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I would bring to your attention a couple of new books (and one rerelease):
Watertight: How I Survived the Submarine Service Without Losing My Mind by Karl W. Heckman
(see facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watertight).
Great book about the last days aboard the USS Seawolf (SSN 575) in 1985-86. Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine built had been extended 53 feet with a Special Operations compartment when Heckman reported aboard. He relates his training in Nuclear Power School as well as his introduction to submarine life and qualifying on Seawolf. Each chapter is a set of adventures and anecdotes, both at sea and in ports of call. You won't learn a great deal about the Special Operations aspects, as that was "need to know" and the nucs who supplied the power had no "need to know" about what went on in the Special Operations compartment. He does mention that it did support divers, and also "Fish" for examining objects on the sea floor. Heckman is a very good writer, and we get stories that feature some of the characters on board. Most of these are hilarious, such as the time one of the sailors on field day cleanup below the deck plates has his doo rag slip over his eyes. He can just spot a pair of shoes on the deck plates, and says "Hey buddy, how about passing the dustpan?. Now how about the brush. Okay hold it right there!" He finally looks up to see his recruited helper-the Captain, kneeling & holding the dustpan. The Captain asks him, "What's wrong with this picture?". Heckman makes it clear that the men aboard Seawolf respect and admire their Captain, and again a few other interesting tales revolve around the Captain (check out how he handles a couple of pushy aviators from a carrier). Although never named in the book, the Captain (who also presided over her decommissioning) was Richard Talipsky. The book was brought to my attention by Ray Talipsky, my High School buddy (still in contact 45 years later), who is Rich's younger brother. This one almost slipped by me without notice, but I am bringing it to your attention, as it is very much worth a read! You can buy it from Amazon, or directly from Karl Heckman (who will sign it for you): http://karlheckman.com/watertight.html. I have posted a more extensive review on Amazon.com
Operation Ivy Bells by Robert G. Williscroft
This book is a semi-fictional account of the saturation divers onboard the USS Halibut during the operation to tap the Soviet Naval undersea cable in the Sea of Okhotsk during the 1970's. You will learn quite a bit about this Special Operation, as Williscroft was there. He gets into fascinating details about the technology of saturation diving, employing helium and oxygen breathing mixtures to work at extreme depths (600-1000 ft). He also reveals quite a bit about Halibut's operations, although some of the details have been changed (or not...) in this fictionalized version. An excellent book that reads a bit like a Larry Bond action book. My only minor quibble is that he throws a couple of bones to Ed Offley and his thoroughly discredited theories on the Scorpion loss, which have been refuted by multiple sources. But get this book; you will enjoy it! Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Ivy-...ords=ivy+bells
Now back in print! Well, sort of...it's a Kindle book
Rig Ship for Ultra Quiet by Andrew Karam
I reviewed this book several years back in the SCR. It is one of the best accounts of life onboard a nuclear attack submarine during the Cold War. After going through Nuclear Power Training, Karam joins the aging USS Plunger, a 594 class boat, in the waning days of the Cold War (and the waning days of Plunger's service). You get to ride along on several special operations, as well as experience the day to day more mundane aspects of submarine life. Karam is a superb writer and I would definitely get this one on your Kindle (from Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Ship-Ultra-Qui...s=andrew+karam. Combine this with the Heckman book above and you have a winning pair.
Tom
Watertight: How I Survived the Submarine Service Without Losing My Mind by Karl W. Heckman
(see facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watertight).
Great book about the last days aboard the USS Seawolf (SSN 575) in 1985-86. Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine built had been extended 53 feet with a Special Operations compartment when Heckman reported aboard. He relates his training in Nuclear Power School as well as his introduction to submarine life and qualifying on Seawolf. Each chapter is a set of adventures and anecdotes, both at sea and in ports of call. You won't learn a great deal about the Special Operations aspects, as that was "need to know" and the nucs who supplied the power had no "need to know" about what went on in the Special Operations compartment. He does mention that it did support divers, and also "Fish" for examining objects on the sea floor. Heckman is a very good writer, and we get stories that feature some of the characters on board. Most of these are hilarious, such as the time one of the sailors on field day cleanup below the deck plates has his doo rag slip over his eyes. He can just spot a pair of shoes on the deck plates, and says "Hey buddy, how about passing the dustpan?. Now how about the brush. Okay hold it right there!" He finally looks up to see his recruited helper-the Captain, kneeling & holding the dustpan. The Captain asks him, "What's wrong with this picture?". Heckman makes it clear that the men aboard Seawolf respect and admire their Captain, and again a few other interesting tales revolve around the Captain (check out how he handles a couple of pushy aviators from a carrier). Although never named in the book, the Captain (who also presided over her decommissioning) was Richard Talipsky. The book was brought to my attention by Ray Talipsky, my High School buddy (still in contact 45 years later), who is Rich's younger brother. This one almost slipped by me without notice, but I am bringing it to your attention, as it is very much worth a read! You can buy it from Amazon, or directly from Karl Heckman (who will sign it for you): http://karlheckman.com/watertight.html. I have posted a more extensive review on Amazon.com
Operation Ivy Bells by Robert G. Williscroft
This book is a semi-fictional account of the saturation divers onboard the USS Halibut during the operation to tap the Soviet Naval undersea cable in the Sea of Okhotsk during the 1970's. You will learn quite a bit about this Special Operation, as Williscroft was there. He gets into fascinating details about the technology of saturation diving, employing helium and oxygen breathing mixtures to work at extreme depths (600-1000 ft). He also reveals quite a bit about Halibut's operations, although some of the details have been changed (or not...) in this fictionalized version. An excellent book that reads a bit like a Larry Bond action book. My only minor quibble is that he throws a couple of bones to Ed Offley and his thoroughly discredited theories on the Scorpion loss, which have been refuted by multiple sources. But get this book; you will enjoy it! Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Operation-Ivy-...ords=ivy+bells
Now back in print! Well, sort of...it's a Kindle book
Rig Ship for Ultra Quiet by Andrew Karam
I reviewed this book several years back in the SCR. It is one of the best accounts of life onboard a nuclear attack submarine during the Cold War. After going through Nuclear Power Training, Karam joins the aging USS Plunger, a 594 class boat, in the waning days of the Cold War (and the waning days of Plunger's service). You get to ride along on several special operations, as well as experience the day to day more mundane aspects of submarine life. Karam is a superb writer and I would definitely get this one on your Kindle (from Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Ship-Ultra-Qui...s=andrew+karam. Combine this with the Heckman book above and you have a winning pair.
Tom
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