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Hellcats: The Epic Story of World War II's Most Daring Submarine Raid Hardcover – November 2, 2010

by Peter Sasgen (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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By 1945, the U.S. Navy's submarine force in the Pacific had sunk over a thousand enemy cargo ships and tankers supplying the food, weapons, and oil Japan needed to continue to fight. Yet this once mighty merchant fleet continued to thrive in the Sea of Japan, where, protected from American submarines by a seemingly impenetrable barrier of deadly minefields, they provided a tenuous lifeline for the Japanese.

With no knowledge of the secret development of the atomic bomb, senior American sub force commanders, desperate to avoid an invasion of the home islands, believed that if these enemy ships, vitally important to the enemy's war effort, were sunk, Japan would be forced to surrender.

For the first time ever, author Peter Sasgen tells the complete, incredible story of Operation Barney, the daring plot to penetrate the dense minefields protecting the Sea of Japan and decimate the enemy fleet. The brainchild of the dedicated sub commander Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood, the mission would hinge on a new experimental sonar system that would, with luck, guide American submarines safely past the mines and into the open sea.

The nine submarines chosen, nicknamed Hellcats, were tasked with the impossible—the combined crews of 760 submariners all knew their chances of survival were slim. Based on original documents and the poignant personal letters of one doomed Hellcat commander, Sasgen crafts a classic naval tale of one of World War II's most dangerous missions.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    NAL
  4. Publication date
    November 2, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0451231368
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0451231369
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A worthwhile addition to most naval collections, this is the uncensored story of the 1945 penetration of the Sea of Japan by nine U.S. submarines. Penetrating heavy minefields with the aid of a new short-range (and not wholly debugged) sonar, the submarines sank 28 Japanese ships in attacking Japan’s connection to the Asian mainland. Having received extraordinary cooperation from the operation’s survivors and their descendants, Sasgen gives eloquent and accessible accounts for the general reader of the development of the FM sonar, the picking of the submarines, and Operation Barney itself. He also gives a memorable and moving portrait of Laurence Edge, captain of Bonefish, the one submarine lost, and of his family. He suggests that the operation was not really worthwhile, coming as late in the war as June 1945, yet admits that Admiral Lockwood, commanding Pacific Fleet submarines, probably could not have known that. Deserves the commendation well done. --Roland Green

Review

"Sasgen vividly recounts the pulsating drama of the Hellcats... well-written, engaging, and fills in the last chapter of the Navy's submarine war against Japan."
-Naval History

"A worthwhile addition to most naval collections...Sasgen gives eloquent and accessible accounts for the general reader of the development of the FM sonar, the picking of the submarines, and Operation Barney itself...memorable and moving ...Deserves the commendation well done."
-Booklist

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ NAL; First Edition (November 2, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451231368
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451231369
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

About the author

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Peter T. Sasgen

Peter T. Sasgen

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Peter Sasgen is the author of thirteen books. His subjects range from naval history, particularly submarine warfare during World War II and the Cold War, to novels of international intrigue. His latest novel, ILLUMINATIONS, is set in the vicious and often unscrupulous international art world of Paris.

Sasgen started writing shortly after the death of his father, who'd served in submarines in the Pacific during the war. With a lifelong interest in submarines, Sasgen realized that his father's experiences had the makings of a great adventure story. He wrote what became RED SCORPION, THE WAR PATROLS OF THE USS RASHER, his first book published in 1995.

After RED SCORPION, ideas for new stories just kept coming. A novel set in post-war Berlin (THE DAYS OF KiILLING), a trilogy of the new Cold War (THE BLOOD OF LOST EMPIRES; THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOX; THE WHITE WOMAN), and eight more titles followed.

The concept for ILLUMINATIONS derived from Sasgen's experience as an artist and photographer after graduation from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His photographs are in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Library of Congress, and in private collections in the U.S. and Europe. He and his wife live in St. Augustine, Florida.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

submariner
5.0 out of 5 stars There never has been a book on submarines like this one!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
A great book about the first time America formed a true wolfpack to attack off the coast of the japanese homeland. And the heartbreaking loss of the submarine Bullhead. Having completed the book let me say there never has been a book on WWII submarines like this one. The movie of the same name starring Former President Ronald Reagan & future wife Nancy Davis is an insult to this great book. What seperates this book is it's PERSONAL. The captain of the ill fated Bullhead was just a name to me all these years. Lawrence Edge. But the personal letters between he and his wife are released for this book. You get a true insight never before revealed of the life and inner fears, hopes, dreams and love of family of a regular guy forced to fight for his country because of his strong inner convictions. And this creates an inner conflict. Duty first. But I wanna live because I love my wife & kids very much.Unfortunately Lawrence & his crew perished. And I am haunted by the questions of how his life ended and when did he realize he would never see his wife and kids again. Also we get a bonus insight into Admiral Lockwood known by his men as Uncle Charley. To be blessed by a boss who actually cares about YOU. That was Lockwood. Read the book. Enjoy.
5 people found this helpful
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Jeffrey T. Munson
4.0 out of 5 stars A Daring Submarine Mission
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2010
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By the late spring and early summer of 1945, Japan was a beaten nation. Her supplies of food, oil, and other goods had slowed to a trickle. American submarines were taking an enormous toll on Japanese shipping. However, one area still remained relatively safe for the Japanese ships; the Sea of Japan. The Japanese had mined the entrances into the sea in the effort to keep American submarines out. In 1943, the USS Wahoo had managed to get inside, but she was bombed and sunk. Admiral Charles Lockwood, Commander of the U.S. submarine force, made it his personal goal to avenge the Wahoo. In the summer of 1945, Operation Barney was born.

FM Sonar had been developed to help locate enemy mines which would allow American submarines to successfully penetrate the Sea of Japan. After some initial problems were ironed out, nine American submarines, including the USS Bonefish, were headed to the Sea of Japan.

The subs managed to make their way into the Sea, and in the time that they were there, the group managed to sink well over twenty enemy ships. However, not all was well; the Bonefish was lost with all hands.

Sarah Edge, the wife of Captain Lawrence Edge of the Bonefish, refused to believe the initial news that the Bonefish was lost. She spent the next year writing letters to Lockwood and others trying to find out the fate of her husband. Ultimately, as she received replies from Navy personnel, she began to accept the fact that Lawrence was not coming back. The official synopsis of the sinking indicates that the Bonefish had attacked a group of three Japanese patrol boats. All torpedoes fired missed, and the patrol boats began a lethal depth-charge attack that ultimately sank the Bonefish.

Many questions were raised, by Sarah Edge and others, as to the necessity of Operation Barney. Critics argued that Japan was very close to defeat, so why risk nine submarines on a mission that might have proven to be unnecessary? However, in the final analysis, the mission was very successful, and the loss of one submarine can be viewed as acceptable when compared to the Japanese losses.

I found "Hellcats" to be an informative and interesting read. I've read many books about submarine warfare in the Pacific war, but this is the first book I've found that dealt specifically with Operation Barney. Author Peter Sasgen does a good job of describing the FM sonar that was installed in the American submarines to spot the Japanese minefields, and the action in the Sea of Japan is told in vivid detail.

I recommend this book to readers of submarine history. Operation Barney might have been controversial, but there's no denying the final outcome; the Sea of Japan was no longer safe from American submarine attacks.
20 people found this helpful
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Dano
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and learned a lot
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
I always enjoy submarine stories, fiction or nonfiction. This one gave me much information that filled in some the gaps about the last few months of WWll'
If you enjoy naval stories and in particular ones about submarines, you will this one well researched and quite well written.
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RSM
4.0 out of 5 stars Bought this for a WWII submariner
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
Bought this for my dad who was on Sea Dog for its first 3 patrols. He tranferred to a tender & did not go on this mission which was commanded by the skipper of Sea Dog. His high school buddy (who enlisted at the same time he did) went on the mission aboard Bonefish, the boat that was lost at Toyama Bay. I also read the book, which was well-written and a quick read. My dad, who is 90, didn't have much patience for some of the background that set the stage for the mission, but thought the descriptions of the combat actions rang true. The author's contention that the mission's risks were not worth taking at that point in the war is fairly argued, but I'd like to read some more about the operation before I go along with that. In any event, the book sympathetically documents the story of a bunch of guys who did some tough duty and who should not be forgotten.
4 people found this helpful
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Ldympr
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Another winner
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
Another winner from one of my favorite authors. Peter has amazing skill in research and story telling. Even if you don't follow WWll both bring a subs you will find this book very enjoyable. He tells the story with compassion for the men who were lost and of everyday struggles of young men going to war with unproven equipment. How we're these young men and even a nation at war could contemplate the war ending 6 weeks later?
If you want to get more in-depth reading read Admiral Lookheads version as well. Well done sir!
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sam
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
I love world war two history and especially submarine warfare in the Pacific. This is a good account of actual events and worth the money spent. It's and amazing era of my father's generation where it was a person's patriotic duty to enlist and go to war. The submarine service was all voluntary and one of the most dangerous where many sailors did not return from patrol. If you love this type of history, buy the book, kick back and the story take you back in time where people were real and every little thing was life or death.
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Top reviews from other countries

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pearl
5.0 out of 5 stars 日本海における米軍潜水艦隊Barney作戦の記録－ 唯一犠牲となった艦長に当てたスポットライト
Reviewed in Japan on November 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
太平洋戦争末期，日本海に侵入した米海軍潜水艦隊によるBarney作戦の記録．日本軍は，対馬海峡，津軽海峡，宗谷海峡に機雷原を敷設し，米潜水艦は日本海に入れずemperor's seaとも言われていた．B29による大空襲による甚大な被害にもかかわらず頑迷に降伏しない日本の息の根を止めるには，本土と大陸を結ぶ日本海の海上輸送ルートを潜水艦で潰滅させることが有効という潜水艦隊司令官Lockwood准将の信念のもと，機雷を高精度に探知できる新兵器FMソナーを装備した潜水艦9隻からなるHellcats艦隊が派遣された．1945年6月，艦隊は対馬海峡の機雷原を突破して日本海侵入に成功，日本の船舶約30隻を撃沈したが，うち1隻，Fishboneは日本軍の爆雷攻撃の犠牲となり全員不帰となった．

本書はこの作戦の経緯を詳細に解説したものである．類書は既にいくつかあるが，特に唯一犠牲となったFishboneのLawrence Edge艦長にスポットライトをあてたところが大きな特徴で，愛妻Sarahとの往復書簡がそのまま掲載されている．

この直後に原爆が投下されて日本は降伏することになり，この作戦の意義はほとんどなかったというのが戦後の評価であり，そもそもこの作戦を行う必要性があったのかという疑問，批判も多いようである．最終章では，この点についてあらためて客観的にレビューされているとともに，2児とともに遺されたSarahがFishbone乗組員遺族の代表として原因究明に奔走した経過が語られている．

終戦直前に命を落とした将兵の悲劇はよく語られるところである．Edge艦長夫妻の私信の全文引用はやや冗長の感はあるが，あらためて戦争の悲惨さを痛感させるドキュメンタリーである．付録には実際の戦果や，Hellcats艦隊の全乗組員の名簿など，豊富な資料が含まれている．
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