Gallant Lady

A submariner who served on the USS Archerfish presents a lively biography of the legendary WWII fighting vessel and its crew.

She looked just like the other Balao-class submarines crafted in the 1940s. But the Archerfish--named for a fish that kills its victims with a lethal blast of water from below--survived fierce combat, fires, and earthquake, and much more. It holds a uniquely heroic place in military history and the hearts of her crew. 

Here is her story: from her assembly in New England and dedication at the hand of Eleanor Roosevelt to her service in World War II, where she broke the back of the Japanese Navy and sank the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine. The author also details her critical role in the Cold War, crisscrossing the oceans for six years to foil Soviet naval intelligence.

Here, too, is the story of her officers and sailors. In their own words, these men tell how they sent a Japanese aircraft carrier to the ocean floor, steered their ship into exotic ports across the world, and welcomed everyone from Japanese war veterans to royalty, Playboy bunnies, and even a goat aboard ship--all with equal hospitality.