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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, videogame style of battle than the exploits of the captain and crew of the USS Barb, where they 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.
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, videogame style of battle than the exploits of the captain and crew of the USS Barb, where they 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.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
March 27, 2015
Thunder Below is the story of the USS Barb. The Barb roamed the Eastern Pacific between 1943 and the end of the Second World War. In her wake, she left a slew of sunken, broken Japanese ships - including a carrier. The Barb and her crew truly revolutionized submarine warfare. Under the direction of her captain, Gene Fluckey, the Barb didn't merely lurk under the waves waiting for a hapless ship to pass slowly in front of her torpedo tubes. Fluckey kept the Barb on the surface, actively seeking out the Japanese and only submerging when needed to make a fast get-away.
The success of the Barb and the other US subs is, in hindsight, painfully clear. The tonnage sunk by the allied submarines was astronomical. Unlike their German counterparts, the Americans and English had the technology edge on the Japanese. By the end of the war, the Barb was fielding rockets and primitive homing torpedoes. The Japanese, by contrast, didn't even have radar in many cases. This edge gave the allies a huge advantage. Combined with the mass of ships, planes, troops, and subs pressuring Japan, the conclusion of the war was a foregone conclusion - regardless of the bomb.
Told by the captain, the insight into the experience of a wartime submarine was good. It was the strength of the book. The detailed, section by section recounting of daring raids, cat and mouse games with Japanese frigates and destroyers, and torpedo runs were excellent. There were simply, well, a lot of them. It was almost too much. I wanted to see a little more strategy, or a little more personal stories and they just weren't there. The book felt a bit like a captain translating his after mission reports into a book. It works, it's just a little military-ish.
On a closing note, one thing that blew my mind was to realize that the average age of the Barb's crew was 23. Twenty-three! I don't even want to think about what I was doing at 23. This entire generation of young men (and women) was engaged in a titanic struggle that is beyond anything that following generations have experienced. I can't even really wrap my mind around this and how it affected and colored the generation - and future generations. I mean, people today get outraged by the death of a handful of civilians due to any military action. Yet, in the 1940s, the allies (the good guys) fire bombed German and Japanese cities, and indiscriminately sank any German or Japanese ship they encountered. And then they turned around, disarmed and went about their lives. Fluckey even writes about wanting to cause as much damage as possible so as to bring about a quick end to the war.
Three stars out of three. Parts were two stars, parts were four stars so I settled on three.
The success of the Barb and the other US subs is, in hindsight, painfully clear. The tonnage sunk by the allied submarines was astronomical. Unlike their German counterparts, the Americans and English had the technology edge on the Japanese. By the end of the war, the Barb was fielding rockets and primitive homing torpedoes. The Japanese, by contrast, didn't even have radar in many cases. This edge gave the allies a huge advantage. Combined with the mass of ships, planes, troops, and subs pressuring Japan, the conclusion of the war was a foregone conclusion - regardless of the bomb.
Told by the captain, the insight into the experience of a wartime submarine was good. It was the strength of the book. The detailed, section by section recounting of daring raids, cat and mouse games with Japanese frigates and destroyers, and torpedo runs were excellent. There were simply, well, a lot of them. It was almost too much. I wanted to see a little more strategy, or a little more personal stories and they just weren't there. The book felt a bit like a captain translating his after mission reports into a book. It works, it's just a little military-ish.
On a closing note, one thing that blew my mind was to realize that the average age of the Barb's crew was 23. Twenty-three! I don't even want to think about what I was doing at 23. This entire generation of young men (and women) was engaged in a titanic struggle that is beyond anything that following generations have experienced. I can't even really wrap my mind around this and how it affected and colored the generation - and future generations. I mean, people today get outraged by the death of a handful of civilians due to any military action. Yet, in the 1940s, the allies (the good guys) fire bombed German and Japanese cities, and indiscriminately sank any German or Japanese ship they encountered. And then they turned around, disarmed and went about their lives. Fluckey even writes about wanting to cause as much damage as possible so as to bring about a quick end to the war.
Three stars out of three. Parts were two stars, parts were four stars so I settled on three.
July 21, 2011
I would not have thought a naval history book could make me cry any more than I would have expected it to inspire me as a reading teacher--but cry and learn I did as I turned the pages of Thunder Below! Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey's history of the USS Barb's patrols in the Pacific under his command during World War II.
It is a book my mother's uncle--our Uncle Bud--drove to Alabama to buy copies of for himself and for his siblings in 1994. Admiral Fluckey's submarine had been part of a wolfpack that had included my mother's Uncle Laurence's boat, the USS Herring. Before his 21st birthday, Uncle Laurence died in combat off the Kurile Islands. All his life, Uncle Bud sought information from veterans about his brother's service; this book was a part of it, so Uncle Bud bought them from the author and veteran himself.
Admiral Fluckey gave him and his siblings this information in his inscription: "Herring was under my wolf pack command and sank a frigate, the Ishigaki, adn three other ships May 31 - 1 June 1944. Unfortunately, I believe her demise was caused by a faulty torpedo compensating valve so that the bow brouched on her final firing and two shots from Matsuwa Island shore batteries holed her conning tower, causing Herring to flood and sink in deep water. From the resulting oil slick, she was definitely sunk there."
My uncle gave me his copy of Thunder Below! when he was living in a nursing home in Danbury; certain things belonged in certain places, and he wanted to make sure they got there before he was gone.
So it was for me to read this intimidatingly large, detailed, military tome. Five years later, I accepted the challenge. When I finished it five days later, I wondered what took me so long to open up to it.
It is an hour-by-hour account of Fluckey's five patrols as skipper of the Barb in the Pacific. This brilliant and fearless fighter and leader had the complete confidence of his men, who were completely confident they could succeed. Fluckey built a team and a family, trusting in the know-how and ability of each and every one of his men, and using their feedback to modify his plans. Together, they sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II, rescued Allied sailors adrift for days, used rockets to take out factories, and even blew up a train and a bridge.
Fluckey was as assertive as he was intelligent; he took chances but only after weighing the odds and keeping in mind the safety of his men and his boat. His leadership of the Barb earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses.
Fluckey revolutionized submarine warfare by going after his targets rather than waiting for them to come by. His understanding of navigation, astronomy, physics, geometry, human nature and need, and bureacracy fed his boat's successes. He never forgot the goal was to end a war, but achieving that goal meant death and destruction--and some of the victims were innocent people. In short, this book is a sensitive, heart-rending account of the cost of war by a humble leader driven by compassion in many forms--love for his family, his country and his crew, and a respect for real peace.
Deeply human moments are part of the fabric of this book about naval warfare and the price of war. For example,
after his fourth patrol, Fluckey was on leave for a month, and he and his wife went out for dinner and dancing with a group of women whose husbands were submariners or who had died as submariners. "Five of the women knew they were widows. As each snuggled close, dancing with me, myheart did flip-flops. I knew four others were widows, but they had not yet been notified. Damn the war!...The horrors those women had yet to face brought tears to my eyes as they danced with their eyes closed, dreaming of dancing with their husbands."
Damn the war, indeed. But life insists on itself:
After his fifth patrol, Fluckey was relieved of his command of the Barb. When the sub headed to Guam on August 21, 1945, Fluckey released the last line holding her to the pier and waved her good-bye. "Then I sat down on the bollard and kept waving until they were passing out of the channel, all the while the crew waving back.
"The pier and dock areas were empty. I sat there until my Barb was out of sight. Finally, standing up slowly, I brushed the tears from my cheeks, ready to face the future. But how I loved that Barb girl!
"Then it dawned on me that the men in the Barb who gave her life had taught me the most valuable philosophy for my life. Regardless of all the dangers they accepted at my command, and without all the knowledge that was available to me, a reciprocal trust glowed. I find it applies totally for success in life, love, marriage, and business. Simply put, 'I believe in you.'"
It is a book my mother's uncle--our Uncle Bud--drove to Alabama to buy copies of for himself and for his siblings in 1994. Admiral Fluckey's submarine had been part of a wolfpack that had included my mother's Uncle Laurence's boat, the USS Herring. Before his 21st birthday, Uncle Laurence died in combat off the Kurile Islands. All his life, Uncle Bud sought information from veterans about his brother's service; this book was a part of it, so Uncle Bud bought them from the author and veteran himself.
Admiral Fluckey gave him and his siblings this information in his inscription: "Herring was under my wolf pack command and sank a frigate, the Ishigaki, adn three other ships May 31 - 1 June 1944. Unfortunately, I believe her demise was caused by a faulty torpedo compensating valve so that the bow brouched on her final firing and two shots from Matsuwa Island shore batteries holed her conning tower, causing Herring to flood and sink in deep water. From the resulting oil slick, she was definitely sunk there."
My uncle gave me his copy of Thunder Below! when he was living in a nursing home in Danbury; certain things belonged in certain places, and he wanted to make sure they got there before he was gone.
So it was for me to read this intimidatingly large, detailed, military tome. Five years later, I accepted the challenge. When I finished it five days later, I wondered what took me so long to open up to it.
It is an hour-by-hour account of Fluckey's five patrols as skipper of the Barb in the Pacific. This brilliant and fearless fighter and leader had the complete confidence of his men, who were completely confident they could succeed. Fluckey built a team and a family, trusting in the know-how and ability of each and every one of his men, and using their feedback to modify his plans. Together, they sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II, rescued Allied sailors adrift for days, used rockets to take out factories, and even blew up a train and a bridge.
Fluckey was as assertive as he was intelligent; he took chances but only after weighing the odds and keeping in mind the safety of his men and his boat. His leadership of the Barb earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses.
Fluckey revolutionized submarine warfare by going after his targets rather than waiting for them to come by. His understanding of navigation, astronomy, physics, geometry, human nature and need, and bureacracy fed his boat's successes. He never forgot the goal was to end a war, but achieving that goal meant death and destruction--and some of the victims were innocent people. In short, this book is a sensitive, heart-rending account of the cost of war by a humble leader driven by compassion in many forms--love for his family, his country and his crew, and a respect for real peace.
Deeply human moments are part of the fabric of this book about naval warfare and the price of war. For example,
after his fourth patrol, Fluckey was on leave for a month, and he and his wife went out for dinner and dancing with a group of women whose husbands were submariners or who had died as submariners. "Five of the women knew they were widows. As each snuggled close, dancing with me, myheart did flip-flops. I knew four others were widows, but they had not yet been notified. Damn the war!...The horrors those women had yet to face brought tears to my eyes as they danced with their eyes closed, dreaming of dancing with their husbands."
Damn the war, indeed. But life insists on itself:
After his fifth patrol, Fluckey was relieved of his command of the Barb. When the sub headed to Guam on August 21, 1945, Fluckey released the last line holding her to the pier and waved her good-bye. "Then I sat down on the bollard and kept waving until they were passing out of the channel, all the while the crew waving back.
"The pier and dock areas were empty. I sat there until my Barb was out of sight. Finally, standing up slowly, I brushed the tears from my cheeks, ready to face the future. But how I loved that Barb girl!
"Then it dawned on me that the men in the Barb who gave her life had taught me the most valuable philosophy for my life. Regardless of all the dangers they accepted at my command, and without all the knowledge that was available to me, a reciprocal trust glowed. I find it applies totally for success in life, love, marriage, and business. Simply put, 'I believe in you.'"
April 8, 2023
I'm taking a break at 24%. This is not the story delivery method I am used to. It's more of a real time replaying of each second, minute, hour, day of this boats service under this Captain. I am looking for a statement of fact, a historical summary told from a past tense POV, not direct, first person POV from the Captain and other crew members. This isn't a bad story, nor poorly written. This is quite an interesting story and one I wish I could continue to listen to (but the minutiae of detail is dragging).
For those who want to read a story of what it was liked to serve on a submarine during WWII, this is the right story to pick. The narration does an amazing job with this and fully invests his voice and talent into bringing all of these real-life people (who are all possibly dead by now) back to life. Hearing how they lived during WWII, tracking and fighting, it's eye opening for sure. This would be a great story for kids in high school and college who want to learn from something other than a book (yes, I get this is a book, but the audio is so very different than just reading a "book"), and also those who are considering a career in the Navy, specifically submarines - while I'm sure things have evolved since the time of this book, it's the military (known for rules and regulations), I can't image that much has changed. :)
So, even though I didn't finish it, I still highly recommend it for those who fit the bill above, or are just curious. It's hard to give a star rating. So, on the basis of the quality of the story, this if fully 5 stars. It's more than clear a lot of research was done to put these facts together. The narration, again, 5 stars (brilliant job). For my personal taste of how the story is structured, I give this 3 stars, because as I said, the story drags because of all the extreme minute to minute detail. Make of that what you will. I hope those who do pick this up fully enjoy it!
For those who want to read a story of what it was liked to serve on a submarine during WWII, this is the right story to pick. The narration does an amazing job with this and fully invests his voice and talent into bringing all of these real-life people (who are all possibly dead by now) back to life. Hearing how they lived during WWII, tracking and fighting, it's eye opening for sure. This would be a great story for kids in high school and college who want to learn from something other than a book (yes, I get this is a book, but the audio is so very different than just reading a "book"), and also those who are considering a career in the Navy, specifically submarines - while I'm sure things have evolved since the time of this book, it's the military (known for rules and regulations), I can't image that much has changed. :)
So, even though I didn't finish it, I still highly recommend it for those who fit the bill above, or are just curious. It's hard to give a star rating. So, on the basis of the quality of the story, this if fully 5 stars. It's more than clear a lot of research was done to put these facts together. The narration, again, 5 stars (brilliant job). For my personal taste of how the story is structured, I give this 3 stars, because as I said, the story drags because of all the extreme minute to minute detail. Make of that what you will. I hope those who do pick this up fully enjoy it!
August 18, 2021
Thunder Below!: The USS *Barb* Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II by Eugene B. Fluckey presents the world of submarine warfare. 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.
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. 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. This is a gripping true adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. The crew of the Barb had the confidence to become unbeatable by developing innovative ideas, new tactics, and strategies. 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, the Barb relentlessly patrolled the Pacific, chalking up an unmatched scorecard. At one point 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.
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. 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. This is a gripping true adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. The crew of the Barb had the confidence to become unbeatable by developing innovative ideas, new tactics, and strategies. 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, the Barb relentlessly patrolled the Pacific, chalking up an unmatched scorecard. At one point 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.
February 16, 2021
This book is a memoir covering 5 battle patrols from the legendary WWII submarine captain, Gene Fluckey. It is especially fascinating if you have ever toured a submarine and tried to imagine what it would have been like to serve on it during combat.
Every bit of the retelling is interesting in some way. Technology and strategies were evolving rapidly during his patrols, and Fluckey himself was at the forefront, pushing boundaries and taking carefully calculated risks. Two specific incidents were particularly memorable: an attack on an anchored convoy in a shallow bay (assumed to have been too shallow for submarines) and subsequent high speed escape, and the sabotage of a railway via an improvised amphibious team.
The writing is clunky at times (it's a memoir, not a professional fiction story after all) and actually pretty long. I would have appreciated an abridged version that captured the "feel" of the patrols and highlighted the most daring encounters.
Flukey's leadership style was remarkable as well; he had an unusual level of conviction in his purpose and complete faith in his crew throughout the patrols.
Every bit of the retelling is interesting in some way. Technology and strategies were evolving rapidly during his patrols, and Fluckey himself was at the forefront, pushing boundaries and taking carefully calculated risks. Two specific incidents were particularly memorable: an attack on an anchored convoy in a shallow bay (assumed to have been too shallow for submarines) and subsequent high speed escape, and the sabotage of a railway via an improvised amphibious team.
The writing is clunky at times (it's a memoir, not a professional fiction story after all) and actually pretty long. I would have appreciated an abridged version that captured the "feel" of the patrols and highlighted the most daring encounters.
Flukey's leadership style was remarkable as well; he had an unusual level of conviction in his purpose and complete faith in his crew throughout the patrols.
November 8, 2020
OK first of all I really enjoyed this book in spite of the clunky way it was written. The author is the former commander of the USS Barb, a Gato class submarine that fought in WWII. The writing is clearly not that of a professional author, but in spite of the craftmanship of the book the story being told is fascinating and gripping.
The book covers the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th war patrols of the USS Barb late in the war in and around the seas near Japan. The author as a sub commander is clearly very aggressive, and rejects the prevailing wisdom of the day of hiding and waiting for someone to come near enough to sink. Rather, he rushes about seeking targets and making one of him self. He believe accepting the risk is worth a better performance in his war patrol.
Some of the Navy leadership seems to agree with his methods and he gets support from them and some of his reports become mandatory reading for other sub skippers. For his final war patrol he was given authority to load five inch ballistic missiles and a launcher to use them from on the front deck of the sub. He then becomes the first submarine skipper to ever order a rocket attack on any target.
It's hard to know how much the authors influence really was on Naval strategy and tactics because it's obviously biased in his favor. However, the results of the Barb on these patrols is undeniable and speaks for itself. Fascinating true story and a fast easy read.
The book covers the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th war patrols of the USS Barb late in the war in and around the seas near Japan. The author as a sub commander is clearly very aggressive, and rejects the prevailing wisdom of the day of hiding and waiting for someone to come near enough to sink. Rather, he rushes about seeking targets and making one of him self. He believe accepting the risk is worth a better performance in his war patrol.
Some of the Navy leadership seems to agree with his methods and he gets support from them and some of his reports become mandatory reading for other sub skippers. For his final war patrol he was given authority to load five inch ballistic missiles and a launcher to use them from on the front deck of the sub. He then becomes the first submarine skipper to ever order a rocket attack on any target.
It's hard to know how much the authors influence really was on Naval strategy and tactics because it's obviously biased in his favor. However, the results of the Barb on these patrols is undeniable and speaks for itself. Fascinating true story and a fast easy read.
August 16, 2020
The history of the USS Barb in WWII and Cpt. Fluckey is a non-stop exciting tale of bravery, strategy, and daring. This is the best WWII submarine book I have read to-date. The reader is taken into the heart of submarine warfare both in its nail-biting battle sequences and in its calmer moments, which allows the reader to experience the full life of the boat.
Fluckey cares about his men, and his proudest achievement is that none of the crew were awarded a purple heart (even though he was awarded the Medal of Honor). In addition, he is very intelligent and imaginative. He develops new strategies for submarine warfare and regularly finds ways to outwit the Japanese. Many of his strategies were adopted by the Navy. However, Fluckey didn't stop at sinking ships. He and his crew attacked land installations and even blew up a train.
Highly recommended for readers interested in WWII history, submarine history, and naval history in general.
Fluckey cares about his men, and his proudest achievement is that none of the crew were awarded a purple heart (even though he was awarded the Medal of Honor). In addition, he is very intelligent and imaginative. He develops new strategies for submarine warfare and regularly finds ways to outwit the Japanese. Many of his strategies were adopted by the Navy. However, Fluckey didn't stop at sinking ships. He and his crew attacked land installations and even blew up a train.
Highly recommended for readers interested in WWII history, submarine history, and naval history in general.
March 13, 2023
By sheer happenstance I’ve read many World War 2 stories lately, both truth and fiction, and so far this is my favorite. The admirable character of Lucky Fluckey and the honorable, hard-working attitude of the crew of the Barb was a pleasant change from the atrocities of the war on land. Maybe I’m just not a fan of war stories.
I highly recommend listening to this on audio, because even though it isn’t dramatized and there are no sound effects, the writing and narration worked together beautifully to make you feel a part of the crew. I could imagine being submerged and listening to the captain’s battle tales when all of a sudden “Dive, dive, dive!” and you’re off on an adventure of your own.
I highly recommend listening to this on audio, because even though it isn’t dramatized and there are no sound effects, the writing and narration worked together beautifully to make you feel a part of the crew. I could imagine being submerged and listening to the captain’s battle tales when all of a sudden “Dive, dive, dive!” and you’re off on an adventure of your own.
August 14, 2021
The WWII history of Fluckey's time on the USS Barb as its Captain. He was an innovator in submarine warfare in the Pacific. The Barb was very successful in using new techniques to harrass the Japanese in the late parts of the war. It lead to many awards for Fluckey and his crew, including the Medal of Honor. An excellent read.
June 5, 2023
“Today we live; tomorrow—who knows? Best we be prepared and rested to avoid being bested. Yet, maybe we can cheat a bit on this and celebrate.”
This is a grand story of one man’s great leadership and an entire submarine full of Barbarians who made it happen. Set in the backdrop of the most courageous and engulfing war the globe has ever seen and my personal favorite due to the courage and heroism exhibited.
This is a grand story of one man’s great leadership and an entire submarine full of Barbarians who made it happen. Set in the backdrop of the most courageous and engulfing war the globe has ever seen and my personal favorite due to the courage and heroism exhibited.
December 9, 2024
Wow what a trip! Just extraordinary tales of leadership, camaraderie, and cunning solutions to impossible problems. Very in depth descriptions that pair best with a game like Sub Hunter 4 and Wolfpack just to understand and see the models of the ships and the many devices Admiral Fluckey describes. Gonna have to visit the USS Drum again after this one!
To think that "Lucky Fluckey" was only 30 as a commander with kids as young as 16 under his command is mind boggling when you see what they accomplished, with such complicated assignments, in such excruciating circumstances.
To think that "Lucky Fluckey" was only 30 as a commander with kids as young as 16 under his command is mind boggling when you see what they accomplished, with such complicated assignments, in such excruciating circumstances.
July 21, 2022
This is my second time listening to this book. One of my favorites on a first hand account in the silent service in wwii
January 11, 2023
Amazing account of the Barb
I am not into war stories but this makes me proud to be retired military. I believe this story would make a great movie.
I am not into war stories but this makes me proud to be retired military. I believe this story would make a great movie.
January 7, 2024
Almost as enthralling as Last Stand of Tin Can Sailors. Fantastic WW2 book
March 24, 2021
This is a great book captain Fluckey's outstanding leadership, knowledge, ability to adapt and courage under fire. Are all attributes that we should strive to match in our own life. Whether you are a captain or accountant. This book will teach you something. I have no doubt that these where the things that made him so successful against the japanese and in life. 5/5 recommend you read.
March 9, 2021
Excellent story of daring, bravery, and adventure.
December 11, 2020
I enjoy WW2 history, and this account of a US sub and her commander, in the Pacific fleet, is a real page-turner. The history is written by her skipper and gives his perspective as he led the USS Barb and her crew to an incredible record of enemy ships sunk and damage inflicted. The battle accounts are detailed and make you feel as if you were there, feeling the percussion of the depth charges from the angry Japanese escorts who tried to sink the Barb after each successful engagement.
If you enjoy military history, it is sure you will find this to be a compelling read!
If you enjoy military history, it is sure you will find this to be a compelling read!
November 22, 2020
A story about the kind of guys you want on your side in a war.
Wow. This is the first WW2 submarine account I’ve read, and am still in show and disbelief by the heroic actions of the captain and his crew.
The book is a recount of events from the captain, log, and Japanese reports and tells a thrilling story. It is pretty much non stop action accounting the events of the boat. There is no typical intro or conclusion, it just starts and ends with the war patrols.
The captains actions almost seem reckless at times, but they truly seemed to be acting to end the war as quick as possible. If the idea was every sunk ship was a step closer to victory, and they truly believed it.
I would highly recommend this first person account, though I wish there was some discussion on how their actions helped change future sub and naval tactics.
Wow. This is the first WW2 submarine account I’ve read, and am still in show and disbelief by the heroic actions of the captain and his crew.
The book is a recount of events from the captain, log, and Japanese reports and tells a thrilling story. It is pretty much non stop action accounting the events of the boat. There is no typical intro or conclusion, it just starts and ends with the war patrols.
The captains actions almost seem reckless at times, but they truly seemed to be acting to end the war as quick as possible. If the idea was every sunk ship was a step closer to victory, and they truly believed it.
I would highly recommend this first person account, though I wish there was some discussion on how their actions helped change future sub and naval tactics.
April 18, 2014
What a boat, what a crew, what a captain! Was an outstanding read, written as if the reader was there. I remember seeing the original battle flag for the Barb while I attended Sub School, but never delved into the history of the boat, crew, and captain, rather the boats that are on "Eternal Patrol" (Thresher, Scorpion, Harder, Darter, Growler, Wahoo, etc.) Fluckey and the crew of the USS BARB SS220 certainly revolutionized submarine warfare as the title states, first to use rockets and conducting the only ground operation on the Japanese home islands, credited with blowing up a train. Overall an outstanding read for anyone interested in WWII, submarine warfare, or one that just wants to read an interesting book.
August 30, 2020
Amazing. The author manages to portray the horrifying reality of submarine warfare in WWII in a very engaging, light-hearted, and often even humorous way. You will not find any bragging about the unheard-of successes of the Barb, Fluckey writes about their endeavors in a very humble, honorable tone. Many times you can really feel the emotions coursing through the author's veins while reading the lines: elation of successful engagements, the bitter disappointment of failed searches or near misses, tension under bombardment.
While the vocabulary is quite heavy in naval terms, they really don't make reading that much harder, especially if you have an online thesaurus handy.
Highly, highly recommended to anyone interested in submarine warfare or WWII in the Pacific.
While the vocabulary is quite heavy in naval terms, they really don't make reading that much harder, especially if you have an online thesaurus handy.
Highly, highly recommended to anyone interested in submarine warfare or WWII in the Pacific.
October 30, 2008
This memoir by Admiral Fluckey, the most decorated naval officer of WWII, gives a firsthand account of his three war patrols of the USS Barb. Not content to rely upon his own memory and notes, Fluckey contacted former shipmates and pored through their letters and diaries so the result isn't just a one-sided recollection by the Skipper, but insight into everyone's experiences, from the CO to the mess cranks. You really get a sense of what it was like on one of the old diesel boats, so if you are a modern submariner (I am not, but I did do a mid cruise on SSN-724) you will really appreciate the advances made since. I give Thunder Below! two periscopes up.
October 22, 2013
Though the admiral has an interesting story to tell, the writing is contrived and corny, very stilted. He should have considered a ghost writer. He often resorts to conversation reconstructions that are painful to listen to (I consumed this book via Audible).
Two books that describe the life of a sub captain during WWII that are way more engrossing and much better written:
1. The Bravest Man: The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War by William Tuohy
2. Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine by James F. Calvert
I couldn't make it through 'Thunder Below!'.
Two books that describe the life of a sub captain during WWII that are way more engrossing and much better written:
1. The Bravest Man: The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War by William Tuohy
2. Silent Running: My Years on a World War II Attack Submarine by James F. Calvert
I couldn't make it through 'Thunder Below!'.
November 24, 2019
I can't recommend this book enough! It puts you on the USS Barb, one of the most decorated WWII subs ever, during the heat of battle. You learn what submariners are made of, that they are as tough as the steel sub that surrounds them. This book is historically accurate being it is written by it's Captain Eugene B. Fluckey himself. He and his crew revolutionized submarine warfare. You'll learn how deadly depth charges were and how they were the Thunder Below! Get a copy, you won't be able to set it down once you crack the cover! 5 Stars!
August 13, 2021
Great perspective stretcher book for me -- to experience the action history and perspective of WW2 combat submariners. These were competent, creative, and brave young men, doing their duty in the awful business of war. The narrative reads like an active voice action log, somewhat repetitive, but exciting and worthwhile.
I came across this book after watching a video documentary of modern day US military submariners in which this text was acknowledged as a must-read.
I came across this book after watching a video documentary of modern day US military submariners in which this text was acknowledged as a must-read.
November 20, 2010
No doubt about it, this is the absolute BEST American submarine account out there that I have read. Usually I tell folks if you want an exciting submarine warfare book you need to read the German stuff, but now I finally have an American account to recommend. This guy had b$^ls that clanked and knew when and how to push things to the brink. Get it, read it, you will LOVE it!!!
August 8, 2023
If you can get into the mindset that sinking mostly civilian cargo ships and fishing trawlers of an enemy state is an exciting and justified mission, this is a fantastic nonfiction adventure story about leadership and taking bold, but calculated risk. In all seriousness, I did enjoy this immensely. But damn. War is hell, I guess.
August 18, 2023
I was laboriously slogging through William Faulkner's Go Down, Moses and finding it challenging of comprehension at times when one of my grandsons lent me his copy of Thunder Below! along with his high recommendation of it. Fully intending to finish Faulkner's novel first, I couldn't resist the temptation of glancing at the first page or two of Thunder Below!, and now I have to go back and finish Faulkner because Eugene Fluckey's historical narrative grabbed my attention and never turned loose.
The book has no acknowledgments section so I have no idea if it is the product of the author alone, of a ghost writer, or of an unusually fine proof reader or editor. Honestly, I find it difficult to believe that anyone who is not a professional, practiced author could have written this book. However, whether Fluckey wrote the book entirely by himself or whether he had unacknowledged help, the product is an adroitly composed, captivating, almost mesmerizing history of the amazing exploits of the submarine USS Barb off the Japanese coast during World War II.
Not only did I feel that the quality of the narrative was possibly beyond the skill of a first-time author but I also questioned the veracity of several of the submarine's engagements and its on-shore sabotage exploit. They were simply too incredibly successful for belief. Who has ever heard of a submarine crew blowing up an enemy railroad train? After finishing the 423-page book, I did a bit of research and, lo and behold, the exploits appear to have been entirely factual. What an intriguing history this is!
Beyond its highly readable text, the book includes several historical photographs and appendices listing the men who served aboard the boat, detailing her attacks on Japanese targets, and explaining the symbols on her battle flag. Following the appendices is an index should a reader wish to locate commentary on specific topics.
If I have any nit to pick with Thunder Below! it's that I could have wished for a few footnotes to describe some phraseology whose meaning may not be readily apparent to a general reader For instance, certain appliances on the submarine and designations of specific types of sonar and radar would be more meaningful to the reader were a handy explanation appended at the bottom of the page on which they occur. Fortunately, these occurrences are not so frequent as to impede the reader's enjoyment of the narrative, but they do leave a few question marks in one's mind.
Despite the sole nit that I've just picked, I found Fluckey's book engrossing while being factually informative of World War II-era submarine warfare. I believe this is also the first history I've read that clarified the Soviet Union's involvement (or lack thereof) in the Pacific theater of the war. The Soviets' engagement there was far different than in Europe. Military history buffs who read the book for its historical content as well as adventure buffs who enjoy stirring tales of derring-do will, I believe, find that Thunder Below! thoroughly meets their expectations and desires.
The book has no acknowledgments section so I have no idea if it is the product of the author alone, of a ghost writer, or of an unusually fine proof reader or editor. Honestly, I find it difficult to believe that anyone who is not a professional, practiced author could have written this book. However, whether Fluckey wrote the book entirely by himself or whether he had unacknowledged help, the product is an adroitly composed, captivating, almost mesmerizing history of the amazing exploits of the submarine USS Barb off the Japanese coast during World War II.
Not only did I feel that the quality of the narrative was possibly beyond the skill of a first-time author but I also questioned the veracity of several of the submarine's engagements and its on-shore sabotage exploit. They were simply too incredibly successful for belief. Who has ever heard of a submarine crew blowing up an enemy railroad train? After finishing the 423-page book, I did a bit of research and, lo and behold, the exploits appear to have been entirely factual. What an intriguing history this is!
Beyond its highly readable text, the book includes several historical photographs and appendices listing the men who served aboard the boat, detailing her attacks on Japanese targets, and explaining the symbols on her battle flag. Following the appendices is an index should a reader wish to locate commentary on specific topics.
If I have any nit to pick with Thunder Below! it's that I could have wished for a few footnotes to describe some phraseology whose meaning may not be readily apparent to a general reader For instance, certain appliances on the submarine and designations of specific types of sonar and radar would be more meaningful to the reader were a handy explanation appended at the bottom of the page on which they occur. Fortunately, these occurrences are not so frequent as to impede the reader's enjoyment of the narrative, but they do leave a few question marks in one's mind.
Despite the sole nit that I've just picked, I found Fluckey's book engrossing while being factually informative of World War II-era submarine warfare. I believe this is also the first history I've read that clarified the Soviet Union's involvement (or lack thereof) in the Pacific theater of the war. The Soviets' engagement there was far different than in Europe. Military history buffs who read the book for its historical content as well as adventure buffs who enjoy stirring tales of derring-do will, I believe, find that Thunder Below! thoroughly meets their expectations and desires.
February 25, 2024
This is a sensational book. I used it for my 11th grade English class “Passion Project”. In the beginning of the year, we chose a topic to research and learn more about. For me, I chose submarines. This book gives great insight into what life was like on a World War II sub. It helped me understand some of the processes on the submarine such as loading torpedoes, diving, and even celebrating sinks. It is a must read if you are researching the history of submarines. For this part of the project, I had to get a book to help enhance my comprehension of certain parts of my topic: Submarines. This book really helped me with the history aspect, and some of the roles of the submarine. It gives a good view on how they treat hostages, track ships, and make decisions as a crew. The first hostage, Kito from the Japanese ship the Koto Maru, gets to cut a celebratory cake for the USS Barb sinking his ship; and he gets the first slice. This book was overall very beneficial for my assignment, offering points of view from captain and crew and learning different boats from nations like Japan. Some parts are also told from a Japanese perspective from naval records. Additionally, I learned about one of the Navy’s most legendary admirals: Eugene Fluckey. His brave decision making, and calm disposition assisted him in all aspects of his underwater attacks. Later in the book, Fluckey makes the decision to blow up a Japanese train on shore. He describes its destruction in the book as “engine wreckage flying, flying, flying up some 200 feet” and “Sixteen cars piling up, into and over the wall of wreckage in front, rolling off the track in a writhing, twisting maelstrom of Gordian knots.” Not only did Fluckey demolish trains and ships, but he even destroyed whole factories. He was so daring, even when he was out of ammunition, he proceeded to ram an enemy ship until it sank. I have learned so much for my project. From this legendary captain to the processes he used on his ship, it has greatly broadened my understanding of submarines. Like I said before, this book was great about the “historical aspect” of submarines. I believe this because submarines today weren’t built like submarines today. The subs then were mainly diesel engines. Now, we have nuclear submarines that use diesel engines as back up. The older generation of submarines show uniquely different features than the new ones. For example, the older submarines relied on evasive maneuvers and surface speed for stealth. Now, the newer submarines have pump-jet propulsion. The time change shown will help drastically with my project. Ultimately, this book has helped tremendously with my perception of life on the submarine and the procedures done in them. I have learned a lot for my project, and it will definitely help me later on when we present on our topics. If you are looking for a thrilling, intricate book on submarines, this is the one for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2023
Thunder Below belongs in the very first tier of war memoirs, both for its writing style as well as for the feats described. The memoirs of a submariner are going to be very different than those of a rifleman or helicopter pilot, but there are many scenes here that are every bit as harrowing as a risky landing or a sudden tank charge, as well as some of the most insightful and perceptive war writing you will read. Fluckey was the captain of the USS Barb, the submarine which set the record for greatest amount of enemy tonnage sunk during World War 2 over the course of 5 war patrols in the Pacific theater from May 1944 to August 1945. He pioneered brand-new technologies and tactics, like sub-mounted rocket batteries for shore bombardments, infrastructure demolition via amphibious assault (the only ground combat on the Home Islands in the whole war), risky Aboukir Bay-style convoy attacks off the Chinese coast, and at one point he hits his mission quota of enemy ships destroyed by literally ramming the final victim to finish it off, yet suffers barely a scratch.
Fluckey is an incredible writer in terms of pacing and action scenes (you will develop a vivid sense of what it’s like to be depth-charged for several hours straight); his minute-by-minute recollections of all of the action, scrupulously based on his logs and archival material, as well as an illegal diary kept by a crewmember, have a cinematic feel and eye for detail. But even though the narrative is incredibly exciting, Fluckey also includes a lot of thought-provoking analysis of the problems they faced. His recountings of his decision-making process and leadership style are a gold mine of wisdom: not only was not a single crewmember injured over the course of his patrols, but his methods for finding talent and his thoughtful, collaborative-but-decisive attitude towards encouraging input from his men make you wish you could have served under him (you practically want to drink a beer along with the crew as they celebrate each sinking). This is almost less a war memoir than an adventure story, and by the end of the last patrol it’s clear that the Barb deserved every one of the awards and citations it was given and more.
Fluckey is an incredible writer in terms of pacing and action scenes (you will develop a vivid sense of what it’s like to be depth-charged for several hours straight); his minute-by-minute recollections of all of the action, scrupulously based on his logs and archival material, as well as an illegal diary kept by a crewmember, have a cinematic feel and eye for detail. But even though the narrative is incredibly exciting, Fluckey also includes a lot of thought-provoking analysis of the problems they faced. His recountings of his decision-making process and leadership style are a gold mine of wisdom: not only was not a single crewmember injured over the course of his patrols, but his methods for finding talent and his thoughtful, collaborative-but-decisive attitude towards encouraging input from his men make you wish you could have served under him (you practically want to drink a beer along with the crew as they celebrate each sinking). This is almost less a war memoir than an adventure story, and by the end of the last patrol it’s clear that the Barb deserved every one of the awards and citations it was given and more.
November 25, 2020
This book was written by Admiral "Gene" Fluckey about his exploits during World War II specifically in his role as the Captain of the Submarine, USS Barb. The story of the ship and its crew defies belief in its action packed recount of the ships exploits. Lucky Fluckey walks us through his 3 tours of the submarine as it scouts, harasses, and destroys Japanese merchant and military vessels. This book is entertaining to listen to and once started only took about a week to drive through it since it was so easy to listen to and return to. It is truly an adventure listening to this book, the Barb almost feels like an invincible hero that the Japanese enemy can barely scratch.
This was a very good book, good for those who like military or navel history. Though one thing I did think at multiple points in the book was the feeling that Admiral Fluckey remembered only the good or positive spins of the tail. He portrays himself as a fearless leader whose worst mistake is forgetting to put the victory beers in the fridge before engaging in enemies. The book's accuracy is not disputed by Wikipedia and other google search records. He did awesome things, but it does come across as a victor's book restating how victorious the author was. 5/5
This was a very good book, good for those who like military or navel history. Though one thing I did think at multiple points in the book was the feeling that Admiral Fluckey remembered only the good or positive spins of the tail. He portrays himself as a fearless leader whose worst mistake is forgetting to put the victory beers in the fridge before engaging in enemies. The book's accuracy is not disputed by Wikipedia and other google search records. He did awesome things, but it does come across as a victor's book restating how victorious the author was. 5/5
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