Customer Reviews

Take Her Deep!: A Submarine Against Japan in World War II

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This work doesn't challenge "Run Silent, Run Deep" as the classic of submarine warfare even though Commander Beach writes the book's foreward, but it makes a good attempt. Cdr. Gallantin deserves five stars not only for his account of battle but also for all the other contemporary background information he provides about U.S. submarines in general, about Navy personnel (both officers and enlisted men), about submarine customs, about submarine tracking equipment, submariners' family life as well as onboard life, and so on. For those readers interested in World War II submarine action, this is a very good book, probably the best currently in print. The only problem I had was the size of the book, which is one of those economy pocketbooks which snaps shut on you if you loosen your grip, and also makes you stretch the tight book open to read to the end of lines on the left page; I would have much preferred reading it in a larger format, say a softbound 6x9" on quality paper. But, despite all this, the Commander wrote a good story backed up by some post-war analysis/information which fortunately is now declassified and available to Gallantin and other World War II authors.

This book by I.J. Galantin was a great book to read! I am an avid reader of WW II books - especially Navy and submarine history. This is an excellent account of what it was like to skipper a submarine in the Pacific in WW II. He begins with a brief account of his training, then launches right into details of his experiences aboard the submarine USS Halibut. Especially riveting are the accounts of being depth charged during several battles.

Galantin's book also provides an insight into things that were going wrong with various weapons and systems in submarines. These details give the reader some insight into why the U.S. submarine service did not fare well in the aspect of casualties! His writing on these elements are not overly detailed, so the reader can easily understand them. He says he wrote this book for all the sailors who served on the Halibut and did not know anything about what went on in other areas of the ship during battle. What he also does is give readers who weren't there a great narrative of WW II submarine warfare!

I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in submarines, World War II, or naval history. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop!

I've read TAKE HER DEEP! three times. I knew after I read it the first time I wanted it in my personal Library. Galatin is not your typical dry military author; his book is well written and easy for a non-nyphyte Navy person to understand. This book should have been turned into a movie, without embellishments. HALIBUT's adventures under Galatin's command were all one could ask for in a movie, and make for a great book to read. Hard to put down once you start reading it. Worth adding to one's personal Library. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat for most of it's length.

I could never comprehend what my father had experienced while serving on the USS Halibut, although I have seen the many movies and read the books that attempt to portray that era. Captain Pete has brought to life details the others have missed. The sights and smells, the emotions, the sounds and the silences, the waiting and then the frustrations with faulty torpedoes, the terror of depth charges, the silent running, and at last, the jubilation of hits became my own as I read this fascinating account of a WWII sub and her crew. I honor my father and his shipmates for their steadfastness and valor in the face of such an experience. Thank you, Captain Pete, for sharing the underwater war and for bringing back your heavily damaged boat safely and honorably.

If you like WWII non-fiction, this is about as good as it gets. Well written, historically accurate, and full of little known facts about submarine life.

Tells what it's like to be in a sub during world war 2. Also tell's you about the crew and there views as well. Worth the read.

While I didn't serve on Submarines in WWII I did work on them at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the mid 50s as a young Ltjg. I experienced test dives in a WWII Fleet boat and later models up through the ALBACORE (AGSS569), the experimental first modern high speed submarine. I got to work and talk to Chiefs and Officers who had experienced combat in WWII including depth charging.

This book brings all those experiences to life in an easy to read well written book. Even if you have no experience with Submarines this book will give you an accurate view into life aboard a WWII submarine in action. Better than any fictional novel on the subject - this is real, an easy and fast moving read that you will enjoy.

I reviewed this edition because it is the edition I happened to read. However, please note that there are other reviews of the paperback editions.

Admiral Ignatius J. Galatin has written a detailed and very personal description of the last five war patrols of USS Halibut, an early model thin-skinned fleet submarine which he commanded from August 1943 until November 1944, when she was retired because of extremely serious battle damage in her last action. The most striking thing about this narrative is the selflessness of the author, who clearly cared deeply about his crew and takes great pains to demonstrate their humanity. Admiral Galatin is very forthright in describing the problems he encountered, and very modest about his own accomplishments. There is no horn-tooting in this book, and no attempt to excuse mistakes or embellish successes. For a military memoir this straightforwardness is rare indeed.

Halibut's story is not a chain of glorious successes. Things did not always go her way, from her first war patrol in the Aleutions, when a lookout was swept overboard, to her near-demise on her tenth war patrol when she unfortunately encountered a new Japanese magnetic detection technique. Along the way, torpedoes malfunctioned, depth control was difficult, early radar sets were misleading, and tantalizing targets were too distant or too fast to intercept.

If any of these events were Galatin's fault, I certainly don't know enough to detect it. Edward L. Beach offers no criticism in his forward, nor have I seen any criticism in any other account of Halibut's troubles. It seems like plain hard luck. In any case, Galatin is not one of the higher scoring skippers of the Silent Service. Clay Blair ranks his predecessor, Philip Ross, as 74th out of 77 top scoring commanders; Galatin does not make that list. It may be significant that Galatin was not given another combat command in subs, but was sent to China on intelligence mission so useless that Galatin himself recommended that the post be discontinued.
In any case the Navy seems to have liked his command abilities: Only three fleet boat commanders attained the rank of full Admiral, and Galatin is one of them. The hard truth of this book is that deserving units commanded by worthy men do not always get the good breaks.

Not only does this book capture the fascinating technical and tactical details of submarine operations, it allows the reader to examine the soul, spirit and psyche of a wartime submarine skipper and his crew. It is a profoundly personal and reflective book. I have not been touched by the vicarious sense of realism since I read Elmer Bendiner's equally riveting Fall of Fortresses (WWII B-17 ops).

Galantin deals with seemingly irreconcilable contrasts, from biblical inspiration to the instinctive needs of young men; from the sweet innocence of his young daughters, to the profanity aboard the boat; from the natural beauty of the sea to the horrors of war.

When I wrote to the author several years ago, expressing my appreciation for his favors in war and his deeds in peace (Galantin was the #2 officer in the Polaris Program), he wrote me back a gracious and appreciative letter.

This is a great story told very well. Full of detail and excitement. Reads better than a novel. If you are are a WWII Sub buff, then get this book.