Sübmarine-Ër

30 Years of Hijinks & Keeping the Fleet Afloat

By: Jerry Pait, Robert G. Williscroft - editor

Narrated by: Trenton Bennett

An American submarine hero’s sometimes irreverent story of Cold War action on diesel and nuke submarines, how he tested their ballistic missiles, and salvaged the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Lieutenant Commander Jerry Pait's semi-autobiographical collection of sixty stories recounts his thirty years in and around the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Ranging from light-hearted to wrenching, all are poignant inside looks at naval operations rarely seen by outsiders. Topics include the real story behind the shuttle Challenger tragedy, risking his own life underwater, discovering a Soviet spy living across the street, surviving when a DELTA Rocket engine ignites, critical missions, and the everyday lives of men and women of the fleet. Dive into Sŭbmarine-ër for hijinks and breathtaking adventure with this poignant memoir by a true American hero.

©2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Jerry Pait (P)2025 Jerry Pait

It's Good, But with Some Qualifications

I enjoyed this book. It is an autobiography of a Navy man from a small town in North Carolina who went on to have a very successful career in the service. I enjoyed the stories, but did not find them as rip-roaring funny as the tease suggests. Also, the author was on submarines for only part of his career, and spent the balance of his career on tenders or at repair stations.

The book provides a great explanation--especially for those of us who are civilians--about how the Navy works and how one can, in some cases, advance from an enlisted man to an officer. The part about the salvage of the remains of the Challenger are interesting, but beware that the author was on shore helping direct the operations.

Jerry Pait was obviously a conscientious and talented enlisted man and then officer. He tells good stories. As his career came to an end, he faced some particularly nasty challenges. I doubt he would call himself a hero, but he has had an interesting and sometimes very challenging life. He is a credit to our country, and I enjoyed reading about him.

A word on the narration. It just does not seem to fit. The narrator has kind of a tenor voice that just does not seem to mesh well with the material, at least for me.

great book great reading

This was a very interesting book and the reading was outstanding. highly recommend the time to listen. You will appreciate submarines more