Hat tip to oldgrognard, who gave me this book. Thanks, my friend!

The Silent War: The Cold War Battle Beneath the Sea

Written by John Pina Craven, who served as chief scientist of the Navy's Special Projects Office, and in a number of other key capacities. The book covers a lot more than just submarine and missile programs, and provides a fascinating behind the scenes look at major developments during the cold war, including deep submergence programs and espionage. John Craven was a key player in a LOT of important stuff.

If you have read Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage and enjoyed it, you will almost certainly like this book.

"Blind Mans Bluff" is awesome. I think my neighbor (USS Sunfish SSN-649 vet) has my copy. As I recall Craven was mentioned in it quite a lot.


I don't think I have "The Silent War", I'll have to check my "stacks". I need more bookcases


There's another sub book that makes the case that the Soviets actually sank USS Scorpion.... don't recall the title, but it's certainly interesting.

I have read both. The Silent War especially is very well written and interesting. Re: our thread in CH about Admiral Rickover, this book contains a bit of Craven's interactions with him. I also found the part about K129 and the recovery using the Glomar Explorer very interesting. The stuff of adventure movies, almost!