DOWN TO THE SEA IN SUBS

by Charles A. (Vice-Adm. Ret.) Lockwood ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Admiral Lockwood's memoir recounts his service career, mainly related to submarines, and his rise from ensign in a ""pigboat"" (sub) in 1914 to his job as Commander Submarines Pacific during WWII. His sea-duty ended in 1945 but he went on serving as Inspector General and traces the development of the nuclear submarine (including his rides in the Nautilus). Ensign Lockwood's early years in Manila, China and Japan have charm and humor in the recounting, but the subject remains submarines. He ended the First World War without having heard a shot fired in anger but having dug himself into the booming submarine service. The U.S. now realized the value of subs and the East Coast shipyards were in full swing. At times Lockwood was transferred to big ships, to round out his abilities and work his way up the executive ladder. In his late thirties he gave up his prejudice against marriage for sea-going officers and married the boss's daughter (an admiral's). However, the foreground of his story is the continuing new models of subs and their growth as an arm of the Navy. After duty in wartorn London as an observer, he was assigned as Commander Submarines Southwest Pacific at Perth, Australia. His greatest problem for nearly a year was malfunctioning torpedoes, a woe that followed him to his top slot on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Lockwood's report on the sub war in the Pacific is far from exhaustive but is continuously readable and daubed here and there with walrus-like cries of triumph and pride.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Norton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1966

Categories: NONFICTION