World War II book examines lost U.S. submarine

By David Exum / BostonHerald.com
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - Updated 1h ago








Submarine warfare during World War II was as deadly an occupation as a sailor could get in the United States Navy.
Not only did America’s Navy have to deal with Hitler’s U-boats, Japan’s navy was just as resourceful at sinking numerous American submarines. Submariners immediately realized that one false move, one too many depth charges and their vessel would quickly become their “Iron Coffin”.
In his new book, “Escape from the Deep: The Epic Story of a Legendary Submarine and Her Courageous Crew” (Da Capo Press, $26), best-selling author Alex Kershaw takes the reader aboard the ill-fated USS Tang (SS-306), one of the most highly decorated submarines during the war.

“Escape from the Deep” is actually two stories. The first is the saga of the sub’s incredible crew led by her fearless skipper Richard O’Kane.
O’Kane, who hailed from New Hampshire and today has a destroyer named in his honor, would stop at nothing to sink the enemy. In just five patrols, the Tang sunk an amazing 31 ships totaling 227,800 tons.
Like he has done with his previous works about World War II, Kershaw once again does a remarkable job in retelling the story about how the Tang wreaked havoc on Japan’s navy.
This book is action-packed with incredible dialog unearthed by Kershaw. Page after page, Kershaw’s tale remains full speed ahead as the Tang sinks ship after ship with deadly precision.
Meanwhile, the second part of Kershaw’s moving account centers on the sinking of the Tang on Oct. 24, 1944 off the shores of Taiwan and how only nine men survived, only to be captured by the Japanese.
The survivors would spend the rest of the war as prisoners tortured and beaten on a daily basis. Kershaw holds nothing back as he describes how the Japanese ignored the articles of the Geneva Convention in a desperate attempt for information.
Kershaw, who hails from the United Kingdom and now lives in the Bay State, definitely did his homework with "Escape from the Deep" as the book contains footnotes, a bibliography and index.
This tremendous read also includes several photos of the crew and the Tang and shouldn’t be missed.

World War II book examines lost U.S. submarine - BostonHerald.com

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman