War at Sea #26

On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launch a surprise aerial assault on Pearl Harbor, catching the American fleet anchored and largely unprepared as waves of enemy planes pour in from the dawn sky. Naval officers and enlisted men scramble to battle stations and mount a desperate defense, but the initial strikes deal devastating damage to ships and aircraft alike. Though the attack succeeds in its immediate objective, an American captain's words prove prophetic—the nation's shock and resolve will transform the fleet into something far greater, setting the course for the war ahead.

Lt. Comdr. Morgan loses his first destroyer to a torpedo in the North Atlantic, but gets a second chance at command when he's assigned a new ship headed for the perilous Murmansk run in 1942. As he battles the Luftwaffe and U-boats to protect merchant convoys, Morgan proves himself an unflinching leader—until his destroyer takes a torpedo hit that puts everything on the line.

When amphibious assaults demand close fire support but conventional warships can't navigate shallow waters, the U.S. Navy develops a revolutionary new inshore vessel—compact, lightning-fast, and equipped with an electronic fire control system straight out of science fiction. With spin-stabilized rockets that can pinpoint targets six miles away and the agility to turn on a dime, this unassuming craft promises to change everything for ground troops hitting enemy beaches. Discover how cutting-edge technology transforms naval gunfire support in this 1958 tale from War at Sea.

Chief Warrant Officer Benson reflects on his proud service aboard the USS Missouri during World War II—from her secret arrival in the Pacific through her legendary role at Leyte Gulf and the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay—only to witness the mighty battleship mothballed in the postwar years as the Navy shifts toward new atomic submarines and precision weapons systems. Through Benson's eyes, we see how even the greatest warships must eventually yield to technological progress, a realization that comes both as a blow to naval tradition and as an acceptance of military necessity.

The U.S. submarine Sailfish embarks on a covert mission to the coast of occupied France under sealed orders, carrying a mysterious veiled passenger—the daughter of a man the crew must rescue. When Lieutenant Jack Cooper discovers the woman's true purpose and attempts to charm her during the voyage, she remains cold and distant, seemingly oblivious to his efforts. As the crew navigates enemy waters toward their dangerous rendezvous, Cooper's romantic persistence faces its greatest test.