Unknown Waters: A First-Hand Account of the Historic Under-Ice Survey of the Siberian Continental Shelf by USS QUEENFISH (SSN-651)

Author: Alfred S. McLaren

Publisher:  University of Alabama Press

Reviewer: Rob Ballister--MWSA Board Member

A dangerous secret mission in the most hostile underwater environment on Earth!

In 1970, CDR Alfred McLaren took the USS QUEENFISH, one of the Navy's most capable nuclear submarines, on a secret mission to to survey the Siberian Continental shelf.  This journey took McLaren and his crew to the North Pole and back in a never before undertaken excursion.  No submarine had ever been under the ice that long, and there was not a lot of knowledge on what to expect or what they would run into.  From surprise icebergs to underwater "ice garages," McLaren's crew handled it with the professionalism and humor expected from the elite "Silent Service."

Complete with photos, artist's drawings, and personal anecdotes, this book gives an excellent account of the voyage and the difficulties faced.  It is obvious that the author is both a master in the art of submarine warfare and also has deep love and respect for the arctic and the ocean. Though very technical at times, it is still relatively easy to follow and provides even readers unfamiliar to the world of submariners an interesting and enjoyable description of the voyage.   It is a must read for anyone interested in the submarine community, including submarine veterans and future submariners.