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Summary: Gripping, intelligent book
Review: USS Squalus sank in 250 feet of water off of New England on her first training dive in 1939. Thirty three men managed to seal off the forward part of the boat and avoid drowning but they were trapped. Just a few years earlier this would have been a death knell for those men, but one dedicated ex-submarine skipper, Lt. Cmdr Swede Momsen, had just finished perfecting a rescue diving bell for just such an emergency. This was the first time the rescue bell was actually used in an emergency.The story is a gripping one. Thirty three men trapped in the cold, dark ocean while the rescuers up above first have to find the sunken sub and then fight the unstable weather conditions so that the rescue can be affected. The author weaves the story of Swede Momsen's dedication to undersea rescue research in among the chapters dedicated to the rescue itself. The book is well written and exciting. I recommend it.
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Summary: The Terrible Hours
Review: Mr. Maas permits the reader to relive, in compelling and intamate details, the perils of submarine service in the pre WWII era. In this true saga he celebrates the life and the commitment of one individual, who through genius, tenacity and unbridled determination developed the systems and equipment necessary to save submariners. Truly a song of praise for the unsung hero Swede Mumson.
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Summary: Former submariner says, "Well done."
Review: Peter Maas has done his homework. He has captured the tension of those performing the rescue, the agony of the loved ones waiting to know their worst fears have happened, and the incredible ability of a crew to hang together under the most trying and hopeless of circumstances. To the extent that it can be done in layman's terms, he has explained the technical issues: the pressure at 300 feet, the coldness of the ocean only a very short distance from the surface (it was always hard to keep our submarine warm unless we were near the surface in the South China Sea), the strains on and failures of equipment put under such stresses. In my opinion, the word "hero" is too often applied today to people who are not heroic and have not performed heroic deeds. Swede Momson, who is at he center of this tale, is truly a hero in the sense of the deed being heroic and him having the character (tenacity, personal force, calmness under incredible pressure) of a hero. If you're not a submariner or diver or the wife/loved-one of one, here's your chance to put yourself into such a role and feel what it is really like.
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Summary: True life horror
Review: If you liked the movie U-571, then you will love this book. They have alot of similarities, but this book is a true story. It contains a history lesson, as well as a horrifyingly suspenseful story of a sunken submarine. To learn that ANY of the men survived is truely a miracle. Some of the most disturbing occurances happen AFTER the survivors are rescued. A great book that is well written and well worth the time to read.....I commend the author on a job well done.
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Summary: One Compelling Book
Review: Wow! That was my first reaction to this book after just a few pages. This simply is one amazing story, and even more amazing considering the timeline of it. Peter Maas recounts the remarkable story of the submarine, the USS Squalus, which sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic in May of 1939. Charles "Swede" Momsen, a U.S. Navy officer, and a revolutionary scientist, was summoned to rescue these men from their watery grave. Maas vividly depicts the tense moments involved in this heroic rescue. He uses a fast-paced language, peppered with an excellent combination of quotes and technological terms to create a very thrilling and riviting read. I almost felt as if I was part of the rescue operation myself. Although this book kept me interested in its suspenseful voyage, the technical terms could have probably been described in a slightly more reader-friendly manner. I found myself a little confused at some times, but the overall flow of the book was still pretty smooth. I enjoyed the epilogue quite a bit, as this small section is where the reader really gets to see the personal side of Momsen. This book was truly excellent. It was a pleasure to read. I could not put it down.
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Summary: Required reading for future submariners
Review: I have always had an interest in submarines. Last October, I had the opportunity to tour the Russian submarine 'Scorpion' adjacent to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. I was amazed at how small the interior of that sub was. That prompted me to read "The Terrible Hours...." An absolutely fascinating book...Maas minimizes the horrible emotional turmoil that must've confronted those trapped submariners. He managed to accuratel portray the determinaion of the man directing the rescue, and his 'never-say-die' attitude which ultimately led to their rescue.The end of the book also proved why the marine tradition of NEVER changing a vessel's name is valid.A must read for anyone interested in diving, submarining, or the Navy.
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Summary: rayjoy@ipa.net
Review: This is probably the most suspence riddled book I have ever read. From beginning to end, it was hard to put down. It put you first in the sub. when it is going down. Then the suspence of the rescue is breath taking. All the way through the book,I had a hard time finding a place to stop so I could go to sleep at night. I strongly recommend this book. Roadrunner 6 Out
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Summary: Thanks to Swede Momsen
Review: What I enjoyed most about "The Terrible Hours" was Peter Maas' comprehensive accounting of the events leading up to the rescue of the sailors trapped on the sunken USS Squalus. In particular, Maas focuses on Swede Momsen's untiring efforts to find a way to rescue sunken submariners. Thus, this book is really about Swede Momsen. We are in need of individuals such as Swede Momsen in today's America. While I am confidant that such individuals are among us, I cannot help but think that our culture of celebrity has skewed the meter upon which we measure our heroes. I remember the movie "Ed TV," where the main character becomes famous for merely having his life broadcast live on national television. At the end of the movie, he states "It used to be that you were famous because you were important. Now, you're important because you're famous." True words. In the case of Swede Momsen, his important accomplishments will go largely unnoticed. However, thanks to Peter Maas' efforts, I can now understand and appreciate Momsen's role in sacrificing his career and personal safety in the name of progress. Maas' description of the rescue and salvage of the USS Squalus is technical to the extent that I periodically had trouble following the procedures used during the rescue and salvage operations. To assist my shortcomings in these technical fields, I would have benefited from diagrams and photographs.
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Summary: gripping and suspenseful
Review: In this genre of rescue/adventure books, Maas is better than most. He uses his reporterial skills to set the time and place in America very well. Like The Perfect Storm, we find out a bit about the sailors' backgrounds and families before the disaster unfolds. What impressed me the most was the sailors' poise and control during the whole ordeal. In an effort to conserve oxygen, they mostly just hunkered down and tried not to freeze to death. No one complained or even talked excessively. The real hero of the story is of course Monson who fought against navel bureuracy for years to come up with a unit to rescue fallen submariners. His "lung" and his "bell" were the two inventions that changed maritime history. The incredible bravery of both he and his divers is evident. The depressing part is that this remarkable man ends up dying of cancer. How does this happen to such a heroic figure? The pace is excellent, the details vivid in this page turner. The ending seems somewhat anti-climactic once the rescue is over, but that's only a minor gripe. Well-done.
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Summary: Great Book Mr. Maas
Review: I am a freshman at a highschool in Littleton, CO. I have just recently finished this book and thought that it was beutifully written. It talks about Swede Momsen and his ideas with the diving bell and the Momsen Lung. Swede's supperiors always put down his ideas, but he someohow got what he wanted. It is also about a submarine captain and his crew. I'm not going to give anymore away so....
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