Battleground Atlantic: How the Sinking of a Single Japanese Submarine Assured the Outcome of WW II

By Richard N. Billings

Book Overview

In June, 1944, U.S. Navy warplanes sank a Japanese submarine called the I-52 in the Atlantic, an event of enormous strategic importance. For the I-52 was to return to Japan with the lethal ingredients of a doomsday weapon-the radiological bomb-which remained a government secret for years. The I-52's resting place became public in 1995. Author Richard N. Billings worked with Paul Tidwell-who discovered the I-52 and is attempting to salvage its precious gold cargo-in bringing this long-classified mission to light. Finally, this is the story of how the I-52 mission may have influenced President Truman's decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451220455
• ISBN13: 9780451220455
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: NAL Trade
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.7" x 6.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Report on a Little Known Incident in World War II

This is a story of many facets: there's sunken treasure (two tons of gold), there's broken secret codes, there's radioactive uranium, there's politicians and it's World War II. Specifically this is the story of the Japanese submarine I-52 carrying gold and other commodities to Germany and expecting to return with three tons of uranium. Because of the breaking of the Germand and the Japanese codes the Allies were fully informed of what was happening. The I-52 was sunk. Beyond this there are other stories involved in this book. 1. There is a pretty good summary of what was happening in the German and Japanese Atomic programs. 2. There is some discussion about the development of a radiological 'dirty' bomb that Japan might use on the United States. 3. There is some speculation about Japan trying to surrender before the atomic bombs were dropped. 4. And there is the story of trying to get the two tons of gold from the I-52. All in all, a lot of material for one book, but it is well handled and lively reading.

a reader's comments

Richard Billings tells a fascinating story about the submarine I-52, Japanese naval personnel, and Paul Tidwell, the salvager. Billings weaves information gathered from declassified World War II radio intercepts, personal interviews, and observations during an expedition to the I-52, transitioning between the events of 1943-44 and 1995-98. This is not a "history" book, but lively non-fiction that reads like a novel.