Silent Hunter

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The undersea world of our nuclear navy is a strange and fascinating place — and also one that wisely keeps to itself. I learned much about the Arctic environment from my friend, Steve Young, and his Center for Northern Studies, from Dr. Charles D. Hollister of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and from Barry Lopez’ Arctic Dreams (Scribners, 1986). While Imperator sprang from my own imagination, I have studied designs of such mammoth submarines produced by the American Society of Naval Engineers, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics.

Tom Shields was kind enough to assist me with initial introductions in New London. Others who then offered help were Vice Admiral N.R. Thunman (who initially brought Admiral McKee’s statement about George Washington to my attention), Rear Admiral Virgil Hill, Lt. Commander Cherie Beatty, Lt. Tony Kendrick, Senior Chief Robert J. Zollars of the Submarine Force Library and Museum, and especially Lt. Commander J. M. Crochet. Mike Crochet spent untold hours of his own time helping an old “surface type” understand the world of the nuclear navy. The countless little details that should make readers feel they are really sailing under the ice are thanks to Mike’s patience with me; the mistakes are distinctly my own. Those who have earned the right to wear the dolphins should understand that everything about their world does not belong in these pages; any breaches of trust or security are the end result of my own imagination.

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