Silent Victory

Archival Summary & Scope

This definitive history chronicles the U.S. submarine war in the Pacific during World War II, offering an authoritative and engaging account. Authored by a respected journalist and WWII submariner, the book, first published in 1975, was groundbreaking for its unbiased and complete examination of controversial aspects, including the torpedo scandal and discrepancies in claimed versus confirmed sinkings. Meticulously researched through extensive interviews with participants and thousands of documents, it presents a multi-faceted view—from high-level strategy and inter-service rivalries to the terrifying realities of deep-sea combat and daily life aboard submarines. Enhanced with nearly forty maps, over thirty pages of photographs, multiple appendixes (including a calendar of patrols), and a comprehensive index, this work remains a significant and timeless contribution to WWII history.