Submarine drama, maritime tragedy, innovation, unique circumstances, resilience in adversity, leadership, teamwork, wisdom and personal growth-this book has it all.
In May 1921 the submarine R-14 departs Pearl Harbor on an emergency mission to search for the US navy ship Conestoga, lost at sea with 56 souls aboard. But in a harsh twist of fate, the rescuers themselves fall into peril, stranded 140 miles from the nearest port with no fuel. Now young Annapolis grad Alexander "Dean" Douglas, the submarine's Acting CO, must rally his tired and discouraged crew to return safely to port.
In a stirring burst of ingenuity, the crew of R-14 rig sails to makeshift masts and set sail for home. The journey is painfully slow and conditions on board early submarines were cramped, hot, and uncomfortable. But the crew perseveres, and R-14 makes it home to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, where the crew is greeted with surprise and national news coverage. As far as is known, R-14 is the only submarine in modern times to have completed a deep-ocean voyage under sail.
Now Douglas and his crew face a searching inquiry into the responsibility for an embarrassing failure. Navy ships aren't supposed to run out of fuel at sea! The evaluation is in the hands of the talented, conscientious and demanding Commander Chester W. Nimitz, later to lead the US Navy to victory in the Pacific in World War Two and still revered as the greatest admiral in US history. The identification of root causes, and how Nimitz handles the resulting fallout, is an instructive model for effective leadership in any organization in any era.
A fast, compelling read that would make a fabulous movie, this is a must-buy for a dozen different audiences: naval history buffs, submarine enthusiasts, military professionals leadership and management thought leaders, innovation experts, fans of adventure and wilderness stories, and anyone who enjoys a good story well told.
Contains nearly fifty high-resolution original photographs of R-14, her crew, and her sister boats, including many never previously in print. A map shows R-14's track, and two full-color diagrams by renowed submarine illustrator Jim Christley illuminate the boat's design (see above and inside).
A native of Dexter, MI., Chief Johnston enlisted in the Navy in September 1983. Over the course of a 21-year career Chief Johnston served on the USS Darter (SS-576), four Mine Countermeasures ships, and the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98). He has been on the staffs of Navy Operational Support Centers in Des Moines IA, Brunswick ME, Rochester NY, Battle Creek MI, and on the staff of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath ME. He has made four overseas deployments to Japan and the western Pacific, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. He retired from active duty in August, 2019.His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ "M" device, and a COMSUBGRU 7 Letter of Commendation. Chief Johnston is qualified in submarines and surface warfare.During a break in service in the 1990s, he worked in the travel, security, and retail industries.He resides in Norfolk, Virginia with his wife Theresa.
Born and raised in the state of Washington, Ric was primarily brought up in the Seattle area. After high school graduation in 1964 he enlisted in the Navy and attended boot camp and "A" school in San Diego, CA where he volunteered for duty in submarines. After attending Submarine School at Submarine Base New Lon-don in Groton CT in 1965, he was assigned to the pre-commissioning crew of the Thresher class submarine USS Flasher (SSN-613), under construction at General Dynamics/Electric Boat in Groton, CT. After commissioning Flasher changed homeports to Hawaii, and from there Ric deployed on numerous patrols to the northern, western and central Pacific. After slightly over four years on active du-ty, he transitioned to the Navy Reserve and was assigned to the Submarine Re-serve Unit in Seattle, where he completed his six-year military obligation. During this period, he performed temporary duty on the diesel submarine USS Cusk (SS-348), shortly before her decommissioning.His service awards include the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal. He is qualified in submarines.While in civilian life he worked in various professions, learning skills that later served him well. An avid sailor, he operated his own business performing yacht and small boat repair, and lived on and operated his own sailboat for ten years. Transitioning jobs once again, he spent 14 years in the Bio-Tech industry in the Materials Management role, taking several companies from their startup phases into Food & Drug Administration-approved production of their products.
Jim Christley retired from the US Navy in 1982 as a senior chief petty officer, having served on seven submarines ranging from diesel to nuclear fast attacks to ballistic missile boats. A student of US submarine technical history, he has written numerous articles and books on the subject, in addition to providing technical illustrations to several notable books on submarine design and history.
