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ISBN 0-87021-767-4
285 pages

Acknowledgments; preface; explanation; index.

Appendix: Submarine minelaying activities; chronological listing of submarine mineplants; commanding officers of US subs; commanding officers of Britis subs; commanding officers of Dutch subs.

   In a format very similar to Rohwer's Axis Submarine Successes, Alden provides in tabular format the facts for every attack made by US subs, plus attacks made by British and Dutch subs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In chronological sequence he lists: date and (sometimes) hour of attack; name of sub; patrol number; longitude and latitude; claimed ship type of target; estimated tonnage of target; type of attack with light conditions, surface or submerged, gun or torpedo, etc; claimed results; source for verification; actual name, type, and tonnage of target; actual extent of damage; location given by enemy sources; and other comments.
   Appendices detail US submarine minelaying activities and skippers of US, British, and Dutch subs which appear in the tables. Japanese vessels are indexed alphabetically for easy access in the tables. Unfortunately, US subs are not indexed, so they can only be found by skimming through the chronological tables.
   One of the best features of Alden's book is an enlightening description of the sources he used, including discussion of the limitations of the JANAC report "Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses during World War II by All Causes".
   Available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Naval Institute Press.
   Thanks to Torpedo Junction for providing this review copy.

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Reviewed 9 June 1996

Copyright © 1996 by Bill Stone
May not be reproduced in any form without written permission of Stone & Stone