The authors detail how submarines transitioned from standard commerce raiding to specialized roles like reconnaissance, rescue operations for downed pilots, and running blockades into critical areas like Corregidor.
is a historical non-fiction work by Rear Admiral Harley Cope and Captain Walter Karig, first published in 1951. The book provides an account of the United States Navy's submarine operations in the Pacific theater, specifically focusing on the "extraordinary versatility" and daring exploits of the vessels often referred to as the Silent Service . Core Themes and Purpose
The primary objective of the book is to illustrate the wide range of missions performed by US submarines during the war, demonstrating that these "fighters" were capable of virtually any task assigned to them.