Under Pressure
The Final Voyage of Submarine S-Five
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Michael Butler Murray
-
By:
-
A.J. Hill
About this listen
Hanging on display in the United States Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., is a battered and scratched steel plate, two feet in diameter, edged with more than one hundred little semicircles. For more than 80 years, people have wondered how it came to be there and at the story it could tell.
Under Pressure: The Final Voyage of Submarine S-Five is that story. On Monday, August 30, 1920, the S-Five, the newest member of the U.S. Navy's fleet of submarines, departs Boston on her first cruise - to Baltimore for a recruiting appearance at the end of the week. Two days later, as part of a routine test of the submarine's ability to crash dive, her crew's failure to close a faulty valve sends 75 tons of seawater blasting in. Before the valve can be jury-rigged shut, the S-Five sits precariously on the ocean floor under 180 feet of water.
The salt in the seawater combines with the sulfuric acid in the sub's batteries to create a cloud of chlorine gas. They have little air, no water, and only the dimmest of light by which to plan their escape. By shifting the water in the sub toward the bow torpedo room, the crew is able to stand the 240-foot-long sub on its nose, bringing it close to vertical, and, using trigonometry, he calculates that at least part of the boat's stern is now above sea level. In a race against time the crew starts cutting a hole out of the highest point in the sub: the telephone-booth-size tiller room. With no acetylene torch, no power tools -- nothing but ratchet drills and hacksaws -- the crew must cut through nearly an inch of strengthened steel or die in the attempt.
An incredible drama, a story of heroism and of heroes, Under Pressure is that most remarkable of books, a true story far more dramatic than any fiction.
©2002 A. J. Hill (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Dive
- The Untold Story of the World's Deepest Submarine Rescue
- By: Stephen McGinty
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On August 29, 1973, a routine dive to the telecommunication cable that snakes along the Atlantic sea bed went badly wrong. Pisces III, with Roger Chapman and Roger Mallinson onboard, had tried to surface when a catastrophic fault suddenly sent the mini-submarine tumbling to the ocean bed - almost half a mile below. Badly damaged, buried nose first in a bed of sand, the submarine and the two men were now trapped far beyond the depth of all previous sub-sea rescues. They had just two days’ worth of oxygen. Rescue was three days away.
-
-
Intriguing and suspenseful
- By NinaDP on 06-24-23
By: Stephen McGinty
-
Collision Course
- The Classic Story of the Collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm
- By: Alvin Moscow
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships in the world, the Andrea Doria was en route to New York from Italy. Departing from the United States was the much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of July 25, 1956, 53 miles southeast of Nantucket, the Stockholm sliced through the Doria's steel hull. Within minutes, the sea was pouring into the Italian liner. Eleven hours later, she capsized and sank into the ocean.
-
-
Thorough Account of the Tragedy
- By Admiralu on 10-22-21
By: Alvin Moscow
-
The Shipwreck Hunter
- A Lifetime of Extraordinary Discoveries on the Ocean Floor
- By: David L. Mearns
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
David L. Mearns has discovered some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. The Shipwreck Hunter chronicles his most intriguing finds. It describes the extraordinary techniques used, the detailed research, and mid-ocean stamina and courage required to find a wreck thousands of feet beneath the sea, plus the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies. Combining the adventuring derring-do of Indiana Jones with the precision of a scientist, The Shipwreck Hunter opens an illuminating porthole into the shadowy depths of the ocean.
-
-
Delivered More Than I Expected!
- By Jason V. Kilmer on 08-07-18
By: David L. Mearns
-
Thunder Below!
- The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II
- By: Eugene B. Fluckey
- Narrated by: Corey Snow
- Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.
This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen.
-
-
Action, Excitement, & History. A great read!
- By Boone on 09-28-13
-
Simple Courage
- The True Story of Peril on the Sea
- By: Frank Delaney
- Narrated by: Frank Delaney
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on historical documents and contemporary accounts and on exclusive interviews with Carlsen's family, Delaney opens a window into the world of the merchant marine. With deep affection, and respect, for the weather and all that goes with it, he places us in the heart of the storm, a "biblical tempest" of unimaginable power. He illuminates the bravery and ingenuity of Carlsen and the extraordinary courage that the 37-year-old captain inspired in his stalwart crew.
-
-
Well written and read
- By AMS on 03-03-08
By: Frank Delaney
-
Ten Hours Until Dawn
- The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do
- By: Michael J. Tougias
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the height of the blizzard of 1978, the tanker Global Hope floundered on the shoals off the Massachusetts coast. The Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat, but was soon in as much trouble as the tanker. Then pilot boat captain Frank Quirk, hearing of the Coast Guard's troubles on his radio, decided to act.
-
-
A riveting story
- By Christopher on 11-30-07
-
The Dive
- The Untold Story of the World's Deepest Submarine Rescue
- By: Stephen McGinty
- Narrated by: John Telfer
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On August 29, 1973, a routine dive to the telecommunication cable that snakes along the Atlantic sea bed went badly wrong. Pisces III, with Roger Chapman and Roger Mallinson onboard, had tried to surface when a catastrophic fault suddenly sent the mini-submarine tumbling to the ocean bed - almost half a mile below. Badly damaged, buried nose first in a bed of sand, the submarine and the two men were now trapped far beyond the depth of all previous sub-sea rescues. They had just two days’ worth of oxygen. Rescue was three days away.
-
-
Intriguing and suspenseful
- By NinaDP on 06-24-23
By: Stephen McGinty
-
Collision Course
- The Classic Story of the Collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm
- By: Alvin Moscow
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships in the world, the Andrea Doria was en route to New York from Italy. Departing from the United States was the much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of July 25, 1956, 53 miles southeast of Nantucket, the Stockholm sliced through the Doria's steel hull. Within minutes, the sea was pouring into the Italian liner. Eleven hours later, she capsized and sank into the ocean.
-
-
Thorough Account of the Tragedy
- By Admiralu on 10-22-21
By: Alvin Moscow
-
The Shipwreck Hunter
- A Lifetime of Extraordinary Discoveries on the Ocean Floor
- By: David L. Mearns
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
David L. Mearns has discovered some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. The Shipwreck Hunter chronicles his most intriguing finds. It describes the extraordinary techniques used, the detailed research, and mid-ocean stamina and courage required to find a wreck thousands of feet beneath the sea, plus the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies. Combining the adventuring derring-do of Indiana Jones with the precision of a scientist, The Shipwreck Hunter opens an illuminating porthole into the shadowy depths of the ocean.
-
-
Delivered More Than I Expected!
- By Jason V. Kilmer on 08-07-18
By: David L. Mearns
-
Thunder Below!
- The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II
- By: Eugene B. Fluckey
- Narrated by: Corey Snow
- Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.
This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen.
-
-
Action, Excitement, & History. A great read!
- By Boone on 09-28-13
-
Simple Courage
- The True Story of Peril on the Sea
- By: Frank Delaney
- Narrated by: Frank Delaney
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on historical documents and contemporary accounts and on exclusive interviews with Carlsen's family, Delaney opens a window into the world of the merchant marine. With deep affection, and respect, for the weather and all that goes with it, he places us in the heart of the storm, a "biblical tempest" of unimaginable power. He illuminates the bravery and ingenuity of Carlsen and the extraordinary courage that the 37-year-old captain inspired in his stalwart crew.
-
-
Well written and read
- By AMS on 03-03-08
By: Frank Delaney
-
Ten Hours Until Dawn
- The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do
- By: Michael J. Tougias
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During the height of the blizzard of 1978, the tanker Global Hope floundered on the shoals off the Massachusetts coast. The Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat, but was soon in as much trouble as the tanker. Then pilot boat captain Frank Quirk, hearing of the Coast Guard's troubles on his radio, decided to act.
-
-
A riveting story
- By Christopher on 11-30-07
-
In Harm's Way
- The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors
- By: Doug Stanton
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died. The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered
-
-
Captivating
- By Clarence Sparks on 10-22-16
By: Doug Stanton
-
Dead Wake
- The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
- By: Erik Larson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On May 1, 1915, with WWI entering its tenth month, a luxury ocean liner as richly appointed as an English country house sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were surprisingly at ease, even though Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone. For months, German U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic.
-
-
Naivety VS Barbarians Of War
- By Sara on 03-05-16
By: Erik Larson
-
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
- The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- By: James D. Hornfischer
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Told from the point of view of the men who waged this steel-shattering battle, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors captures Navy pilots attacking enemy battleships with makeshift weapons and sacrificial valor, a veteran commander improvising tactics never taught in Annapolis, and young crews from across America rising to an impossible challenge.
-
-
Outstanding
- By John on 04-17-04
-
Indianapolis
- By: Lynn Vincent, Sara Vladic
- Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis is sailing alone in the Philippine Sea when she is sunk by two Japanese torpedoes. For the next five nights and four days, almost 300 miles from the nearest land, nearly 900 men battle injuries, sharks, dehydration, insanity, and eventually each other. Only 316 will survive. Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic tell the complete story of the ship, her crew, and their final mission to save one of their own.
-
-
As good as In Harm's Way but different
- By tru britty on 07-13-18
By: Lynn Vincent, and others
-
Rescue of the Bounty
- Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy
- By: Michael J. Tougias, Douglas A. Campbell
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rescue of the Bounty is the harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty - the tall ship used in the classic 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty - which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with 16 aboard.
-
-
Much heavier focus on sailing than rescue
- By Samuel Roda on 05-23-16
By: Michael J. Tougias, and others
-
The Silent Service in World War II
- The Story of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in the Words of the Men Who Lived It
- By: Edward Monroe-Jones, Michael Green
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins, Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy had a total of 111 submarines. It was mostly a collection of aging boats. Fortunately, with the war in Europe was already two years old and friction with Japan ever increasing, help from what would become known as the Silent Service in the Pacific was on the way: there were 73 of the new fleet submarines under construction. The Silent Service in World War II tells the story of America's intrepid underwater warriors in the words of the men who lived the war in the Pacific against Japan.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Chris on 09-17-18
By: Edward Monroe-Jones, and others
-
No Banners, No Bugles
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The unheralded story of how salvage helped the Allies win back North Africa. By the time America joined World War II, Edward Ellsberg had already earned his place as one of the world’s great marine salvage engineers, and his best-selling accounts of raising doomed submarines and histories of classic diving operations had made him a literary star.
-
-
Great story, horrible narration.
- By Monk on 02-17-17
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
War Beneath the Waves
- A True Story of Courage and Leadership Aboard a World War II Submarine
- By: Don Keith
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In November 1943, while on war patrol in the Makassar Strait, the USS Billfish submarine was spotted by the Japanese, who launched a vicious depth-charge attack. Explosions wracked the sub for 15 straight hours. With his senior officers incapacitated, diving officer Charlie Rush boldly assumed command and led key members of the crew in a heroic effort to keep their ship intact as they tried to escape.
-
-
Interesting historical review
- By Rick on 04-25-10
By: Don Keith
-
Run the Storm
- By: George Michelsen Foy
- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On October 1, 2015, the SS El Faro, a cargo ship tall as a hundred-story building that made a regular run between Jacksonville, Florida, and Puerto Rico, delivering everything from razor blades to new Chevrolet cars, disappeared in Hurricane Joaquin, a category 4 storm. The ship, her hundreds of shipping containers, and her entire crew sank to the bottom of the ocean, three miles down. The sinking was the greatest seagoing US merchant marine shipping disaster since World War II.
-
-
Struggled to survive this book
- By Kindle Customer on 09-15-18
-
On the Bottom
- The Raising of the Submarine S-51
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The sinking of the submarine S-51 was one of the greatest tragedies in American naval history. Due to a miscommunication and subsequent collision between the sub and a passing steamship on a September night, the S-51, including 33 of its crew of 36, sank to the ocean depths. The tragedy of the S-51 captivated the nation, and was a fixture in the pages of American newspapers. The story took on a whole new dimension when the navy decided to take over the salvage of the 1,000-ton behemoth from a civilian company.
-
-
Great book
- By Cody Davey on 04-17-20
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
Halsey's Typhoon
- By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin
- Narrated by: Eric Conger
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
December 1944, the Pacific Theater. General Douglas MacArthur has vowed to return to the Philippines. He will need the help of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey's Pacific Fleet. But at the height of the invasion, Halsey's ships are blindsided by a typhoon of unprecedented strength and scope. Battleships are tossed like toys, fighter planes are blown off carriers, destroyers are capsized, and hundreds of sailors are swept into the roiling, shark-infested sea.
-
-
Weather and Naval History Masterpiece
- By M. Taussig on 02-17-07
By: Bob Drury, and others
-
Steel Boat Iron Hearts
- A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505
- By: Hans Goebeler, John Vanzo
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Using his own experiences, log books, and correspondence with other U-boat crewmen, Hans Goebeler offers rich and personal details about what life was like in the German Navy under Hitler. Since his first and last posting was to U-505, Goebeler's perspective of the crew, commanders, and war patrols paints a vivid and complete portrait unlike any other to come out of the Kriegsmarine. He witnessed it all, from deadly sabotage efforts that almost sunk the boat to the tragic suicide of the only U-boat commander who took his life during World War II.
-
-
Not impressed with the narration
- By Andrew on 08-20-16
By: Hans Goebeler, and others
Editorial reviews
On August 30, 1920, the S-Five, the newest addition to the U.S. Navy's fleet of submarines, left Boston for Baltimore on her first cruise. Two days later, the crew commenced a practice "crash dive" but a combination of errors and poor mechanical design sent 75 tons of seawater charging inside. Narrator Michael Butler Murray's authoritative, well-paced performance builds a heart-pounding picture of the panic inside the submarine as she submerges to the ocean floor at a depth of 180 feet. Murray's pauses and emphasis on words intensify the drama and suspense as the crew scramble to save themselves as their air and water run out. Listeners won't be able to tear themselves away from this gripping true story.
Related to this topic
-
Collision Course
- The Classic Story of the Collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm
- By: Alvin Moscow
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships in the world, the Andrea Doria was en route to New York from Italy. Departing from the United States was the much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of July 25, 1956, 53 miles southeast of Nantucket, the Stockholm sliced through the Doria's steel hull. Within minutes, the sea was pouring into the Italian liner. Eleven hours later, she capsized and sank into the ocean.
-
-
Thorough Account of the Tragedy
- By Admiralu on 10-22-21
By: Alvin Moscow
-
The Silent Service in World War II
- The Story of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in the Words of the Men Who Lived It
- By: Edward Monroe-Jones, Michael Green
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins, Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy had a total of 111 submarines. It was mostly a collection of aging boats. Fortunately, with the war in Europe was already two years old and friction with Japan ever increasing, help from what would become known as the Silent Service in the Pacific was on the way: there were 73 of the new fleet submarines under construction. The Silent Service in World War II tells the story of America's intrepid underwater warriors in the words of the men who lived the war in the Pacific against Japan.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Chris on 09-17-18
By: Edward Monroe-Jones, and others
-
No Banners, No Bugles
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The unheralded story of how salvage helped the Allies win back North Africa. By the time America joined World War II, Edward Ellsberg had already earned his place as one of the world’s great marine salvage engineers, and his best-selling accounts of raising doomed submarines and histories of classic diving operations had made him a literary star.
-
-
Great story, horrible narration.
- By Monk on 02-17-17
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
War Beneath the Waves
- A True Story of Courage and Leadership Aboard a World War II Submarine
- By: Don Keith
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In November 1943, while on war patrol in the Makassar Strait, the USS Billfish submarine was spotted by the Japanese, who launched a vicious depth-charge attack. Explosions wracked the sub for 15 straight hours. With his senior officers incapacitated, diving officer Charlie Rush boldly assumed command and led key members of the crew in a heroic effort to keep their ship intact as they tried to escape.
-
-
Interesting historical review
- By Rick on 04-25-10
By: Don Keith
-
On the Bottom
- The Raising of the Submarine S-51
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The sinking of the submarine S-51 was one of the greatest tragedies in American naval history. Due to a miscommunication and subsequent collision between the sub and a passing steamship on a September night, the S-51, including 33 of its crew of 36, sank to the ocean depths. The tragedy of the S-51 captivated the nation, and was a fixture in the pages of American newspapers. The story took on a whole new dimension when the navy decided to take over the salvage of the 1,000-ton behemoth from a civilian company.
-
-
Great book
- By Cody Davey on 04-17-20
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
Simple Courage
- The True Story of Peril on the Sea
- By: Frank Delaney
- Narrated by: Frank Delaney
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on historical documents and contemporary accounts and on exclusive interviews with Carlsen's family, Delaney opens a window into the world of the merchant marine. With deep affection, and respect, for the weather and all that goes with it, he places us in the heart of the storm, a "biblical tempest" of unimaginable power. He illuminates the bravery and ingenuity of Carlsen and the extraordinary courage that the 37-year-old captain inspired in his stalwart crew.
-
-
Well written and read
- By AMS on 03-03-08
By: Frank Delaney
-
Collision Course
- The Classic Story of the Collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm
- By: Alvin Moscow
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships in the world, the Andrea Doria was en route to New York from Italy. Departing from the United States was the much smaller Stockholm. On the foggy night of July 25, 1956, 53 miles southeast of Nantucket, the Stockholm sliced through the Doria's steel hull. Within minutes, the sea was pouring into the Italian liner. Eleven hours later, she capsized and sank into the ocean.
-
-
Thorough Account of the Tragedy
- By Admiralu on 10-22-21
By: Alvin Moscow
-
The Silent Service in World War II
- The Story of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force in the Words of the Men Who Lived It
- By: Edward Monroe-Jones, Michael Green
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins, Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy had a total of 111 submarines. It was mostly a collection of aging boats. Fortunately, with the war in Europe was already two years old and friction with Japan ever increasing, help from what would become known as the Silent Service in the Pacific was on the way: there were 73 of the new fleet submarines under construction. The Silent Service in World War II tells the story of America's intrepid underwater warriors in the words of the men who lived the war in the Pacific against Japan.
-
-
Disappointing
- By Chris on 09-17-18
By: Edward Monroe-Jones, and others
-
No Banners, No Bugles
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The unheralded story of how salvage helped the Allies win back North Africa. By the time America joined World War II, Edward Ellsberg had already earned his place as one of the world’s great marine salvage engineers, and his best-selling accounts of raising doomed submarines and histories of classic diving operations had made him a literary star.
-
-
Great story, horrible narration.
- By Monk on 02-17-17
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
War Beneath the Waves
- A True Story of Courage and Leadership Aboard a World War II Submarine
- By: Don Keith
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In November 1943, while on war patrol in the Makassar Strait, the USS Billfish submarine was spotted by the Japanese, who launched a vicious depth-charge attack. Explosions wracked the sub for 15 straight hours. With his senior officers incapacitated, diving officer Charlie Rush boldly assumed command and led key members of the crew in a heroic effort to keep their ship intact as they tried to escape.
-
-
Interesting historical review
- By Rick on 04-25-10
By: Don Keith
-
On the Bottom
- The Raising of the Submarine S-51
- By: Edward Ellsberg
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The sinking of the submarine S-51 was one of the greatest tragedies in American naval history. Due to a miscommunication and subsequent collision between the sub and a passing steamship on a September night, the S-51, including 33 of its crew of 36, sank to the ocean depths. The tragedy of the S-51 captivated the nation, and was a fixture in the pages of American newspapers. The story took on a whole new dimension when the navy decided to take over the salvage of the 1,000-ton behemoth from a civilian company.
-
-
Great book
- By Cody Davey on 04-17-20
By: Edward Ellsberg
-
Simple Courage
- The True Story of Peril on the Sea
- By: Frank Delaney
- Narrated by: Frank Delaney
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on historical documents and contemporary accounts and on exclusive interviews with Carlsen's family, Delaney opens a window into the world of the merchant marine. With deep affection, and respect, for the weather and all that goes with it, he places us in the heart of the storm, a "biblical tempest" of unimaginable power. He illuminates the bravery and ingenuity of Carlsen and the extraordinary courage that the 37-year-old captain inspired in his stalwart crew.
-
-
Well written and read
- By AMS on 03-03-08
By: Frank Delaney
-
Halsey's Typhoon
- By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin
- Narrated by: Eric Conger
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
December 1944, the Pacific Theater. General Douglas MacArthur has vowed to return to the Philippines. He will need the help of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey's Pacific Fleet. But at the height of the invasion, Halsey's ships are blindsided by a typhoon of unprecedented strength and scope. Battleships are tossed like toys, fighter planes are blown off carriers, destroyers are capsized, and hundreds of sailors are swept into the roiling, shark-infested sea.
-
-
Weather and Naval History Masterpiece
- By M. Taussig on 02-17-07
By: Bob Drury, and others
-
Steel Boat Iron Hearts
- A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505
- By: Hans Goebeler, John Vanzo
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Using his own experiences, log books, and correspondence with other U-boat crewmen, Hans Goebeler offers rich and personal details about what life was like in the German Navy under Hitler. Since his first and last posting was to U-505, Goebeler's perspective of the crew, commanders, and war patrols paints a vivid and complete portrait unlike any other to come out of the Kriegsmarine. He witnessed it all, from deadly sabotage efforts that almost sunk the boat to the tragic suicide of the only U-boat commander who took his life during World War II.
-
-
Not impressed with the narration
- By Andrew on 08-20-16
By: Hans Goebeler, and others
-
Titanic's Last Secrets
- The Further Adventures of Shadow Divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler
- By: John Chatterton, Richie Kohler, Brad Matsen
- Narrated by: Henry Leyva
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why did Titanic sink as quickly as it did? Two of the greatest wreck divers in the world, the heroes of Shadow Divers, solve the mystery of history's greatest wreck. Titanic's Last Secrets peers into the lives of scientists, financiers, adventurers, and industrialists to bring listeners a thrilling and revelatory work of history and contemporary adventure.
-
-
Not much diving but interesting story
- By Jonas on 10-17-08
By: John Chatterton, and others
-
A Time to Die
- The Untold Story of the Kursk Tragedy
- By: Robert Moore
- Narrated by: Pete Cross
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On a quiet Saturday morning in August 2000, two explosions - one so massive it was detected by seismologists around the world - shot through the shallow Arctic waters of the Barents Sea. Russia's prized submarine, the Kursk, began her fatal plunge to the ocean floor. Award-winning journalist Robert Moore presents a riveting, brilliantly researched account of the deadliest submarine disaster in history.
-
-
Doomed To Unspeakable Deaths
- By Gillian on 02-09-17
By: Robert Moore
-
Graveyard of the Lakes
- Great Lakes Books Series
- By: Mark L. Thompson
- Narrated by: Scott MacDonald
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Graveyard of the Lakes, Thompson suggests that most of the accidents and deaths on the lakes have been the result of human error, ranging from simple mistakes to gross incompetence. In addition to his compelling analysis of the causes of shipwrecks, Thompson includes factual accounts of more than 100 wrecks. Graveyard of the Lakes will forever change the listener's perspective on shipwrecks.
-
-
Graveyard of the Lakes
- By Bernard Slicker on 02-11-18
By: Mark L. Thompson
-
Indianapolis
- By: Lynn Vincent, Sara Vladic
- Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
- Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis is sailing alone in the Philippine Sea when she is sunk by two Japanese torpedoes. For the next five nights and four days, almost 300 miles from the nearest land, nearly 900 men battle injuries, sharks, dehydration, insanity, and eventually each other. Only 316 will survive. Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic tell the complete story of the ship, her crew, and their final mission to save one of their own.
-
-
As good as In Harm's Way but different
- By tru britty on 07-13-18
By: Lynn Vincent, and others
-
The Death of the USS Thresher
- The Story Behind History's Deadliest Submarine Disaster
- By: Norman Polmar
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When she first went to sea in April of 1961, the US nuclear submarine Thresher was the most advanced submarine at sea, built specifically to hunt and kill Soviet submarines. In The Death of the USS Thresher, renowned naval and intelligence consultant Norman Polmar recounts the dramatic circumstances surrounding her implosion, which killed all 129 men onboard in history's first loss of a nuclear submarine.
-
-
I REMEMBER THESE HEROES
- By JustBill on 03-31-20
By: Norman Polmar
-
Descent into Darkness
- Pearl Harbor, 1941, A Navy Diver's Memoir
- By: Edward C. Raymer
- Narrated by: Peter Johnson
- Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On December 7, 1941, as the great battleships Arizona, Oklahoma, and Utah lie paralyzed and burning in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A crack team of U.S. Navy salvage divers headed by Edward C. Raymer are hurriedly flown to Oahu from the mainland. Their two-part orders are direct and straightforward: (1) rescue as many trapped sailors and Marines as possible, and (2) resurrect what remains of America's once mighty pacific fleet. Descent Into Darkness tells their story.
-
-
A Massive Disappointment
- By Matthew on 10-14-15
By: Edward C. Raymer
-
Where Divers Dare
- The Hunt for the Last U-Boat
- By: Randall Peffer
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the tradition of Shadow Divers, the story of the courageous men who dived on the last sunken U-Boat off the Eastern Seaboard. On April 16, 1944, the tanker SS Pan Pennsylvania was torpedoed and sunk by the U-550. In return the sub was sent to the bottom by three destroyer escorts that were guarding the convoy. For more than 60 years the location of the U-boat's wreck eluded divers. In 2012 a team found it.
-
-
great story but at times a little too much...
- By Anthony Karis on 02-28-18
By: Randall Peffer
-
The Ship That Wouldn't Die
- The Saga of the USS Neosho - A World War II Story of Courage and Survival at Sea
- By: Don Keith
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In May 1942, Admiral Jack Fletcher's Task Force 17 closed in for the war's first major clash with the Japanese Navy. The Neosho, a vitally important tanker, was escorted by a destroyer, the Sims. The ships were attacked by Japanese dive bombers, and when the smoke cleared, the Sims had slipped beneath the waves. Scores of sailors were killed or wounded while hundreds bobbed in shark-infested waters.
-
-
great story
- By alaina davis on 10-27-24
By: Don Keith
-
The Bravest Man
- The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War
- By: William Tuohy
- Narrated by: E.H. Jones
- Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William Tuohy follows Richard O'Kane, America's undersea ace of aces, and a few fearless submariners, during the U.S. submarine war in the Pacific. This grueling battle saw 10 million tons of Japanese shipping sunk by U.S. submarines, but the cost to the U.S. Navy was one in five of its boats, the highest casualty rate of the U.S. armed services.
-
-
Great details of WWII Submarine Patrols
- By James B. Cookinham on 02-13-05
By: William Tuohy
-
In Harm's Way
- The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors
- By: Doug Stanton
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died. The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered
-
-
Captivating
- By Clarence Sparks on 10-22-16
By: Doug Stanton
What listeners say about Under Pressure
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- GH
- 09-07-13
Riveting Tale -- Thumbs up if your a submarine fan
I had never head of the S-Five before this account. I am a long time submarine book fan. It started for me in eight grade when I read "Run Silent, Run Deep." Since then, I have always been drawn to stories about submarines. When I saw this book come out on pre-order, I eagerly awaited it. I was not disappointed.
The story is terrifying and uplifting all at the same time. Hill does an excellent job as author giving just enough material to keep you interested but not too much to overwhelm the interested. Murray does an excellent job in narration. You can easily listen to this at 1.5X or even 2X.
This book will appeal to historians. Although this is a true story I think it will also appeal to science fiction readers. I recommend this book. give it a read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher Brown
- 12-25-15
Good read
Fascinating and amazing story of near death at sea. The lost of the S-5 and rescue is a great tale.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ron T
- 08-20-24
Fascinating glimpse into early submarine history
While I have a fascination with naval history, it mostly relates to surface vessels. I had never heard of the S5. This story brought home the dangers in those early years and the bravery of the crews
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MJ
- 06-22-24
True life suspense
Kept me on the edge of my seat wondering if they would survive the ordeal and how. Everything was against them. Can’t believe it happened but it did. Great story!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CJM
- 04-19-23
Overall not bad but...
a 7+ hour book about a 36-hour ordeal is excessive. Especially when you know the outcome. The Audible description is also misleading. It implies they got out on their own. If you accept the premise that being able to signal through the hole they "drilled" then that claim is arguably "accurate".
And if you accept the premise that even with a hole large enough to signal through they were still at death's door when outside help finally got them out despite the "vent hole" and that only great good fortune brought two merchant ships to their aid and otherwise they never would have gotten out, that argument falls flat.
The book really is twice as long as it needed to be to be "action packed" and a "thriller".
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!