Customer Reviews

Back from the Deep: The Strange Story of the Sister Subs Squalus and Sculpin (Bluejacket Books)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best submarine books I've read. Mr. LaVo writes with the style of a novelist and keeps the reader on edge throughout this exciting story of the Squalus and Sculpin. He starts his story with the ill-fated test dive of the Squalus. A valve is mistakenly left open, although it shows as being closed on the control panel. Thousands of gallons of sea water pour into the open hatch and the sub plunges to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Thirty Three men survived the sinking, but they are trapped on the ocean floor. "Swede" Momsen, inventor of the submarine rescue chamber, and his crew are summoned to the sunken submarine. Thanks to incredible human effort, the thirty three crewmen are successfully rescued and the submarine is rasied and refitted.

Perhaps the best part of this book is the story of the war patrols of the Squalus (now re-named Sailfish) and Sculpin. Mr. LaVo does an excellent job telling about the numerous war cruises of each submarine. Both ran up an impressive list of enemy ships sunk or damaged. The testimonies of the crewmembers are skillfully blended into the author's narrative and they give the reader a sense of actually being on the submarine.

An ironic twist of fate will forever seal these submarines together in history. The Sculpin was sunk by a Japanese destroyer, who picked up the survivors from the submarine. They were taken to the Japanese naval base at Truk, where they were transferred to the aircraft carriers Chuyo and Unyo for transport to Japan. The Sailfish intercepted the Chuyo and sank her with torpedoes. All but one of the Sculpin survivors was killed. Twenty survivors were aboard the Unyo and made it safely to Japan, where they were interred, under horrible conditions, for the remainder of the war.

Written with great knowledge and a true sense of suspense, this book belongs on any World War II or submarine enthusiasts' bookshelf. I also recommend "The Terrible Hours" by Peter Maas for more reading about the Squalus.

This very well written story of two sister submarines was hard to put down. As a former submariner, I had heard some of the story, but this book covered interesting aspects of the history of these boats that I had never before understood. Whether you have been in the service or not, this is a terrific read.

Historians normally get most of the facts and dates right - that is no great accomplishment and the easy part of history. But for this author to leave me with the idea that he MUST have been a diesel boat sailor to describe the selection, training and life aboard an old fleet boat is quite an accomplishment. In fact I am sure he was not a submariner at all! Life as a submariner is so unusual it is hard even for us to describe properly.
I served on a fleet boat (USS BARBERO SSG 317)for three years and I was stunned at Carl Lavo's insight and the knowledge of life on a diesel boat. He is up there with Ambrose in my opinion.

This is one of the best books I have ever read on ANY subject. The author does not waste time with unnecessary 'fluff', just straight to the facts without fanfare!

After reading this story, Ihave always just read Moon books(space); however after seeing on tv and reading this great book; I simply couldn't put it down. Tells how a young/brilliant Navy inventor: Swede Monson developed a dive bell that could descend many feet below surface and performed 1st successful submarine rescue ever! This actually happened in Fall of 1939 off coast of New England and all remaining members of USS SQUALUS were successfully rescued! Keeps you on the edge the whole way through!

Since seeing the movie U-571, I have loved reading about submarines. This book is great. I couldn't put it down. It is about the sister ships, the Squalus/Sailfish and the Sculpin. Carl LaVo did a terrific job on this book. Anyone who enjoyed Tom Clancy's SSN or U-571 will love this book.

My father served on the USS Sailfish under Lt. Cdr. R.E.M. Ward from 1943-45 until the depth charging they received on 12th war patrol ended war for Sailfish. I went to a Subvets convention in 1983 in Scottsdale, Arizona, and there I met survivors of the Sculpin, as well as survivors of the Squalus. These guys were amazing. They had an entire hotel filled with guys running around in those bush hats and blue/yellow vests and it was as if it were 1945 again and they were just off patrol. I recently received a copy of the wartime patrol logbook of the Sailfish, an hour by hour summary and it is fascinating reading. My dad was on the 10th thru 12th war patrols. My dad was the one who returned to sub with an very unusual souvenir from Saipan battlefield when they stopped to drop off shot down and rescued flyboys. And his best buddy has the same last name as a popular cake... BTW, the book is amazing and a must read....

This book was very meaningful to me since my Uncle Claiborne Wead was a sailor on the Sculpin. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book even though it was sad reading how my uncle cruelly died. The author held my interest throughout and it was very informative with events leading up to and during WWII, of things I never knew. An incredible read, one I highly recommend and a book I will always keep.

This was a great book. I received it in new condition and in a timely fashion.

There is a book that was written shortly after the sinking of the Squalus back in the late 1930's titled "Blow All Balasts". I have read this amazing tale in one of the original hardcover books -- and I am dying to get my hands on it again! If ANYONE can help point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate the help.