Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine

( 3 )

Overview

In this riveting personal account, an authentic American hero relives the perils and triumphs of eight harrowing patrols aboard one of America's most successful World War II submarines. Courageous deeds and terror-filled moments - as well as the endless hard work of maintaining and operating a combat sub - are vividly recalled in James Calvert's candid portrait. From rigorous training and shakedown cruises off the coast of New England, to tense patrols within shouting distance of Japan's major cities, the ...
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More About This Book

Overview

In this riveting personal account, an authentic American hero relives the perils and triumphs of eight harrowing patrols aboard one of America's most successful World War II submarines. Courageous deeds and terror-filled moments - as well as the endless hard work of maintaining and operating a combat sub - are vividly recalled in James Calvert's candid portrait. From rigorous training and shakedown cruises off the coast of New England, to tense patrols within shouting distance of Japan's major cities, the progress of the newly commissioned USS Jack parallels Calvert's own growth from callow ensign to charter member of one of the sharpest attack teams in the fleet.
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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
In nine war patrols, the USS Jack sank 15 Japanese ships and ranked ninth in tonnage sunk by the end of the war. The author of this exciting memoir served as Torpedo Data Computer operator aboard the Jack (he was the one who aimed the torpedoes) and later as its executive officer. Calvert's book ranks with Edward Beach's Run Silent, Run Deep as an accurate, detailed, suspenseful account of submarine operations in the Pacific: the tracking and sinking of tankers, ammunition ships and a transport with a regiment of Japanese troops on board. One convoy commander whose ships crossed paths with the Jack radioed his superiors in Tokyo that he was under attack by a ``wolf pack.'' Calvert also recalls his experiences ashore between patrols, including an unconsummated romance-he was married-with an Australian woman. The memoir climaxes with an unusual account of his unauthorized tour of Tokyo immediately after the Japanese surrender, when he nearly scuttled his naval career by violating occupation rules. Calvert (Surface at the Pole) later served as superintendent of the Naval Academy, Annapolis. Photos. (Nov.)
Library Journal
Another in the recent group of books dealing with wartime memoirs (Point Man, LJ 7/93; Tin Can Man, LJ 2/1/93; Code Name: Copperhead, LJ 6/1/94), this is the story of James Calvert, who was stationed aboard the U.S. Navy attack submarine USS Jack from 1943 to the end of World War II. In a page-turner as good as any war novel, Calvert recounts the history of the eight war patrols that the Jack completed. He also describes the training involved, as well as overcoming problems like faulty torpedoes that hampered early submarine operations against the Japanese. Finally, Calvert tells about an unauthorized sightseeing trip to Tokyo that almost cost him his career. He went on to command the nuclear submarine USS Skate and become superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Calvert's memoir should be at home in any type of library.-Terry L. Wirick, Erie Cty. Lib. System, Pa.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780471197058
  • Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated
  • Publication date: 10/28/1997
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 320
  • Sales rank: 251,002
  • Product dimensions: 6.10 (w) x 9.20 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

JAMES F. CALVERT, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret.), was one of the Navy's most decorated officers in World War II. After the war, he became the second skipper to command a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine. In 1959, his ship, the Skate, broke through the ice to surface at the North Pole—the first ship of any kind to reach that part of the earth on the surface. In 1964, he became the second-youngest rear admiral in the Navy's history. Admiral Calvert served as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy and head of the Pacific fleet. After his retirement from the Navy, he became assistant to the chairman of the board of Texaco. Admiral Calvert is the author of Surface at the Pole, The Naval Profession, and A Promise to Our Country.

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Table of Contents

Training for the Big Show.
On to Pearl Harbor.
Patterns of War in the Deep.
At the Gates of Tokyo.
Fighting Wounded.
A Taste of Defeat.
The Tanker Sweep.
Australia and Admiral Jay.
The New Skipper.
A Gallant Retreat.
Farewell, Forgiveness, and Tragedy.
Decisions at Guam.
Deliverance by the Bomb.
Tokyo--Hail and Farewell.
Afterword.
Index.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 3 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 22, 2000

    History, Adventure, and Romance all in one

    Mr. Calvert does us submarine history buffs a great service. Prior submarine history readings painted a gloomey picture on the WWII subs performance; NOT this book! I found it fun to read and very informative, especially how he drove into my mind the inner workings of the fleet type submarine and the search and destroy tactics imployeed by submarine skippers. For those who like romance mixed in to your readings, he gives additional insight that Hollywood does not. Read it and I'll bet you end up wanting to get in touch with Mr. Calvert to express your views.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 22, 2000

    A Tribute to the Comradery of the Submarine Navy.

    I was on a nuc missile boat in the 1970's and had heard many stories WWII Submariners life. This brought it to life for me. I could feel the excitement of living in Hawaii and Australia. I could feel the fear of a depth charge attack

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 17, 2000

    Another Great WWII Submarine Story

    James Calvert brings a different view and narrative to WWII Submarine tales. From his Annapolis days to becoming a submariner aboard the USS Jack in 1943 until the end of hostilities in 1945, Mr. Calvert brings us ever closer to the adventures, training, off duty hours and the emotional build up and let down of war patrols aboard a US attack submarine. I liked the viewpoint of being human, officer or enlisted, and what emotional feelings he had when the war was over. I've read other submarine stories and plan to read more. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in submarine warfare during WWII.

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