Essential and good literature on US submarines in WW2?

[Newinger]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

For a straight history of American Submarines, you can start here.

For a great collection of photographs of the different types of boats, you can see them all here.

And of course the ultimate in-depth source on the fleet boats.

Thank you, Steve, that's a great start for getting an overview.

Originally Posted by Kptlt. Neuerburg

For some good book reading about US Subs in WW2 I'd recommend War In The Boats by William J. Ruhe and Thunder Below by Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey.

And that seems a fine read for getting a feeling for the live onboard, thanks a lot! Just ordered these books.

Edit: And while I were at it, I also bought "Gallant Lady. A biography of the USS Archerfish".

[Cybermat47]

Cheers for starting this thread, I too have lots of knowledge of U-boats, but next to none on American subs (or any other country's subs) in WWII. A bit ironic, considering that they actually operated out of my country

[Subnuts]

I would say that Clay Blair's Silent Victory is probably the definitive single volume history of American submarines in World War II. It's also more than 1,000 pages long, so it's definitely not a beach read!

If you're looking for a more technical study, I'd recommend Norman Friedman's two volume US Submarines: An Illustrated Design History, although it's hard to find a copy of the volume two for under $70.