Customer Reviews

All Hands Down

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It is an exciting read, but the research is so poor that the authors call a Naval Academy Midshipman a Cadet and a Soviet destroyer a Battleship.
The technical aspects of this book are mostly fabricated with hundreds of errors. The Scorpion famlies deserve the truth and not some fabricated myth that Soviets sank her.
I observed Soviet ASW capabilities in the early 70's and they were terrible. The Soviet ASW helo that the author's claim sank the
Scorpion was not in service at the time and even if in service the torpedo the book says was used was to heavy for the helo to carry.
This helo didn't have the onboard sensors to target the Scorpion on an open ocean transit, even if they had the track given to them by Soviet agents, which is highly unlikely.
I can answer this question in more detail if you are interested.
The Scorpion imploded at crush depth, which would not have occured if was hit by a Soviet torpedo. The book claims that the torpedo breeched the hull and boat imploded when
it reached crush depth. Impossible, it has to be one or the other. If the torpedo filled the boat with water it would be on the bottom in one piece with a hole in it and not scattered over the ocean floor. Jim Bryant Captain USN (Retired) former Commanding Officer of Guardfish (SSN 612) 87-90

A Theory ( Conformists close your eyes ) :

A: Israelis (with US knowledge) wanted to sink USS Liberty to plunge US into a war against the Arabs (Nuke Cairo). The plot failed, but the Russians knew what the intent was. .

B: Russians tried to ignite a Sino-US conflict in retaliation with K-129 simulating a Chinese sub launch on Pearl. (Russians unaware of the level of
our Intel on Chinese capability)

C: USS Scorpion torpedoed (SOSUS Listening station data was suppressed in
typical CIA fashion, personnel threatened ). Both sides are even.

It is stupid and very naive to believe that we get accurate data from any government reporting agency (do you believe the Census, Unemployment numbers ?). Do not discredit a theory because the author made an error (Helo vs Torpedo), look at the bigger picture. Many people (especially gov officials) find it impossible to think that governments would sacrifice their own people; these are people that go along with the flow, fearing retaliation for dissent. The globalists are pulling the plug on the La La Land exuberant life style of the USA and bringing it more in line with the rest of the struggling world. The fearful sheep will get what they deserve.

I had not intended to write a review of All Hands Down, however much I enjoyed it--which was immensely. I do not consider myself a qualified book reviewer. I am, however, well versed in the technical aspects of surface vessel and submarine construction. And I can attest that the technical elements of All Hands Down are highly well-researched.

To be honest, as another reader (and better reviewer than I) said, I consider myself an agnostic in the argument between those who believe Scorpion was attacked by the Soviets and those who believe the cause of the sinking is unknown.

It is deplorable that Mr. R.B. Rule, an amateur student of Scorpion who has tried promote himself as an expert for monetary gain, has entered this forum representing himself as a "book reviewer". Incredibly, Mr. Rule refers to "technical documents" that he himself prepared using 40 year-old materials he obtained on the Internet. Mr. Rule then sent these documents to the Navy, which strongly refuted them.

Mr. Rule is reviled for his actions by many who lost family members and former shipmates aboard Scorpion.

Read All Hands Down and make up your own mind. Or, like me, continue to ponder. Either way, you will enjoy the book and appreciate its authoritativeness. It is thoroughly engaging and journalistically sound.