Power Shift: The Transition to Nuclear Power in the U.S. Submarine Force As Told by Those Who Did It [Paperback]

Dan Gillcrist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 9, 2006

Power Shift is the first comprehensive account of the US Navy’s Submarine Force transition from diesel to nuclear power. It represented the biggest, most costly and disruptive technological change in naval history. This was all done against the backdrop of intense Cold War operations where US submarines played a critical role in maintaining the peace. The story is told by the people who were part of the power shift. From seamen to admirals they tell the stories of how the technological and cultural changes affected them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author is from Long Island, NY, the youngest of nine children. He, along with his four brothers and their Dad, all served in the Armed Forces. Upon turning 18, Dan enlisted in the Navy and volunteered for submarine duty. After a year of various schools he reported aboard U.S.S. Barbero SSG–317 for the remaining three years of his enlistment. He left the boat in Pearl Harbor in 1961 as TM2(SS).

After college he became a salesman for IBM followed by working at Ross Perot’s Electronic Data Systems (EDS). While at EDS he became involved in the political world working as an advanceman for Nixon and a scheduler for them Congressman George H.W. Bush in his race for the US Senate. In 1971 Dan entered the municipal bond business where he still works. He lives in Santa Fe, NM with his wife of 45 years, Barbara. In addition to writing, he makes military commemoratives which can be viewed at his web site www.subpowershift.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595385745
• ISBN-13: 978-0595385744
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BTDT (Been there done that), April 10, 2006

By 

Ron Martini (Sheridan, WY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Shift: The Transition to Nuclear Power in the U.S. Submarine Force As Told by Those Who Did It (Paperback)

I have avoided all the ills prescribed by diesel boat sailors by being qualified on one of them before making the transistion to the nuclear boats. I was one of the guys with holes in his dungarees from the battery acid; an electrician in other words.

The book took me on a journey of remembrance in the 60's. Stories of Admiral Rickover, the description of the smells, living aboard each type, some danger, the comradiere, and the common goals we all had of defending our country.

The book belongs in every serious submarine library as it's the first of the class of books on the subject and probably will be the only one to seriously attempt to write about the change from diesel to nuclear subs.

I wanted to rate the book a 3 because of it's size. I didn't want it to end. And also because of it reliance and interviews with too many officer types. But that was being prejudice. Dan has done a very good job and I appreciate the read.

Ron Martini-www.rontini.com

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surface weenie's review, May 16, 2006

By 

Robert Gillcrist (Northport, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Shift: The Transition to Nuclear Power in the U.S. Submarine Force As Told by Those Who Did It (Paperback)

Power Shift was a surprise for me. The interviewing skills and the access to all of the Players was something that no one but a dedicated, influential, ex-submariner could pull off. No journalist with a PhD. could achieve this goal. There is an intrinsic need to have that depth of understanding that only comes from being a member of that exclusive brotherhood of overachievers, aptly called The Silent Service. Moreover, Dan demonstrates this notion by spending years pursuing his goal of telling the intimate story of the Cold War transition from our WWII diesel submarines to the present day nuclear submarines. Power Shift is an amazing piece of documentary writing, with more than enough humor to make it fun to read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Submariner's View, March 27, 2007

By 

Theodore J. DelGaizo (Malvern, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Power Shift: The Transition to Nuclear Power in the U.S. Submarine Force As Told by Those Who Did It (Paperback)

As a submarine officer from 1963 to 1977, I personally witnessed the transition to nuclear power that Dan Gillcrist describes. I also knew several of the individuals that he interviewed for the book, so the book had a special meaning to me. Navy veterans will particularly enjoy it, while non-veterans can learn a good deal from it.

I thought Dan Gillcrist did a fine job of presenting this unique story. The book is well written and the subject matter was treated fairly and objectively, particularly his treatment of Admiral Rickover. Rickover had many enemies and many admirers. In this area, the book was well balanced in pointing out the good along with the bad.