Thunder Below!

The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II

The thunderous roar of exploding depth charges was a familiar and comforting sound to the crew members of the USS Barb, who frequently found themselves somewhere between enemy fire and Davy Jones's locker. Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.

This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen. And in a fascinating twist, he uses archival documents from the Japanese Navy to give its version of events. The unique story of the Barb begins with its men, who had the confidence to become unbeatable. Each team helped develop innovative ideas, new tactics, and new strategies. All strove for personal excellence, and success became contagious. Instead of lying in wait under the waves, the USS Barb pursued enemy ships on the surface, attacking in the swift and precise style of torpedo boats. She was the first sub to use rocket missiles and to creep up on enemy convoys at night, joining the flank escort line from astern, darting in and out as she sank ships up the column. Surface-cruising, diving only to escape, "Luckey Fluckey" relentlessly patrolled the Pacific, driving his boat and crew to their limits. There can be no greater contrast to modern warfare's long-distance, video game style of battle than the exploits of the captain and crew of the USS Barb, where the sub, out of ammunition, actually rammed an enemy ship until it sank. Thunder Below! is a first-rate, true-life, inspirational story of the courage and heroism of ordinary men under fire.

©1992 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (P)2013 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Fluckey is a fine writer with a lively, colorful style. His book is packed with action and suspense and is rich in details about the day-today operation of a submarine in combat." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great Book on Leadership

I enjoyed this book immensely not only as a well-told and factual account of five of the USS Barb's war patrols but especially as a profound look into how strong, humane leadership works--and works well. I would recommend this to anyone in a leadership role in any organization or business. Thanks Admiral Fluckey!

sub war interesting complex and yet clear and easy

Excellent yarn. clear and we'll written. good read. Well paced. I recommend. seems we'll researched.

What a story!

An excellent and compelling account of perhaps the most productive American submarine of the Pacific war. Written by the skipper, Gene Fluckley, it recounts his five war patrols. An excellent story showing how our submarine fleet, dubbed the Silent Service, sunk more ships than any other branch, ultimately strangling Japan into futile resistance. Highly recommended.

A great story

It was better that I thought it would be. A well told good story.

Phenomenal book, Stellar narration!

This is a thrilling, inspirational book that both procured an action-packed account of what took place dating WWII in the Pacific theater and puts you in the head of a relatively young, but fast-rising leader. Inspiring to military, business leaders and others.

Narration: After listening to about 200 audible titles, this is far and away the best-narrated book I've heard! Perfect tone, brings the action to life, and never a dull moment. I sincerely hope they can take this narration as an example of what to aim for, because so many other titles are ruined by poor narration.