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Gallant Lady: A Biography of the USS Archerfish Hardcover – June 1, 2004

by Ken Henry (Author), Don Keith (Author)

32 customer reviews

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She looked like just about like the other diesel powered, Balao-class submarines crafted in the '40s. But there the similarity ends. Because the Archerfish--named for a fish that kills its victims with a lethal blast of water from below--won a unique, heroic place in military history and the memories of her crew members.

Here is her story: from her assembly in New England, her dedication at the hand of Eleanor Roosevelt, her service in World War II, where she broke the back of the Japanese Navy and sank the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine, to the details of her critical role in the Cold War, crisscrossing the oceans for six years to foil Soviet naval intelligence.

Here too, is the story of her officers and enlsited men, who waited years to serve on the Archerfish. In their own words, these men tell how, against all odds, they sent a Japanese aircraft carrier to the ocean floor . . . served in peacetime in the Navy's only all bachelor crew . . . steered their ship into exotic ports all over the world . . . welcomed B-girls, Japanese war veterans, royalty, Playboy bunnies and a goat aboard ship, with equal hospitality. As they helped their sub outlast fires and even an earthquake, they worked hard, played hard and lived even harder.

An extraordinary real-life odyssey, Archerfish is a vivid, unforgettable portrait of submariners' life.

Gallant Lady: A Biography of the USS Archerfish

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The next best thing to serving on the Archerfish is reading this book. It's a great Navy story about a great ship and crew."--Stephen Coonts

About the Author

Don Keith is an Alabama native and attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he received his degree in broadcast and film. He has won numerous awards from the Associated Press and United Press International for news writing and reporting, as well as Billboard Magazine's "Radio Personality of the Year" during his more than twenty years in broadcasting. His first novel, The Forever Season, won the Alabama Library Association's "Fiction of the Year" award.

Keith lives in Indian Springs Village, Alabama, with his wife, Charlene, and a black cat named Hershey.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Forge Books; 1 edition (June 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765305682
ISBN-13: 978-0765305688
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 32 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,528,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3552 in Books > History > Military > Naval
- #15755 in Books > History > Military > United States

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Top customer reviews

OK... certainly not the best one out there.

ByClackamason December 15, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The book was OK up to and including the sinking of the Japanese carrier. After that I couldn't stay with it long. When compared to books like Clear the Bridge, Wahoo, Thunder Below and Luck of the Draw this book leaves a lot to be desired. I salute the crew of the Archerfish, they like all submariners in WWII were the bravest of the brave. My friends say "weren't you scared being under water in a submarine", well let me tell you, it was a cake walk compared to what those guys went through in the Pacific ocean fighting the Japanese.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A WHOLE LOT OF BS ABOUT A GALLANT LADY

Byronnieon May 5, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Purchased the book from a different source. I was home ported out of pearl on SS480 during 59 through 62 and can assure you a lot of the stuff described in this book did not happen. Anyone who has ever served on a sub knows you don't walk aboard another sub in the middle of the night and remove stuff, you would get your ass shot off by the armed topside watch. I also made many of the liberty ports described in the book during this period and things weren't the way they were described in the book which makes me wonder about the rest of the stuff described. Also the description of the sinking of Shiano does not follow Captain Enright's description very closely in his book Shinano (which is a great read).

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Broad coverage of the diesel boat heyday era through the history of one vessel

ByC. Andrewson March 6, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The book covers Archerfish's history from launch in May 1943 to sinking as a Naval target in Nov. 1968. As such it provides a very interesting view of what was going on in the world during this time frame, from hot war to cold. I would consider the coverage of the all bachelor voyage to be "R" rated, and women that choose to read this book should prepare themselves for the morals of the day.

I got this book originally to read about the Japanese WW2 carrier Shinano sinking, which is covered in one long chapter, but I'm glad that I was exposed to the rest of the service life of a boat from this era.

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Five Stars

ByMagicBobon May 22, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very good story of this interesting submarine. A bit different than most WWII books about submarines.

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A sub and a sub crew that were meant for each other!!!

ByBob Crofton July 7, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Since I rode the boats (SUBS) for many years and served with Ken Henry, I am very partial to submarine stories. I had heard many of the Archerfish escapades and so, I just had to read "Gallant Lady"! This book is the real deal. This crew of submarine rouges left nothing to the imagination! A true story of the lives and times of sub sailors. I laughed all the way through it.

"Gallant Lady" is truly a great read. I recommend it to anyone and especially the arm chair adventurer"!

Bob Croft

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Great historical record

ByR. Shawon May 27, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Easy reading with much historical info on a long lived US Submarine.

Brought back many memories for an old 'TinCan' sailor. Many of the terms, unique to any 'white hat,' and the pranks and antics of every day shipboard life and liberty experiences, brought back many memories. For those who never put on the uniform, it may not ring as true.

Having had the experience of a one day on board exercise in USS Sennet (SS-408) in Gitmo in 1956, the distinct 'diesel boat' as described, is still vivid! The submerged ride is much smoother than riding the waves.

Gallant Lady is a highly recommended look into any sailor's past.

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Gallant Lady: A Biography of the USS Archerfish

ByGene R. Stull Sr.on August 12, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've read almost every submarine book on Amazon. Although many of their histories are similar each boat is different and the writers have done a good job in telling the unique part of each boats story. Gallant Lady was a very good story, exciting and couldn't put it down.

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This is a great book. Keep in mind I may be bias ...

ByLarry Bramanon August 15, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a great book. Keep in mind I may be bias since I served on the Archerfish from December 1957 until April 1960. While the whole book was very enlightening reading the portions of the book in the era I served were very well done and brought back many memories from my days on the Gallant Lady.