Fightin' Navy #113

A destroyer captain must make an impossible choice when he discovers a Japanese task group heading for Kiska with reinforcements that could cost countless American lives. With his ship vastly outgunned and no way to call for help, Jim Danvers plots a daring ambush using an unoccupied island as cover—but escape and survival are far from guaranteed when the enemy cruiser and destroyers close in. From the icy waters of the North Pacific to the split-second decisions that define a warship commander, "The Last Salvo" captures the brutal calculus of naval combat in 1963.

When critics question whether fleet aircraft carriers are worth their enormous cost, the Navy's newest fast carrier proves them wrong—demonstrating in a practice strike how quickly she can launch a devastating attack force while remaining invisible to enemy detection. As the carrier operates in the Mediterranean, her speed and defensive capabilities frustrate Communist attempts at espionage and intimidation, ultimately swaying a European leader to reject Soviet pressure and stand with the free world. This story showcases why, despite their expense, these "Ladies of Peace" remain an unstoppable deterrent to aggression.

The U.S. Navy faces an unexpected threat when the Soviets attempt to spy on Pacific atomic tests, but an alert Admiral knows more than he appears—and has a trap ready. As Navy frogmen race to retrieve sensitive instruments from a devastated island, they must contend not only with dangerous radiation but with enemy operatives closing in on the same prize. When the dust clears, it becomes clear the real test was never about the bombs themselves.

A green replacement airman named Hulick joins Lt. Alderson's TBF torpedo bomber crew aboard a carrier, where he must overcome his fear and inexperience during his first combat mission against Japanese forces. When a Zero fighter bears down on the plane, Hulick struggles to find the nerve to fire back—until the moment that changes everything. By the time the crew returns to the ship, this frightened boot has become a combat veteran.