Silent Steel : The Mysterious Death of the Nuclear Attack Sub USS Scorpion

by Johnson, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780471267379
• ISBN10: 0471267376
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-06
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Praise for Silent Steel "The magnitude of the tragedy of the USS Scorpion is matched only by the depth of the mystery surrounding her loss. Stephen Johnson has done a remarkable job of shining new light on this dark moment in U.S. submarine history." --Sherry Sontag, coauthor of Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage "What happened to the USS Scorpion? The question has vexed submariners for almost four decades. Now, with meticulous research and incredible attention to detail, Stephen Johnson examines and dissects one of the most tragic and mysterious submarine accidents in U.S. Navy history." --Douglas Waller, author of Big Red: Inside the Secret World of a Trident Nuclear Submarine "Stephen Johnson has crafted a forensic masterpiece that leads the reader back through time to unravel the gnawing enigma of the tragic 1968 loss of the nuclear attack submarine USS Scorpion. Sifting through a maze of conflicting theories, he meticulously lays out a tale of undersea detectives searching for conclusive evidence to one of the most baffling mysteries of the cruel sea." --Rear Admiral Thomas Evans, author, analyst specializing in submarine history and operations, and former officer on the Scorpion "The manuscript arrived with yesterday's afternoon mail. I finished reading it by nightfall. It's that good! Thoroughly researched, impeccably documented, with an appealing and literate style, Silent Steel should become essential reading for submarine enthusiasts and for anyone else who enjoys an engaging and informative yarn." --A. J. Hill, author of Under Pressure: The Final Voyage of Submarine S-Five

Author Biography

Veteran journalist STEPHEN JOHNSON first wrote about the Scorpion in a series of articles for the Houston Chronicle from 1993 to 1995 and assisted documentary makers and authors researching the disaster, including the authors of the bestselling Blind Man's Bluff. Johnson has discussed the Scorpion on Nova's Submarines, Secrets, and Spies and on The History Channel.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Returning to Duty	1	(16)
Weapon System Accuracy Trials	17	(16)
Into the Breach	33	(9)
Preparations	42	(12)
Rota	54	(13)
The Mediterranean	67	(15)
The Final Month	82	(17)
Waiting in the Rain	99	(15)
The Initial Search	114	(12)
Death Rattle	126	(20)
Controversy	146	(24)
The Inquiry	170	(8)
Trial Horse for a New Overhaul Concept	178	(18)
Ishmael	196	(9)
Scorpion Phase II Operations	205	(14)
The Last Investigation	219	(22)
Epilogue	241	(2)
Officers and Crew of the USS Scorpion	243	(2)
Bibliography	245	(36)
Index	281