Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War

by Henry Rausch

First Prize Winner in Published NonFiction, WriterCon 2025!

The author graduates from an elite university and enters the submarine service in the mid-1980s when rhetoric between the US and USSR threatens to turn the Cold War hot. He encounters an unforgiving world where submarines hunt each other unseen and unheralded in the ocean depths and in which minor mistakes can result in catastrophe. On four classified missions to the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic, the Barents Sea, and the North Pole, he gradually and painfully learns the trade of a nuclear submarine officer in a world few people know of and even fewer have experienced.
These missions exert a heavy personal toll. At sea, the submarine crew exercises total radio silence and the rescue buoy is welded fast to the hull, ensuring that their families will never know if a catastrophe occurs. During these missions, his young wife suffers a miscarriage and later gives birth via emergency C-section, all while the author is at sea and unaware. While she undergoes these trials alone, the sub conducts missions vital to the security of the United States. Far from home, in the unforgiving depths, they track adversary submarines in dangerous games of cat and mouse where a mistake could result in a collision, flooding, and death. A storm damages the sub on the way to the North Pole, jeopardizing the ability to surface through the ice. They finally do so, after weeks of transiting through underwater ice canyons of pressure ridges capable of rupturing the hull on impact. While under the ice the crew suffers a poison gas leak and has to find a hole to surface quickly or perish.
The main theme of the work is growth. As the author journeyed to the ends of the earth and the depths of the ocean, he also made a personal journey from a sniveling boy-man to an apex predator of the deep. Sub-themes are how men and women cope with adversity, and how when things are at their worst, people are at their best. It is a tribute to the human spirit, especially the men who sailed these ships, and the families who loved and supported them.

Genres: History, Biography

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2024

About the author

Henry Rausch graduated from Stanford University and after earning a commission at Officer Candidate School reported to USS L Mendel Rivers (SSN-686) in August 1985. There he served as an Engineering Assistant, Communicator, and Sonar Officer. The ship conducted four classified missions for which they were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, and the Arctic Service Ribbon. After that tour he served as Weapons Officer onboard USS Sunfish (SSN-649) which conducted deployments in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He left active service and served in the Reserves, primarily in NATO Submarine Command and Control. He retired as a Commander in 2005 with 22 years of service and lives with his wife in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He enjoys outdoor activities and flying small planes and has over 3800 hours of experience as a pilot in command. He can be reached at author@henryrausch.com

Reviews

[Stan Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Navy retiree (22 years), I've never lost interest in the submarine service. I found this book to be very educational from the standpoint of learning something about what young junior officers went through to become qualified submarine watch standers. It certainly wasn't easy. While that was interesting, I was hoping to read something about the missions they engaged in. I was privileged to provide direct support to SSN Special Missions in the Pacific in the 1980s, and I understand how precarious they could be. Yet, except for their North Pole deployment, the author never said anything about any of the missions his boat participated in. He implied they may have engaged in a mission to the Barents Sea but said not a word about it. I fully understand that those missions were very sensitive and highly classified, but after 30+ years, surely something could have been written about them. After all, much has been written at the unclassified level about some of those missions, i.e., "Blind Man's Bluff", which went into great detail. That's the only reason for 4 vice 5 stars. Highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating serving aboard fast attack boats.

[Jeff Muniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having retired within the last 10 years of the Submarine service myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While I retired enlisted vice officer, the trials, tribulations and events described woke memories of my time in the boats. The pace of the book and descriptions of "Shenanigans" and "Operations" made it hard to put down. Anybody who has not served on Subs may make light of some of the events, but to those that have earned the Dolphins will understand the camaraderie and environment immediately and have a connection that few understand. I would love to read more books that are written from the viewpoint of those who did not command, but made the mission possible.

[James Conn · Rating 5 out of 5]

to work aboard these subs as WSAT team member atRiveting Insight Fast Attack Submarine Cold War Era

Used to work aboard these subs as WSAT team member at Pearl. Always wondered where they went and what they did once they departed. This book lifts the veil just a tiny bit - but creates a yearning for much more - revealing just a tip of the iceberg - fascinating as the adventure must have been!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surgeon Class

From one Surgeon Class Submariner to another, thank you for writing of your experiences while serving on a Cold War Workhorse! Your experiences brought back memories of my own service "aft of Frame 57"! From Groton to AUTEC, to St. Croix, to Port Everglades, to Port Canaveral! Thank you!

[Jack Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of ‘personal’ sharing about life in the Navy and Submarine. Thanks Henry

Great stories of submarine life! I greatly appreciated you sharing all the personal thoughts and frank opinions of staff, friends and officers. I’ll be looking for your next book. Thanks for the book.

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. About a long gone era.

[larry kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

great reality

Having served on diesel boats this really grabbed me. What a different experience this was. Felt good going back under the sea with such detail.well done.

[George Boras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for a junior officer in any service! It’s a great read for any kid just out of college starting a new job. Unlikely that anyone outside of the military will be so challenged but at least they will learn that whatever their adversity is in their new job, it is nothing in comparison to what they in tough military positions deal with daily. There is much to learn in this book.

[james e jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

informative and enjoyable

A very good read that paints a clear and interesting description of the challenges involved in earning the dolphins. Never slow or boring and hard to put down. I enjoyed it very much…

[Patricia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shipmates

As I reflect on my time in the Navy, it is the people I served with I most fondly remember. While I loved being an E-2c flight tech and loved flying and working on the flight deck, it is the friends you make while serving that I remember most. The author really makes that known throughout his story. Shipmate has a special meaning to those who served at sea. Great read.

[Angrywoodchuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Finished it too fast.

Excellent book. A succession of stories and events that alternated across captivating, tense, introspective, humorous and educational. Provided technical detail where needed to engage and explain, but always well defined so those of us perpetually on land can still understand and appreciate the narrative, add interest, and understand it at a slightly more advanced level.

[Docjholli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. It was an education even for a boomer bubblehead like me, since I only heard about fast attack patrols and life styles. I felt like I was on the journey and the patrols with the author. I love the suspense, intrigue, history, science, the references and all the insane things US Navy Submariners did and do. All of these things were wrapped up in Hanks and Penelope’s story which really resonated with me. The qualifying and watch standing duties triggered memories I had not had in years. I still have dreams of being on patrol like illustrated in the book. Fantastic read!

[William Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an interest in learning about all things and this book hit the nail. I've toured subs and thought I knew a little, but this book shows me I knew nothing. What a great read! I really enjoyed this book.

[Roger F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Been there, done that" is a phrase often heard and used. But this was a completely different point of view to read and Mr. Rausch's experience was very different from my own. My own path between joining USN and reporting to my submarine for duty was unusual, but from that point forward there is absolutely no comparison between this experience as a Junior Officer and mine as a Machinist's Mate (Nuclear).

The book's description is spot-on, and it exceeded expectations. It brought back some memories, and prompted some reflection on my own experiences. But perhaps most of all, the personal journey he shares with us during his transition from submarine officer non-qual to a senior watchstander - all the while shaped by the many experiences of US Submarine duty during the cold war- is exemplary. I strongly recommend this book.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book disappointed me for the following.
1. It had a lot of profanity in it including taking the Lord Jesus Christ's name in vain.
2. It just wasn't that exciting. I was expecting to hear some cool stories about cold war tactics they had with Russian subs during the cold war. Instead we just got a bunch of sophomoric stories that only a 14 year old would find funny.
3. I came away from reading this book feeling very bad about the state of the US military. If all this was true, I had no idea that even the officers were such screw ups. I do not feel confident knowing they have the keys to nuclear missiles.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. It was a downer, sophomoric, and unbecoming of a US naval officer to write.

[Michael Bourret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good autobiography/work of military fiction. I never knew the job of a submarine crewman can be hardscrabble and interesting at the same time. The plot is about whether Henry is able to come home from the depths to see his lonely pregnant wife, who has to deal with worries about her spouse herself. It is written like a history book; a series of vivid sequences that entertain the reader while also serving as an educational experience. It was very fun to read.

The Blue-Nose Ceremony is so fascinatingly strange!

[Kelly Burgin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Officer Emerges

I liked the fits and starts in this officer's development, the learning curve, and his introspection all in the context of being a husband and father.