. I know Wahoo recounts each patrol in great detail, so Clear The Bridge should as well.

fastfed · 03-10-13, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

The best INMHO:

Silent Victory by Clay Blair

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Victory.../dp/155750217X

I have that book.. and IMO its HORRIBLE.. I'm sure its just my attention span, but it doesn't seem to follow a good story throughout the war..

Its HUGE

Red October1984 · 03-10-13, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfed

I have that book.. and IMO its HORRIBLE.. I'm sure its just my attention span, but it doesn't seem to follow a good story throughout the war..

Its HUGE

That's because it's basically a reference book.

03-10-13, 03:44 AM	#1
fastfed Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 786 Downloads: 254 Uploads: 0	What are some great Fleet boat books?? I read a few u-boat books (Iron Coffins,Steel boats, etc..) And absolutely LOVED the way they were written.. From 1 person and the feeling of being there was present with all of them.. Recently I was recommended "War in the boats, my wwii submarine battles" and I must say, I rather impressed.. The danger and grit isn't really there and many of the torpedo attacks he talks about happen within a sentence and its over, but I still love the book. I'm almost finished with it and I started thinking, there must be more out there. I think the U-boat books I mentioned are two of the most popular/best are there any like that for the Pacific Fleet ? THANKS

03-10-13, 09:55 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Wahoo and Clear The Bridge! by Dick O'Kane. Submarine! The Classic Account of Undersea Combat in World War II, by Edward L. Beach (author of the fiction classic Run Silent, Run Deep) Thunder Below! by Eugene B. Fluckey. Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine, by James F. Calvert. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-10-13, 03:43 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,552 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	The best INMHO: Silent Victory by Clay Blair http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Victory.../dp/155750217X __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-10-13, 03:59 PM	#5
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	They're fiction but I always recommend Edward L. Beach's "trilogy" "Run Silent, Run Deep", "Dust on the Sea", and "Cold is the Sea". The first two take place on Fleet Boats during WWII but are very realistic. Beach served on subs during the war(Sailor Steve mentions his other book based on his experiences above, which is very good too ) The third one takes place during the Cold War with the same main characters and is very good. I'll definitely second O'Kane's "Wahoo" and "Clear the Bridge". When I was much younger, I read "Clear the Bridge" and remember not really liking it but I read it again in the last couple of years along with "Wahoo" and enjoyed both of them, "Wahoo" more than "Clear the Bridge" though. Another might be "War in the Boats: My WWII Submarine Battles" by William Ruhe. I have it but haven't read it though. I've heard it is good. I believe it documents some of his experiences in S Boats early in the war. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

03-10-13, 02:40 PM	#3
fastfed Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 786 Downloads: 254 Uploads: 0	Clear The Bridge! Is that a good story? or is it broken down into little stories? I want to know throughout the patrols and even back at base.. I got one of those books a while back and remember how terrible it was, I don't think it was Clear the bridge, because that book is really popular.