Running deep Bravery, survival, and the true story of the deadliest submarine in World War II

Bestseller Clavin (Bandit Heaven) offers a lively rendition of the storied career of the USS Tang and its captain, Richard Hetherington O'Kane. Commissioned in 1943, the submarine downed and sank Japanese planes and ships in record numbers, including single-handedly destroying an entire Japanese convoy--successes that Clavin chalks up to O'Kane's boldness and preternatural talents as a seaman (one military historian wrote that O'Kane's only tactical antecedents were "the freewheeling frigate captains" of the Age of Sail). But on its fifth and final deployment, the Tang fired a torpedo that malfunctioned and boomeranged backward, hitting the sub and sending it 180 feet down to the ocean floor. Of the 87 crewmen aboard, 50 perished; nine, including O'Kane, managed to reach the surface using the innovative new "Momsen lung" breathing apparatus. The survivors were picked up by a Japanese patrol boat and transferred to Ofuna, a "temporary holding facility" for Allied aviators and submariners known to inmates as the "Torture Farm." At war's end, when the "walking skeletons" of Ofuna were liberated, O'Kane weighed barely 90 pounds. The book is a fast-paced yet meandering adventure that spends more time in the ocean than in Ofuna--Clavin provides a bounty of backstory on submarine warfare, with side excursions into other famous subs and their fates. The result is an entertaining account of daring exploits in the deep. (Oct.)

Bestselling historian Clavin's (Bandit Heaven) new work exemplifies outstanding literary quality, combining taut, evocative storytelling with rigorous research. The narrative plunges readers into the harrowing World War II exploits of the USS Tang submarine and its commander, Richard O'Kane, capturing both the technical complexity of submarine warfare and its psychological tolls. The book focuses on the Tang's last patrol in 1944, when it successfully destroyed an entire Japanese convoy before being sunk by one of its own torpedoes. Only nine of its 89 crew members survived; among them was O'Kane, of whom Clavin offers a nuanced portrait. The language is crisp and direct, yet layered with insight, making operational details accessible while remaining focused on the human drama at the story's core. The structure is exemplary, featuring well-organized chapters, a precise chronology, a bibliography, and an index that enhance both readability and scholarly utility. The book is filled with stories of courage, innovation, and survival in the Pacific, offering enduring value for military historians, students, and general readers alike. VERDICT Clavin's authoritative yet empathetic voice ensures that this is not only an informative chronicle of wartime heroism but also a profound meditation on leadership, sacrifice, and the costs of war.--Lawrence Mello