Battleground Atlantic: How the Sinking of a Single Japanese Submarine Assuredthe Outcome of World War II

By Richard N. Billings

Book Overview

On June 24, 1944, U.S. Navy warplanes patrolling the Atlantic attacked and sank a Japanese submarine, the I-52. It was an event of enormous strategic importance. The I-52's mission was to return to Japan with the ingredients of a radiological bomb. Purchased from the Germans, this doomsday weapon-classified secret by the U.S. government for years after the war-could have contaminated vast areas of America for decades, killing millions slowly and painfully. Japan had intended to use it in an attack on the California coast until the mission was detected in an Allied intelligence coup equal to the breaking of the Enigma code. The I-52's resting place was discovered in 1995 by ship salvager Paul R. Tidwell. Author Richard N. Billings has worked with Tidwell-whose attempts to salvage the I-52's precious gold cargo continue-in bringing her secret mission to light. Finally, this is the story of how the I-52 mission may have influenced President Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451217667
• ISBN13: 9780451217660
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: New American Library
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• 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.