Customer Reviews

Regulus: The Forgotten Weapon

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The Regulus I missile was the Navy's first underwater nuclear deterrent. Before the Polaris submarines were launched in the 1960's, five Regulus missile firing submarines patrolled in the Pacific: the diesel boats USS Tunny, USS Barbero, USS Grayback, USS Growler, and the nuclear-powered USS Halibut. The Regulus I missile was developed through testing of remote-controlled V-1 rocket bombs known as the "Loon" missile at Pt. Mugu. An air-breathing weapon that resembled a small plane, it was launched using JATO bottles from a surfaced submarine.

Dr. David Stumpf's excellent book chronicles the development and deployment of the Regulus I and the successor weapon, the never-deployed supersonic Regulus II. It features chapters dedicated to the test programs of each missiles, and chapters concerning each submarine, cruiser, and aircraft carrier that carried or launched the missile.

The book features hundreds of photographs, diagrams, and fact charts.

David Stumpf, who admittedly is a friend of mine, is a careful historian. This book is exquisitely detailed and well researched, and draws on official documents and personal accounts. His other major historical work is a book about the Titan I and II ICBMs.

A new edition of the book has recently been published with a revised cover. All of the internal content of the book is the same.

For more information about the Regulus missile you can also purchase the DVD "Regulus: The First Nuclear Missile Submarines" available from Amazon.com.

Another interesting book, if you're interested in a first-hand account of life aboard a Regulus-firing submarine, is Bob Harmuth's "Up from the Deep".

The most incredible, in-depth, highly researched information about the U.S. Navy's Regulus missiles. If you have any interest in Navy missiles and submarines you MUST have this book! Even with the HUGE amount of tecnical information, it is so well written that even non-techies will find it enjoyable. It is worth buying just for the incredible photographs! BUY THIS BOOK!

During the 1950s I was in the U.S. Navy and my first duty assignment was to work on the Chance Vought Regulus One guided missile. From then until 1964 I was both a launch team member and an instructor at the Regulus Guided Missile School. I must say that Dr. Stumph has puled out all the stops and has penned a graphic picture of the Regulus program that could not be equaled. In reading his book I find myself reliving those days as a Regulus sailor. There are many occasions where I can see the past happening all over again and must say the this book is a must for any Navy historian from the cold war era or the Navy's guided missile program that has led up to todays Nuclear submarines and cruise missiles. Many thanks to Dr. Stumph.

Richard F. Saddlemire

This book generated so many memories along with the installation of the REGULUS into the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport that I can only say thanks for taking the time to explore the early history of the U.S. cruise missle efforts.