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Wake of the Wahoo: The Heroic Story of America's Most Daring WWII Submarine, USS Wahoo
From Pearl Harbor to her last and fatal voyage, the heroic story of America's most daring World War II submarine, as told by the only surviving member of her crew Forest J. Sterling. USS Wahoo (SS-238) was the most successful American submarine in the World War II Pacific Fleet. She was the first to penetrate an enemy harbor and sink a Japanese ship. And was the first to wipe-out an entire convoy single-handedly. In her 11 short months of life, Wahoo managed an incredible 21 kills, totaling over 60,000 tons of ships. Then, just 45 minutes before leaving Midway (island) for what would be her last and fatal patrol, Yeoman Forest Sterling was suddenly transferred to other duty. The result is this book; Wake of the Wahoo, Sterling's fantastic yet completely authentic account of a remarkable crew, captain and the ship they lived and died for. Wahoo's captain the aggressive and brave Lieutenant Commander Dudley 'Mush' Morton was the pride of the submarine fleet. He would earn the Navy Cross at the helm of Wahoo. The sub's executive officer the daring Lieutenant Richard H. 'Dick' O'Kane. O'Kane would later receive the Medal of Honor in command of the submarine USS Tang (SS-306. Forest Sterling tells the story as no one else could Wake of the Wahoo is a true account of American submarine warfare from a man who lived it ... and live to tell about it.
221 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 18, 2017
The Chief of Naval Operations maintains a reading list of essential books for all U.S. Navy personnel. The majority of those books have been published in the last twenty-five years. Wake of the Wahoo is an exception. It is a rare first person narrative of life aboard one of most successful World War II submarines by a person who was there and lived every minute of the Wahoo’s story.
Forest J. Sterling was an experienced submariner before World War II. After Pearl Harbor he returned to the Navy and submarines. As a Yeoman (administrative position) he was privy to most of the information going to and from the Wahoo. He was trusted by the officers and in particular the Commanding Officer (CO) and Executive Officer (XO) and consequently was able to draw from a large reservoir of personal information about the Wahoo when he wrote the book.
The Wake of the Wahoo chronicles the war patrols of the USS Wahoo under the command of Commander Dudley “Mush” Morton and his Executive Officer (XO) Lieutenant Commander Richard O’Kane. Morton was the originator of aggressive tactics that turned the U.S. Navy’s submarine force into a lethal weapon that eventually drove the Japanese merchant fleet from the seas and led to the strangulation of Japan’s maritime lines of supply. O’Kane later became, like Morton, one of the most successful submarine commanders as the CO of the USS Tang, in the process earning the Medal of Honor.
From Sterling we learn how a World War II submarine operated, what was important to the crew, how a crew could come together as an effective team, how they celebrated ashore and how they dealt with being part of the U.S. military that suffered the highest casualty rate in World War II. We also learn that even this type of warfare was brutal. After the sinking of a Japanese transport, surviving Japanese soldiers were machine gunned to death on Morton’s orders. His rationale was simple—alive they might kill more Americans, dead they would not.
Ironically Sterling was the only survivor of the Wahoo who made it on every patrol while Morton was CO. By a stroke of luck, Sterling transferred off the Wahoo early in its final patrol while the submarine was refueling at Midway Island. From there the Wahoo transited areas near Japan where she was eventually sunk. There were no survivors.
Sterling lived long enough to keep a promise to his shipmates. When leaving the Wahoo he told them not to worry. He would see them again and together they would toast in the Year 2000. Only Sterling lived to see January 1, 2000 and on that day he kept his promise. He died at age of 91 in 2002. In 2006 a Russian maritime expedition discovered the wreck of the USS Wahoo in La Perouse Strait in 185 feet of water. She had been on her way home. Wahoo was sitting upright but had been heavily damaged. Considering the depth of the water and the battle damage observed it was theorized that those aboard had probably died quickly after the first bomb hit.
Forest J. Sterling was an experienced submariner before World War II. After Pearl Harbor he returned to the Navy and submarines. As a Yeoman (administrative position) he was privy to most of the information going to and from the Wahoo. He was trusted by the officers and in particular the Commanding Officer (CO) and Executive Officer (XO) and consequently was able to draw from a large reservoir of personal information about the Wahoo when he wrote the book.
The Wake of the Wahoo chronicles the war patrols of the USS Wahoo under the command of Commander Dudley “Mush” Morton and his Executive Officer (XO) Lieutenant Commander Richard O’Kane. Morton was the originator of aggressive tactics that turned the U.S. Navy’s submarine force into a lethal weapon that eventually drove the Japanese merchant fleet from the seas and led to the strangulation of Japan’s maritime lines of supply. O’Kane later became, like Morton, one of the most successful submarine commanders as the CO of the USS Tang, in the process earning the Medal of Honor.
From Sterling we learn how a World War II submarine operated, what was important to the crew, how a crew could come together as an effective team, how they celebrated ashore and how they dealt with being part of the U.S. military that suffered the highest casualty rate in World War II. We also learn that even this type of warfare was brutal. After the sinking of a Japanese transport, surviving Japanese soldiers were machine gunned to death on Morton’s orders. His rationale was simple—alive they might kill more Americans, dead they would not.
Ironically Sterling was the only survivor of the Wahoo who made it on every patrol while Morton was CO. By a stroke of luck, Sterling transferred off the Wahoo early in its final patrol while the submarine was refueling at Midway Island. From there the Wahoo transited areas near Japan where she was eventually sunk. There were no survivors.
Sterling lived long enough to keep a promise to his shipmates. When leaving the Wahoo he told them not to worry. He would see them again and together they would toast in the Year 2000. Only Sterling lived to see January 1, 2000 and on that day he kept his promise. He died at age of 91 in 2002. In 2006 a Russian maritime expedition discovered the wreck of the USS Wahoo in La Perouse Strait in 185 feet of water. She had been on her way home. Wahoo was sitting upright but had been heavily damaged. Considering the depth of the water and the battle damage observed it was theorized that those aboard had probably died quickly after the first bomb hit.
April 18, 2020
Great story of of submarine warfare in WW2. I think this and Gene Fluckey's Thunder Below are extremely well written accounts on the effectiveness of the Submarine force. Sterling's account is special because the other famous books are written by officers; which is a very different point of view. The Wahoo's captain, Mush Morton, is still remembered today and his cribbage board still sails in the oldest submarine in the US fleet.
US submarines began the war in the Pacific before US production could create enough carriers. They had 1.6% of Navy Personnel and sunk more Japanese tonnage than all other forces combined. They accomplished this despite broken torpedoes and superior technology on Japanese submarines. They sustained higher mortality rates than any other communities in either theatre of WW2- more than the Marines in the South Pacific or the Army on the Western front. Any comprehensive Pacific WW2 history that doesn't spend significant time on this small community communities is inadequate.
US submarines began the war in the Pacific before US production could create enough carriers. They had 1.6% of Navy Personnel and sunk more Japanese tonnage than all other forces combined. They accomplished this despite broken torpedoes and superior technology on Japanese submarines. They sustained higher mortality rates than any other communities in either theatre of WW2- more than the Marines in the South Pacific or the Army on the Western front. Any comprehensive Pacific WW2 history that doesn't spend significant time on this small community communities is inadequate.
June 24, 2025
Good story of the wahoo, one of our deadliest submarines in WEII. It’s written by a man who served on her through all but her final patrol. The Wahoo was found by Russian divers in 2006. Those who serve on submarines deserve our highest honors. They are very brave men.
September 5, 2014
45 minutes can change your life.
February 12, 2022
The author has nicely crafted this personal tribute to his lost shipmates, and in doing so, he’s created a well written book with special appeal to those who have served as a part of a crew on a naval ship, especially a sub.
A chronicle of the wartime patrols of the noted submarine USS Wahoo, this very readable book relates the story of many onboard activities during all phases of patrol operations from the authors’ recollections. This book gives readers a good view of the sort of interpersonal relationships that form between crew members serving together, especially during long wartime patrols when safe return is never guaranteed.
A diligent reader could complete this book in less than a week. It took me a bit longer, but I did enjoy the book.
A chronicle of the wartime patrols of the noted submarine USS Wahoo, this very readable book relates the story of many onboard activities during all phases of patrol operations from the authors’ recollections. This book gives readers a good view of the sort of interpersonal relationships that form between crew members serving together, especially during long wartime patrols when safe return is never guaranteed.
A diligent reader could complete this book in less than a week. It took me a bit longer, but I did enjoy the book.
August 12, 2021
Not a bad book, short and well written. I am disappointed the author overlooked the possible war crime committed by the CO of the Wahoo when they opened fire on troops in life rafts. The book is written with an intent to cast their performance in a favorable light.
May 17, 2025
A really good look at life on a WW 2 gato class submarine. So much is owed to the silent service for the dangerous duties they performed. Not many were better than the USS Wahoo. God bless their memory.
February 11, 2019
Engaging and convincing account.
October 11, 2023
Really made me want to draw a cup of coffee.
August 29, 2025
An insider look at life aboard a submarine in WWII. Very interesting.
November 1, 2015
Sterling served on the USS Wahoo for several of her patrols in the waters off Japan. He was transferred off 45 minutes before the boat sailed off for its final and fatal patrol. This is his tribute to the men that he served with and the battles that they fought.
Why I started this book: I've been on a World War II submarine kick for a while, and this is a first hand account of what they did, saw and sailed.
Why I finished it: Written in the vernacular of the Navy and the 1940s, it took a while for me to get into the rhythm, but once there the adventure grabbed me. I'm still shaking my head in wonder at all the men who served in such tight quarters in such dangerous waters.
Why I started this book: I've been on a World War II submarine kick for a while, and this is a first hand account of what they did, saw and sailed.
Why I finished it: Written in the vernacular of the Navy and the 1940s, it took a while for me to get into the rhythm, but once there the adventure grabbed me. I'm still shaking my head in wonder at all the men who served in such tight quarters in such dangerous waters.
November 14, 2013
A classic, written in the 1960s by the sub's Yeoman, it tells of 3 war patrols on the Navy's most successful submarine. It gives great insight into the stress and boredom of underway time at sea and other than the 1940s dialog is very relevant to today's navy.CAPT Morton's techniques probably wouldn't work in today's navy but are creative and really boosted morale. The passages on getting depth charged and the effects of combat on the crew's psyche are quite vivid as well. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2016
An insight to the crew of the most daring sub of WWII written by a crew member that had to meet every body, The yeoman, it tells of the time he was aboard ship up until he left before the fateful voyage. An excellent read!
December 26, 2012
The definitive submarine book of World War II.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews