Sub Tales

Now in its second edition, Sub Tales: Stories That Seldom Surface has undergone a major refit (to borrow a submarine term!). Every chapter has been rewritten from the first edition with greater clarity and enhanced historical accuracy. More background information on the subject at hand is included, and cross-references have been added to the other books in the series. Any previous concerns about technical or semantic errors should be laid to rest with the publication of this volume, last updated in July 2022.

Packed with 40 gripping stories from the annals of US submarine history, Sub Tales attempts to convey some of the drama, adventure, and humor that has typified service aboard the submarines of the US Navy over the past 100+ years. Included in this edition is a completely new story about polar bear sightings by submarines and a new description of an unlikely rescue at sea by the Seadragon! The 40 stories are accompanied by a bonus section that includes seven “submarine lists” that will be certain to entertain the listener. As a compendium, the book may be listened to in any order. Stories vary in length from short to medium to long. You decide the listening order.

The text has been expanded by 20 percent. The topics range from presidential visits to inadvertent whale strikes to dramatic brushes with death. Also featured are detailed stories of uncommon bravery and sacrifice. You will learn a lot about the mettle of the men who “rode the boats” in the defense of the United States. Written for both submarine veterans and civilian enthusiasts, the language is clear and correct. You will have a hard time putting the book down once you begin it!

For this edition, we are pleased to announce the addition of two associate editors. Mike Chapman and Keith Weitemeyer are two of the most literate students of submarine history, and their editorial perspectives are found throughout the book to tighten up narratives, keep language choices in certain passages on point, and draw larger conclusions from many of the stories included herein. The rewrite also benefited greatly from the expertise of several additional submarine veterans who reviewed passages about propulsion, electrical systems, weapons systems, and more.

Chosen by BookAuthority as one of the 10 best submarine books in the world for both 2019 and 2020, Sub Tales has consistently earned solid reader ratings and has sold thousands of copies. With the many new enhancements and improvements in this second edition, we trust that Sub Tales will take its rightful place in the submarine literature. Together with its two sequels, More Sub Tales and Sub Tales 3, the three-book series represents a distinctive collection of some of the finest stories of intrigue and courage of the US Submarine Force. Along with the other three true-life books of the US Submarine Force written by the authors--Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots and The Silent Service Remembers (Vols. 1 and 2)--you are guaranteed to be entertained and informed for hours by the many deeds of the Silent Service.