Final Patrol

Table of Contents

 

 

 

“Keith's stirring account of the USS
Batfish
breathes life into the heroic submarine's Pacific saga. Guts and skill abound in epic proportions among the officers and crew of the boat as it prowled the Pacific in search of Japanese targets. Keith's book, written in gripping style, is sure to bring notice to an aspect of the Pacific War that is sometimes overshadowed by the mammoth land and surface battles. This volume would make a splendid addition to anyone's World War II library.”

—John Wukovits, author of
Pacific Alamo
and
One Square Mile of Hell

 

“A stirring reminder of the hard-fought campaign waged by American submarines sixty years ago. In the era before nuclear power, ICBMs, and deterrence, submariners were genuine warfighters who spared neither their boats nor themselves in pursuit of the ultimate naval mission: sink the enemy.”

—Barrett Tillman, author of
Clash of the Carriers

 

“The crew of the
Batfish
personifies the courage exhibited by our submariners then and now. This is a must read for anyone who has a concept of duty, honor, and service to one's country.”

—Robert Vaughan, author of
Whose Voice the Waters Heard
, helicopter pilot in Korea and Vietnam, U.S. Army (ret.)

 

“Don Keith has the unique ability to make the reader an intimate part of the action. Anyone who experiences this thrilling story will come away with a whole new appreciation for those men that volunteer for the submarine service.”

—Ken Henry, coauthor of
Gallant Lady
and former submarine sailor

 

“They say you can't go back. Well, that's not true. When I read Don Keith's book on the USS
Batfish
, I was taken back to that time and places when I was there as a crew member.”

—William J. Isbell, WWII crew member, USS
Batfish
(SS-311)

 

“
Batfish
is another great Lady. Proud to have served on these Smoke Boats. When you are seventeen, it is hard to realize the rich history, gallantry, and honor of those men who served before me. Don Keith has done the
Batfish
and crew proud.”

—Les Brown, USS
Charr
(SS-321), USS
Aspro
(SS-308), USS
Archerfish
(SS-311)

 

“The
Batfish
story is representative of a ‘genetic code,' submariner pride, that transfers from the greatest generation to those that followed. What a great book.”

—Gene Whitney, auxiliaryman, USS
Diodon
(SS-349)

 

“To sink one enemy sub is quite something, but to sink three in a single patrol, while coping with one of your own torpedoes jammed partway out of the launch tube with the potential of arming itself and blowing your own boat to bits with the next big wave—now that's the Super Bowl of submarine warfare for sure. Well told. A fascinating and inspiring true adventure.”

—Captain William R. Anderson, veteran of eleven WWII submarine combat patrols and commander of
Nautilus
on the historic 1958 under-ice Arctic crossing.

 

 

cowritten with Commander George Wallace (ret.)

 

“Not since Ned Beach have readers been treated to such a marvelous blend of authentic submarining and great storytelling. Readers will gladly lose sleep reading this one . . . a magnificent achievement.”

—John J. Gobbell, author of
When Duty Whispers Low
and
The Last Lieutenant

 

“A ripsnorting submarine adventure as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines.”

—Stephen Coonts

 

“Riveting. You won't want to put it down. Too close to the truth. Wallace and Keith achieve a winner.”

—George Emery, vice admiral, USN (ret.), former commander, submarine force, U.S. Atlantic fleet

 

“Don Keith and George Wallace take you to the heart of the action as America fights a secret battle in a brilliantly portrayed South American setting. This team spins a great tale.”—W.E.B. Griffin

 

“Compelling characters, exciting plot, exotic settings, and a fascinating use of military technology combine to make Commander Wallace's and Mr. Keith's book a rousing blockbuster of a story.”

—Robert Vaughan

 

“A full quota of vivid combat scenes . . . and if you are aware of what sailors feel when a beloved ship reaches the end of her career, the book . . . achieves real power. Above average for its salty breed . . . relax and enjoy.”

—
Booklist

 

“Submarine enthusiasts will find satisfaction in the tale of the last patrol of the aging USS
Spadefish
. Do Captain Jonathan Ward and his submarine have what it takes for one more crucial mission? Authors Keith and Wallace take you along to find out while weaving in parallel stories that round out this entertaining book. An engaging read!”

—Don Gentry, webmaster,
SubmarineSailor.com

 

“The story is fast-paced, exciting, and one you don't want to put down until the end. A classic modern day story of man and technology in the battle of good versus evil.”

—
Homeland Defense Journal

 

“If you can still feel the roll of a submarine at periscope depth and the anxiety produced by a sudden alarm from the Reactor Plant Control Panel, if you still enjoy action-packed adventure and the surprises a good piece of fiction can bring to your easy chair, you'll love this . . . saga.”

—
Journal of the Naval Submarine League

 

 

with Ken Henry

 

“This book has everything going for it . . . great characters, a good plot, and best of all, it's true. A great story!”

—Larry Bond

 

“The next best thing to serving on
Archerfish
is reading this book. It's a great Navy story about a great ship and crew.”

—Stephen Coonts

 

“Moving and worthwhile reading.”

—Norman N. Brown, Associated Press

 

“A never-to-be-forgotten breathtaking saga . . . we episodically discover why the ‘Silent Service' and especially this one submarine totally captivated so many of her postwar crews.”

—Rod E. Redman

NAL Caliber
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

First published by NAL Caliber, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

First Printing, October 2006

Copyright © Don Keith, 2006 All rights reserved

 

Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint the photo of USS
Pampanito
on page 193. Photo courtesy of Rob Mackie and
Steelnavy.com

 

NAL CALIBER and the “C” logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

Library of Congress cataloging-in-publication data:
Keith, Don, 1947-
Final patrol : true stories of World War II submarines/Don Keith.
p. cm.

eISBN : 978-1-101-11859-7

1. World War, 1939-1945—Naval operations—Submarine. 2. World War, 1939-1945—Naval operations,
American. 3. World War, 1939-1945—Regimental histories—United States. 4. Submarine warfare—History—
20th century. I. Title.
D783.K45 2006
940.54'510973—dc22 2006011444

 

 

 

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For veterans of our armed forces,
no matter the time, the war,
the branch of service, or the vehicle
that carried them to battle