Union And Confederate Submarine Warfare In The Civil War [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Mark K. Ragan (Author), Clive Cussler (Author) "Although a handful of small and primitive submarines had been constructed and launched prior to the American Civil War, their potential for disrupting and destroying..." (more)
Key Phrases: submarine diagrams, iron submarine boat, submarine armor, James River, New Orleans, Hampton Roads (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most Civil War enthusiasts have heard about the Hunley, the Confederate submarine that sank the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864. Less well known, however, is that the Hunley was not alone in the water. Both the Union and the Confederacy built submarines; many were operational and patrolled for enemy ships. In Union and Confederate Submarine Warfare in the Civil War, Mark K. Ragan brings this little-known history to the surface. Ragan, who served as consultant on the 1999 TNT movie Hunley, uses contemporary letters, newspaper accounts, factory records, and log books to recount the early history of submarine warfare--from Bushnell's Turtle to the Hunley, from the Alligator to the Intelligent Whale. Many observers were enthusiastic about the new technology, describing it as "as formidable as it is economical." Others were violently opposed, labeling submarines "unchivalrous" and "infernal machines." For better or worse, the submarine was here to stay.

Thoroughly researched, engagingly written, well illustrated, and featuring an introduction by Clive Cussler (who led the successful 1995 effort to locate the sunken Hunley), Submarine Warfare deserves a place on every Civil War buff's bookshelf. --Sunny Delaney

Product Description

& 50 photos/illustrations & 6 maps & 6 x 9 & First scholarly book on Civil War submarines & Original construction diagrams and building plans Foreword by best-selling author Clive Cussler Submarine use and experimentation during the Civil War was far more widespread than generally known. Several were actually built and launched, and both sides experimented with the military possibilities of the new weapon. Drawing on years of archival research, submarine expert Ragan outlines the building programs, construction plans, and underwater operations of both the Union and Confederacy. Historic drawings show the state of the art in 19th century America, when prototypes included air-locks for diving and rudimentary periscopes. Mark K. Ragan is the author of The Hunley: Submarines, Sacrifice, and Success, and operates his own midget submarine. He is a consultant for TNT on the new movie "CSS Hunley." He lives in Maryland.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; illustrated edition edition (November 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882810325
• ISBN-13: 978-1882810321
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,462,392 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on Civil War Submarines, August 11, 2000

By	M Halligan (TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This has to be the most thorough books on Submarine warfare during the Civil War. Having studied the history of submarines during this period, and having a family connection to the design of one of the Confederate subs, the St. Patrick, I thought I knew a lot about Civil War subs. This book proved me wrong. The detail and depth of the book showed the incredible amount of work that went into the research for this book. It is a must for any submarine enthusiast.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ground breaking work, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

An absolutely fascinating book on a subject much hinted at, but never until now discussed in one book.

The story of the Hunley has been told before, and there have been many hints as to other boats used and operated during the war. However, information has been sketchy. As the author says, information regarding this topic is scattered. He has done a great job bringing all known facts together. I especially enjoyed the coherent description of the Hunley's attack.

I was fascinated at the creativity of the efforts that went into buiding these boats and was amazed at the sophistication of the vessels, especially Hunley and Pioneer.

The Hunley was far in advance of its time. It was a very capable submarine, dogged by human error and ill-fortune. It will be interesting to see if the mystery of its final loss will finally be explained.

For anyone interested in naval history, as well as Civil War history, this book is a must.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ". . . a standout. . .brilliant. . . " Civil War Book Review, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

"Mark K. Ragan shows us the rest of the iceberg in this volume which is a standout both for its scholarship and clear, concise writing. . . Ragan's job of research . . . is impressive. He had to scour through company records, newspaper accounts, and personal correspondence to produce this brilliant definitive work on a little-known aspect of the endlessly fascinating Civil War."