The War Below
The Story of Three Submarines That Battled Japan
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The War Below
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Narrated by:
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Donald Corren
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Written by:
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James Scott
About this listen
The riveting story of the submarine force that helped win World War II by ravaging Japan’s merchant fleet and destroying its economy.
The War Below is a dramatic account of extraordinary heroism, ingenuity, and perseverance—and the vital role American submarines played in winning the Pacific War. Focusing on the unique stories of the submarines Silversides, Drum, and Tang—and the men who skippered and crewed them—James Scott takes readers beneath the waves to experience the thrill of a direct hit on a merchant ship and the terror of depth charge attacks. It’s a story filled with incredible feats of courage, including an emergency appendectomy performed with spoons by an inexperienced medic and the desperate struggle of sailors to escape from a flooded submarine stuck on the bottom, as well as tragic moments such as American submarines sinking an unmarked enemy ship carrying some 1,800 American POWs.
The casualty rate among submariners topped that of all military branches, a staggering six times higher than the surface navy. The war claimed almost one out of every five boats. But Japan was so ravaged by the loss of precious fuel and supplies that by war’s end, Japanese warships lay at anchor while hungry civilians ate sawdust. Scott paints an unforgettable picture of the dangerous life submariners endured, including the atrocious prison camps where the Japanese beat, tortured, and starved captured Allied troops. Based on more than one hundred interviews with submarine veterans and a review of more than three thousand pages of previously unpublished letters, diaries, and personal writings, The War Below allows readers to experience the Pacific War as never before.
©2013 James M. Scott (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.What the critics say
What listeners say about The War Below
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jordan
- 2023-01-30
The Engines Roared!
Get used to hearing the same phrase used to describe the submarine diesels every time any kind of speed is ordered. Other than rolling your eyes at the author's overuse of this phrase, it's a great read, one that documents a number of events that I believe inspired Crash Dive by Craig DiLouie, one of my favourite novel series.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Collins
- 2023-06-20
Educational & Entertaining
This is a great book. The author did a great job of introducing us to each character. The author was also incredibly balanced when he talked of the submariners’ battle against the Japanese shipping. This balance continued into the prisoner of war camps. A fitting tribute to the brave souls who served their country!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2022-04-02
Incredibly Well-Balanced
Former Harvard historian James M. Scott delivers a very accurate description of the Pacific Theatre War (including the assassination of Yamamoto, the battles of Midway, the Marianas, & Leyte Gulf, and experiences of downed airmen, survivors of sunken ships, & POWs).. all while using the careers of three American submarines ('Silversides', 'Drum', and 'Tang') to flesh out the chronicle and to put readers/listeners directly among the men who fought. By using brilliant descriptions, relatable personality exposition, and an unmatched sense of tension & pacing, Scott made me feel like I could simultaneously understand the bravery and visceral horror of War for the crewman and the Geopolitical strategies of nations. This book easily exceeded my expectations..
Less fortunately, the narration lets the text down somewhat. That's not to say that the performance from Donald Corren is inferior - just that it's "average" status doesn't live up to the spectacular writing. Corren exhibits excellent diction, cadence, and tone.. but reads too slowly and with a naturally nasal timbre that detracted mildly from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Despite "adequate" reading, however, this audiobook rates 9.5 stars out of 10. If you're a dedicated War Buff (and given the option), a paper or eBook iteration of 'The War Below' would fit better in your library than this version - but this audiobook is easily worth your time if you're merely "casually" interested in history like me - especially if you can get it as a 'Plus' option. Thank you, Audible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Frank
- 2021-06-09
learned a lot more then I thought I would
some parts of the novel I forgot it was supposed to be submarine warfare. it went to other parts of the war and I learned a lot of stuff. the last few chapters were like a horror novel. I had a hard time getting through it all but it was good.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Ivory
- 2022-01-19
A great teaching of history
Incredible story of wartime history. Brave soldiers who risk everything for there country from action to prisoners of war.
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