Rating: 
Summary: Candy for Veteran Submariners-An Enlisted man speaks
Review: "An Insider's Account of the NR-1, the Cold-War's Undercover Nuclear Sub"
By Lee Vyborny and Don Davis
Published 2003 by New Amerian Library-243 pages/35 PhotosLee Vyborny was an enlisted IC Nuke trained plank owner on this boat and tells an excellent story of the history of the boat, it's early financial appropriation problems and the construction of this very secret boat that was to become Rickover's "toy." It also tells of the training that he received prior to the very long design and construction of this boat that is a legend in the Submarine Service. From the very first chapter right out of Blind Man's Bluff,
Lee tells the reader stories of the danger posed by the North Atlantic on this small wave swept boat and the harrowing recovery of a bomb from an F-14 and even mentions the nuclear warhead recovery and the search for Israel's lost boat Dakar in the Mediterranean. The terror of being trapped and stuck in the mud at great depths makes me wonder why they had any crew who stayed with the boat for any length of time/
From the first commanding officer, LCDR Dwaine Griffith to LCDR Toby Warson, who I served with in the 60's on the Patrick Henry, to the CO who bravely broached Rickover's reactor start-up procedures. He did this to save their lives. Right through to the design considerations for the NR-2, I found the book very well written. Someone mentioned the book was candy to veteran submariners and I concur.
Maybe it was because the book was written by an enlisted person is the reason I found the book really was aimed at my level and so exciting. I was thoroughly disappointed when I neared the end, in that I wanted more and more of this fabulous story.
I rate it a ***** of 5. The first "submarine" book I have ever rated this high. The book is chronologically right, militarily correct and contains stories of Admiral Rickover that are new to me.
BZ Lee and Don.
Rating:
Summary: Dark Waters- An Illuminating book
Review: As the Cold War has receded into history, we are learning more about the incredible feats of technology and human achievement that went on in that period. Joining the ranks of books (e.g., Sontag & Drew's "Blind Man's Bluff", Craven's "Silent War" and Tyler's "Running Critical") that deal with the role of the US Naval submarine force is "Dark Waters" by Vyborny & Davis. This book combines the story of the development and exploits of the NR-1 with the story of Vyborny's service aboard this submarine. As one of the "plank owners", Vyborny takes us through the long gestation period and the immense technical challenges of building a small, nuclear powered submarine capable of diving far deeper than its' larger sister SSNs. The unique abilities of this submarine to literally drive (on Goodyear truck tires!) along the ocean floor, and the varied uses it is put to during the time period described are fascinating. Vyborny's description of a "routine" short voyage by NR-1 out of Groton that turns into a seafarer's nightmare is vivid and chilling. Along the way we also get further insight into the driving force behind NR-1's development, one of the most fascinating and controversial characters in modern US Naval history, Adm. Rickover. The NR-1 is truly a national resource, and it is a delight to finally have an authoritative insight into the role it has played over the past thirty plus years. Although the book states on its' final page that the NR-1 has become the oldest operational boat in the Navy, I believe the correct statement is that it is the oldest operational submarine in the US Navy (carriers such as CVN 65, Enterprise, predate the NR-1) I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in either submarine history and operations or the Cold War in general. My only reservation is that I wish the book were longer and had even more fascinating stories about this unique submarine and its' crew!
Rating:
Summary: Non-fiction Thriller!
Review: Dark Waters (by Lee Vyborny and Don Davis) recounts the first ten years of the security-shrouded career of Submarine NR-1. While I don't know the author personally, I am well acquainted with the "star" of the story because I worked as a design engineer at the Electric Boat yard in the mid-1970's and was involved with NR-1 on a daily basis. I can say without hesitation that the authors have this story nailed. One exciting chapter describes the perils faced by the crew during a reactor casualty and when a severed tow line fouled the screws -- all occurring amid a North Atlantic winter gale. I remember the time vividly, as we were back in the yard formulating contingency procedures in case they had to abandon the ship. Fortunately, the NR-1 crew overcame the problems. This story is replete with great characters, both famous -- like the legendary Adm. Hyman Rickover -- and unknown to the general public but well remembered by we who were there. The latter include officers and men of the NR-1's crews, clearly the Navy's best and brightest, and managers and engineers from Electric Boat and Sperry whose unflagging efforts were essential to the creation and operation of this national asset. I unhesitatingly recommend this book, not only to those interested in submarines, but to any reader with an interest in the long history of men, ships and the sea.
Rating:
Summary: Non-fiction Thriller!
Review: Dark Waters (by Lee Vyborny and Don Davis) recounts the first ten years of the security-shrouded career of Submarine NR-1. While I don't know the author personally, I am well acquainted with the "star" of the story because I worked as a design engineer at the Electric Boat yard in the mid-1970's and was involved with NR-1 on a daily basis. I can say without hesitation that the authors have this story nailed. One exciting chapter describes the perils faced by the crew during a reactor casualty and when a severed tow line fouled the screws -- all occurring amid a North Atlantic winter gale. I remember the time vividly, as we were back in the yard formulating contingency procedures in case they had to abandon the ship. Fortunately, the NR-1 crew overcame the problems. This story is replete with great characters, both famous -- like the legendary Adm. Hyman Rickover -- and unknown to the general public but well remembered by we who were there. The latter include officers and men of the NR-1's crews, clearly the Navy's best and brightest, and managers and engineers from Electric Boat and Sperry whose unflagging efforts were essential to the creation and operation of this national asset. I unhesitatingly recommend this book, not only to those interested in submarines, but to any reader with an interest in the long history of men, ships and the sea.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Story about an Odd Corner of the Cold War
Review: Dark Waters tells the story of the design, construction and early (late 1960s to late 1970s) operations of the U.S. Navy’s smallest and most classified nuclear submarine, NR-1. Co-written by “plankowner” crewmember, Lee Vyborny, and a professional journalist, Dark Waters tells the inside story of the delayed, far-over-budget initial construction, the crew’s selection and torment by the infamous Admiral Rickover and the difficulties of putting a totally unique vessel into operational service. NR-1, which is still in service, has a tiny 130 horsepower nuclear power plant, displaces a mere 409 tons (compared to 6,900 tons for the Navy’s Los Angeles Class SSNs), and operates with a crew of 12 or fewer. Its most unique aspect is an ability to operate and maneuver indefinitely at depths up to 3,000’ and search out and recover lost objects (e.g., a top secret missile from a sunken aircraft) or pry open our adversaries' military secrets (e.g., a Soviet underwater detection system in the Mediterranean). During the ten year operational period Vyborny writes about, NR-1 suffered many “near-death” experiences due to equipment failures and the inherent hazards of operating a tiny submarine “on the edge” for extended periods. Several tales of the crew’s ability to get themselves out of tight jams (there was no way anyone on the surface could help them) are riveting, inspiring examples of men living up to the highest traditions of Naval service. These sailors’ little known “inner space” explorations are as intriguing and inspiring as many of NASA’s outer space exploits of the same era. Unfortunately NR-1’s post-1970s operations are barely mentioned in Dark Waters. Likewise, reference is made to increased Navy-civilian NR-1 science operations, but few concrete examples are provided. Unfortunately the book contains some factual errors. For example, Vyborny asserts NR-1 “has become the oldest operational boat in the Navy.” Even assuming, which is not clear from the context, that by “boat” Vyborny means submarine, that is not a correct statement. USS Dolphin (AGSS 555) went into commission in 1968, several months before NR-1 was launched; despite a fire and near-sinking last year, the Navy so far has kept Dolphin in commission (DBF!). As a former Navy Spook I sometimes cringe when books like Dark Waters, Blind Man’s Bluff, etc. disclosure formerly classified Cold War capabilities and operations. At the same time I’m proud of the heroic and inspired efforts, as well as willingness to endure danger and discomfort, that lead to our Cold War victory, and believe these stories need to be told. I recommend Dark Waters to anyone interested in submarine technology, deepwater exploration, nautical adventure and Cold War history.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Story about an Odd Corner of the Cold War
Review: Dark Waters tells the story of the design, construction and early (late 1960s to late 1970s) operations of the U.S. Navy’s smallest and most classified nuclear submarine, NR-1. Co-written by “plankowner” crewmember, Lee Vyborny, and a professional journalist, Dark Waters tells the inside story of the delayed, far-over-budget initial construction, the crew’s selection and torment by the infamous Admiral Rickover and the difficulties of putting a totally unique vessel into operational service. NR-1, which is still in service, has a tiny 130 horsepower nuclear power plant, displaces a mere 409 tons (compared to 6,900 tons for the Navy’s Los Angeles Class SSNs), and operates with a crew of 12 or fewer. Its most unique aspect is an ability to operate and maneuver indefinitely at depths up to 3,000’ and search out and recover lost objects (e.g., a top secret missile from a sunken aircraft) or pry open our adversaries' military secrets (e.g., a Soviet underwater detection system in the Mediterranean). During the ten year operational period Vyborny writes about, NR-1 suffered many “near-death” experiences due to equipment failures and the inherent hazards of operating a tiny submarine “on the edge” for extended periods. Several tales of the crew’s ability to get themselves out of tight jams (there was no way anyone on the surface could help them) are riveting, inspiring examples of men living up to the highest traditions of Naval service. These sailors’ little known “inner space” explorations are as intriguing and inspiring as many of NASA’s outer space exploits of the same era. Unfortunately NR-1’s post-1970s operations are barely mentioned in Dark Waters. Likewise, reference is made to increased Navy-civilian NR-1 science operations, but few concrete examples are provided. Unfortunately the book contains some factual errors. For example, Vyborny asserts NR-1 “has become the oldest operational boat in the Navy.” Even assuming, which is not clear from the context, that by “boat” Vyborny means submarine, that is not a correct statement. USS Dolphin (AGSS 555) went into commission in 1968, several months before NR-1 was launched; despite a fire and near-sinking last year, the Navy so far has kept Dolphin in commission (DBF!). As a former Navy Spook I sometimes cringe when books like Dark Waters, Blind Man’s Bluff, etc. disclosure formerly classified Cold War capabilities and operations. At the same time I’m proud of the heroic and inspired efforts, as well as willingness to endure danger and discomfort, that lead to our Cold War victory, and believe these stories need to be told. I recommend Dark Waters to anyone interested in submarine technology, deepwater exploration, nautical adventure and Cold War history.
Rating:
Summary: "Dark Waters" Reveals Dark Secrets: A True Naval Thriller
Review: Groton Connecticut, 1966: The keel was laid for a radically new U.S. Navy nuclear submarine. She was to be small, dive deeper than any other, and roll along on the very bottom of the ocean using large tandem sand tires. Propelled by the world's smallest naval nuclear reactor, she would have extraordinary mission duration. She was to be built and to be operated in great secrecy. This was "Submarine NR-1". When she began her sea-trials in 1969, NR-1 was manned by a crew of 12 hand-selected officers and men of the U.S. Navy, joined by three highly trained civilian engineers. The authors reveal that for the following 33 years, continuing to this day, NR-1 has carried out operations that were at times so secret, even many of the Navy's senior officers were only dimly aware of her existence and capabilities. Vyborny and Davis provide a fast-paced and compelling narrative. We really get to know the "Right Stuff" men who executed those hazardous yet crucially important missions. "Dark Waters" is peopled with legendary characters like Admiral Hyman G. Rickover and Robert Ballard, the undersea explorer who found the gravesites of Titanic, Bismarck and PT-109. The book does a fine job of capturing the excitement and intrigue, the challenges and dangers of the Cold War as fought aboard NR-1. Reading the book was an engrossing, educational and nail-biting experience. I recommend Dark Waters to anyone interested in 20th century military history, naval adventure, oceanography, archaeology, scuba diving, military intelligence, defense technology or even the U.S. Space Program.
Rating:
Summary: Muddy Waters
Review: I love books about submarines and how they are used so of course I was excited to read this book. The dust jacket lead me to believe that the book was going to detail out mission after mission that was top secret, good old cold war espionage fun. I should have known better, these types of missions are filed away as top secret and it will be years before they see the light of day. Any book that claims to have the details are usually a little more puffed up in the description then the actual details. So I dug into this book and for the most part really enjoyed it. It starts with a review of how the sub was created and the crew trained. Somewhat interesting, but to be fair I was looking for the under water fun and games. The book did move into the subs exploits, but due to the top-secret nature the stories that were told were not all that new or exciting. And that would not have been all that bad if the authors would have kept telling me about the non secret items like finding other wrecks at the bottom of the sea and weird fish they came upon. Instead they spent just a little too much time of live outside of the sub. Ok I know these guys have wife's and families, but to be fair I do not care. I want exciting submarine stories, not issues about home life. Overall the book was mostly interesting and well written. I could have done with more detail, but there is nothing I can do about that.
Rating:
Summary: Muddy Waters
Review: I love books about submarines and how they are used so of course I was excited to read this book. The dust jacket lead me to believe that the book was going to detail out mission after mission that was top secret, good old cold war espionage fun. I should have known better, these types of missions are filed away as top secret and it will be years before they see the light of day. Any book that claims to have the details are usually a little more puffed up in the description then the actual details. So I dug into this book and for the most part really enjoyed it. It starts with a review of how the sub was created and the crew trained. Somewhat interesting, but to be fair I was looking for the under water fun and games. The book did move into the subs exploits, but due to the top-secret nature the stories that were told were not all that new or exciting. And that would not have been all that bad if the authors would have kept telling me about the non secret items like finding other wrecks at the bottom of the sea and weird fish they came upon. Instead they spent just a little too much time of live outside of the sub. Ok I know these guys have wife's and families, but to be fair I do not care. I want exciting submarine stories, not issues about home life. Overall the book was mostly interesting and well written. I could have done with more detail, but there is nothing I can do about that.
Rating:
Summary: Very satisfying
Review: Lots of details in this page-turner, half of which is a first-hand account from the author and the rest retold through others. Right up there with Blind Man's bluff.
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