Best submarine book out there??

There are some GENERAL books, but if you're looking for actual reference materials I'd try and narrow it down a bit. Are you talking Modern subs, WWII, US/ Soviet, all of the above?

For example, Squadron has two submarine books in their "on Deck" series, the Ohio Class and Pampanito, and both will cover those topic much better than a more general book will. In the case of the WWII US subs, there was a lot more variation than you might initially think coming from the "airplane side" of the hobby, and it's more of a detail chase if you want to do a particular boat.

An excellent book if you are interested in the soviet boats is Russian Submarines: Guardians of the Motherland by Wayne Frey. If you like US subs, I would hit both Navsource's Submarine Section and the Navy Submarine Galleries.  

I'm looking for a general book on subs, an encyclopedia type of book that would have at least modern subs along with general descriptions and a few photos (color preferred).  I can usually get all the info I need off the net, but it would still be nice to have a book like this on my shelf. 

A search of the book retailer websites (Amazon, B&N, etc.) seems to be only turning up childrens' books for me!

Modern Submarine Warfare (1987) by David Miller and John Jordan, Military Press, New York, is an excellent basic reference.  Granted, it is an older reference but it portrays each of the classes of modern submarines from the major nations.  More importantly, it shows clear color schematics and debunks many of the wildly imaginative paint schemes that I have seen submarine modelers perpetrate.

For example, I have seen modelers paint their modern American submarines with a silver bow section below the waterline.  That is completely inaccurate.  U.S. boats are painted either all black or red below the waterline.  I have seen wilder schemes for Soviet/Russian boats; they should be painted much as U.S. boats, although some may have a white stripe for the waterline and a silvery strip at the bows for sonar arrays.  This reference will show all.

Good luck!

Bill Morrison

warshipguy wrote:

wildly imaginative paint schemes

That's not to say that there hasn't been some wildness in the sub service.

Tracy,

I love it!

Bill Morrison

P.S. It is the exception to the rule.

If you enjoyed that, go to << http://www.olgoat.com/substuff/abr.htm >>. This is the Navy I served with, and why "DBF" is still alive.

However, back to the purpose of this post. Here's a list of a few books I'd recommend, in addition to whats already been recommended. If you can get them.

US Submarines Through 1945 - Norman Friedman    ISBN T-55751-263-3

Fleet Submarines of World War Two - Floating Drydock    ISBN 0-933126-72-7

*USS Bowfin (SS-287) - Leeward Publications/Ship's Data 3    ISBN 0-915268-05-1

*USS Barb (SS-220) - Profile Warship 34     Published IN UK 1973, no ISBN listed

The Fleet Submarine In The US Navy -  John D. Alden    ISBN 0-85368-203-8

Gato Type Fleet Submarines - Classic Warship Publications    ISBN 0-9745687-7-5

Gato-Class Submarines in action (Warships No. 28) - Squadron Shop    ISBN 0-89747-509-7

*U.S.Subs in action (Warships No, 2) - Squadron Shop   ISBN 0-89747-085-0

US Submarines 1941-45 - Jin Christley, Osprey/New Vanguard   ISBN 1-84176-859-6

Submarines Of The US Navy - Terzibaschitsch    ISBN 1-85409-145-X 

The ones I marked with  a * are long out of print. You'll have to check a used book dealer. Some of the others may or may not be in print. At my age, it's hard to remember, which publishers I've out lived.

Mike K.