The Silent Service in World War II: The Fleet Type Submarine [Paperback]

U.S. Navy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2009

Originally published by the U.S. Navy in 1946, "The Fleet Type Submarine" uses the USS Perch SS313 to explain operating principles, technologies, and systems. It contains numerous diagrams and photos and offers definitions of components and terminology. It provides descriptions of various systems such as ballast tanks, trim, ventilation and steering. It also contains a brief history of the submarine and a discussion of patrol routines. This is the most complete technical guide to the boats that won WWII in the Pacific. Nothing close to it was ever assembled before, or since. Periscopefilm.com's affordable reprint comes in a soft bound edition with attractive covers. Although some of the book has been reformatted, and color images are reproduced in black and white, all of the original content is preserved. (A color supplement is also available). This is a must-have for anyone interested in submarines and an important reference for any historian, docent, or modeler.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This is one in a series of historic flight manuals and military documents republished by Periscopefilm.com All are available through Amazon.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: lulu.com (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411677536
• ISBN-13: 978-1411677531
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #825,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, March 15, 2006

By 

J. T. Mcdaniel "novelist and naval historian" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Silent Service in World War II: The Fleet Type Submarine (Paperback)

NAVPERS 16160 was the basic fleet submarine training manual during the final years of the U.S. Navy's diesel sub period, and contained a wealth of information, some of it very detailed. Declassified some years back, original copies can sell for as much as $400, presuming you can find one.

This book is a facsimile copy of the 1946 edition, and a good one. There are a few places where the type isn't quite as sharp as an original, an inevitable problem in any facsimile edition, and never a serious problem in this one. Most of the half-tone and line art illustrations--of which there are a lot--are perfectly clear, with the detailed cutaway views and diagrams in the back of the book particularly sharp. Some of the original illustrations were fold outs, and these have been reduced to fit on a normal page, with the rendering in black and white instead of color. Given that this edition sells for several hundred dollars less than an original, this is something I can accept.

As someone who writes books about submarines, I've been wanting a copy of this for a long time and really thought I'd be limited to an Internet edition. This one fills an important gap in my library, and goes on the "keep handy" shelf next to the typewriter.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Thought I'd Get a Copy -- Very Neat!, March 16, 2006

By 

Mark Clark "Seeadler" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Silent Service in World War II: The Fleet Type Submarine (Paperback)

Here's a book which was originally classified by the U.S. Government, and when you read it you can see why. It tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the WWII fleet submarines, the ones which beat the pulp out of the Japanese. It's a veritable encyclopedia of information about submarine systems, and includes an absolute TON of illustrations and photos. Major chapters are: Development of the Submarine, Definitions and Phraseology, Compartmentation, Tank Arrangements, Buoyancy and Stability, Engineering Plant, Ventilation System, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning System, Water System, Trim and Drain Systems, Air Systems, Main Hydraulic System, Steering System, Bow and Stern Planes System, Ancho Handling Gear and Capstans, Fuel and Lubricating Oil Systems, General Surface Operations, General Diving Operations, Compensation, Patrol Routine, and Submarine Training Devices. Wow, that's a lot of stuff! This book cleared up a great many "mysteries" I've encountered reading submarine fiction from "Run Silent, Run Deep" to "The Hunt for Red October." If you're a submarine fan and you don't have this on your bookshelf, well you should.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fleet Type Submarine // Description of Book, March 16, 2006

By 

TorpedoEight (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Silent Service in World War II: The Fleet Type Submarine (Paperback)

Originally published by the U.S. Navy in 1946, "The Fleet Type Submarine" uses the USS Perch SS313 to explain operating principles, technologies, and systems. It contains numerous diagrams and photos and offers definitions of components and terminology. It provides technical descriptions of various machinery and systems such as ballast tanks, trim, ventilation and steering. It also contains a brief history of the submarine and a discussion of patrol routines. By far this is the most complete technical guide to the boats that won WWII in the Pacific. Nothing close to it was ever assembled before, or since. Periscopefilm.com's affordable reprint comes in a soft bound edition with attractive covers. Although some of the book has been reformatted, and color images are reproduced in black and white, all of the original content is preserved. This is a must-have for anyone interested in submarines and an important reference for any historian, docent, or modeler. Length: 204 pages plus index and 27 pages of diagrams. Measures 8.5x11 inches.