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Operation Ivy Bells
Winning the Cold War is in the balance…
A super-secret, off-the-books spy organization; a security-clearance starting at Top Secret and going up from there; an attack by giant squid during a thousand-foot dive while breathing an exotic gas; a cat's whisker escape from death during a three-day decompression – and that's just the first two chapters of Operation Ivy Bells, before the action really gets underway.
In a fast-paced, personal narrative, J.R. "Mac" MacDowell details a breathtaking series of events during a super-secret intelligence gathering operation at the height of the Cold War. Riding the nuclear submarine Halibut, Mac and his saturation diving team surreptitiously enter the Soviet-controlled Sea of Okhotsk on a proof-of-concept mission. They install a tap on an underwater communications cable at 400 feet, and narrowly escape death when a storm snaps Halibut's anchor cables. They retrieve missile parts from a Soviet missile-test splash-zone, getting caught in a sonar-web set by the crafty skipper of an old Soviet diesel submarine. Mac's divers temporarily disable the sub, and Halibut escapes to Guam, dogged by the sub Skipper.
Having proved the concept, they return in a Halibut outfitted with skids so she can sit on the bottom to attach a 12-thousand-pound pod to the cable for future retrieval. In the missile splash-zone, they lock in deadly underwater combat with Soviet divers. With the free world at stake, they capture one and kill the rest. Halibut's submariners and saturation divers finally return home without ever publicly revealing their crucial contribution to winning the Cold War, receiving an unpublicized Presidential Unit Citation.
Blending personal experience and real-world events in a fictional wrapping, Operation Ivy Bells offers a never-before-seen glimpse of these heroic men fearlessly facing death to gather the intel that tipped the scales to win the Cold War.
A super-secret, off-the-books spy organization; a security-clearance starting at Top Secret and going up from there; an attack by giant squid during a thousand-foot dive while breathing an exotic gas; a cat's whisker escape from death during a three-day decompression – and that's just the first two chapters of Operation Ivy Bells, before the action really gets underway.
In a fast-paced, personal narrative, J.R. "Mac" MacDowell details a breathtaking series of events during a super-secret intelligence gathering operation at the height of the Cold War. Riding the nuclear submarine Halibut, Mac and his saturation diving team surreptitiously enter the Soviet-controlled Sea of Okhotsk on a proof-of-concept mission. They install a tap on an underwater communications cable at 400 feet, and narrowly escape death when a storm snaps Halibut's anchor cables. They retrieve missile parts from a Soviet missile-test splash-zone, getting caught in a sonar-web set by the crafty skipper of an old Soviet diesel submarine. Mac's divers temporarily disable the sub, and Halibut escapes to Guam, dogged by the sub Skipper.
Having proved the concept, they return in a Halibut outfitted with skids so she can sit on the bottom to attach a 12-thousand-pound pod to the cable for future retrieval. In the missile splash-zone, they lock in deadly underwater combat with Soviet divers. With the free world at stake, they capture one and kill the rest. Halibut's submariners and saturation divers finally return home without ever publicly revealing their crucial contribution to winning the Cold War, receiving an unpublicized Presidential Unit Citation.
Blending personal experience and real-world events in a fictional wrapping, Operation Ivy Bells offers a never-before-seen glimpse of these heroic men fearlessly facing death to gather the intel that tipped the scales to win the Cold War.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
109 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Robert G. Williscroft
40 books82 followersDr. Robert G. Williscroft is a retired submarine officer, deep-sea and saturation diver, scientist, author, and a lifelong adventurer. He spent twenty-two months underwater, a year in the equatorial Pacific, three years in the Arctic ice pack, and a year at the Geographic South Pole. He holds degrees in Marine Physics and Meteorology and a doctorate for developing a system to protect scuba divers in contaminated water. A prolific author of both non-fiction, submarine technothrillers, and hard science fiction, he lives in Centennial, Colorado.
Dr. Williscroft is a member of Colorado Author’s League, Independent Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, Libertarian Futurist Society, Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club, Mensa, Military Officer’s Association, U.S. Sub Vets, American Legion, and the NRA, and now spends most of his time writing his next book, speaking to various regional groups, and hanging out with the girl of his dreams, Jill, and her two cats.
Dr. Williscroft is a member of Colorado Author’s League, Independent Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, Libertarian Futurist Society, Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club, Mensa, Military Officer’s Association, U.S. Sub Vets, American Legion, and the NRA, and now spends most of his time writing his next book, speaking to various regional groups, and hanging out with the girl of his dreams, Jill, and her two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 10, 2014
In a war, necessity forces men to take unusual tactics that one would never consider under normal circumstances. Operation Ivy Bells is about submarine warfare and espionage during the Cold War. While the world focused on the larger aspects of the Cold War such as nuclear armament, Korea, and Vietnam; the men of silent service were quietly waging their own war beneath the sea.
Robert G. Williscroft was part of these efforts, much of it recently declassified. In Operation Ivy Bells, the submariners’ Yankee ingenuity is fascinating to read about as they cleverly tackle such problems as how to tap into the Soviet Union’s underwater communication cables without detection.
The men figure out methods for divers to enter and exit the submarine, while underwater, to covertly complete their spy missions. The author takes us to places rarely seen in the Cold War that are utterly fascinating. He takes his time to explain the technical aspects of what is happening without ever being dull. Expect to learn a lot from this novel as well as entertained.
Operation Ivy Bells is recommended.
Robert G. Williscroft was part of these efforts, much of it recently declassified. In Operation Ivy Bells, the submariners’ Yankee ingenuity is fascinating to read about as they cleverly tackle such problems as how to tap into the Soviet Union’s underwater communication cables without detection.
The men figure out methods for divers to enter and exit the submarine, while underwater, to covertly complete their spy missions. The author takes us to places rarely seen in the Cold War that are utterly fascinating. He takes his time to explain the technical aspects of what is happening without ever being dull. Expect to learn a lot from this novel as well as entertained.
Operation Ivy Bells is recommended.
October 25, 2014
Excellent! As a former commercial diver I found "Operation Ivy Bells" a great read. Williscroft describes in detail the operation of each dive. Including the communications back and forth between divers and those manning the Dive Console. Brings back memories. He does a great job of educating the reader as well in deep diving basics. So if you're a novice you'll learn what's going on and why. A great book, not only for the story, but also to learn about the "secret" missions our service members perform to protect our country.
November 18, 2014
To quote NBC's epic WWII TV series,” VICTORY AT SEA" VOL# 21,Full Fathom Five: "The most complex, most compact, most deadly ship of war, ton for ton ever conceived by man is the submarine"! The US Navy submarine service was able to destroy Japan's ability to produce war material by sinking 1,392 ships, over 6 million tons of of its merchant marine, thus sinking the Empire of Japan! After WWII starting with the USS Nautilus SSN-571 and her historic January 17, 1955 message, "Underway On Nuclear Power" clearly signaled a new era for the submarine service. No longer were submarines just surface vessels which could temporarily dive for limited time periods. Now the submarine was a true underwater warrior which could stay submerged almost indefinitely. It did not take long during the Cold War for the the powers that be to realize the convergence of stealth and potential unlimited submergence time could be used to very good measure for covert spying missions.
These underwater covert intelligence missions would reach their zenith during the 1970’s under the Top Secret “OPERATION IVY BELLS”. During these audacious missions the US nuclear submarines Halibut, Seawolf, and Parche with special crews of saturation divers from Submarine Development One in San Diego, actually tapped Soviet underwater telephone cables on the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk and harvested Soviet missile parts right under the nose of the Russians. This was heady and dangerous stuff that the author of this historical novel Robert Williscroft puts into perspective with his lively and informed writing style.
Williscroft relates Halibut’s initial Operation Ivy Bells mission. As fantastic as the nuclear sub Halibut was, it is the author’s emphasis on the crew, especially the saturation divers, who were the unsung heroes of OPERATION IVY BELLS, that makes this book so interesting and absorbing. The reader will get a new appreciation for the technicalities of saturation diving and the amazing covert missions (over 2,000) that the submarine service accomplished during the 50 years of the Cold War. This is so in no small measure due to the fact that the author Williscroft has” been there and done that.” He was once the Officer-In-Charge of the Test Operations Group mentioned in his novel! These important and vital missions helped the United States defeat the Evil Empire and win the Cold War before it heated up into an apocalyptic nuclear exchange.
If you were ever curious about nuclear submarines, the nuclear submarine navy and some of its more secret and esoteric missions, then this book is for you.It goes a long way toward elucidating this subject and putting readers vicariously in the middle of the action. It’s a great read.
These underwater covert intelligence missions would reach their zenith during the 1970’s under the Top Secret “OPERATION IVY BELLS”. During these audacious missions the US nuclear submarines Halibut, Seawolf, and Parche with special crews of saturation divers from Submarine Development One in San Diego, actually tapped Soviet underwater telephone cables on the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk and harvested Soviet missile parts right under the nose of the Russians. This was heady and dangerous stuff that the author of this historical novel Robert Williscroft puts into perspective with his lively and informed writing style.
Williscroft relates Halibut’s initial Operation Ivy Bells mission. As fantastic as the nuclear sub Halibut was, it is the author’s emphasis on the crew, especially the saturation divers, who were the unsung heroes of OPERATION IVY BELLS, that makes this book so interesting and absorbing. The reader will get a new appreciation for the technicalities of saturation diving and the amazing covert missions (over 2,000) that the submarine service accomplished during the 50 years of the Cold War. This is so in no small measure due to the fact that the author Williscroft has” been there and done that.” He was once the Officer-In-Charge of the Test Operations Group mentioned in his novel! These important and vital missions helped the United States defeat the Evil Empire and win the Cold War before it heated up into an apocalyptic nuclear exchange.
If you were ever curious about nuclear submarines, the nuclear submarine navy and some of its more secret and esoteric missions, then this book is for you.It goes a long way toward elucidating this subject and putting readers vicariously in the middle of the action. It’s a great read.
April 17, 2015
This book is not something I would normally read. It was a book in one of my book clubs so I decided to try something different.
The book was a little too technical for my tastes. The author was good about explaining what was going on but I had a hard time with keeping up on it as I was not familiar with military terms.
I liked the story line and it was well written, however, maybe more laymen's terms and less military lingo and terms would make it easier for non-military people to understand more.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that enjoys military books.
The book was a little too technical for my tastes. The author was good about explaining what was going on but I had a hard time with keeping up on it as I was not familiar with military terms.
I liked the story line and it was well written, however, maybe more laymen's terms and less military lingo and terms would make it easier for non-military people to understand more.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that enjoys military books.
October 31, 2014
Ivy Bells is a book about covert submarine operations during the Cold War. Not only is it a gripping book, almost impossible to put down, but it's informative as well. It's cool to know that the exciting twists and turns that happened in the book also happened in real life. Anybody who is a fan of adventure or is interested in diving or submarines should read this book.
October 20, 2014
Operation Ivy Bells is a compelling cold war narrative that will have aficionados on the seat of their reading chair. It is an insiders look at covert submarine operations most people have no idea they are even capable of. Mr. Williscroft creates believable dialogue and tells a compelling story in a straight forward, no hold barred way. This is a very good read.
October 16, 2014
This is an excellent book, and a must-read for anyone who likes a good adventure.
October 29, 2015
Although this book is classified as fiction, it is based so heavily on personal experience that it reads more like a memoir, or, perhaps, the literary version of a docudrama. For those who, as I do, love anything involving ships and sailing, (above or below the water) this is a gold mine of information and provides an insightful and fascinating view of life on a submarine, at its most calm and at its most frantic.
There is a lot of technical information, but the author skillfully presents it so that even this landlubber understands enough to follow what is being done, how and why. I found that, perhaps because the subject interests me, the wealth of technical information did not make the book drag, but this is not a thriller, at least in the traditional sense.
When things happen, though, they happen very quickly, but, because the author has prepared the ground very well, he can present the action with tension and immediacy, not having to stop the flow for explanations.
In contrast to the technicalities involved, the author presents the characters in very human ways, and we come to see then, not as moving parts of a demonstration of submarine operations but as individuals. There are some very moving moments, and a good bit of humor, especially in the interactions between the characters, and the author captures the way a good team works together very nicely. Granted I occasionally thought that the main character (drawn from the author’s personal career and experience) seemed a bit *too* smart and versatile in solving problems, but perhaps the author is simply describing his actions, and the character is never too quick to take credit for his accomplishments. He is a team player, and often, ideas spark from the team, and he is able to combine them in some unique ways.
The story itself is amazing, more so because it is based on actual events. Again, the meticulous description of what the divers did, and how they did what they did enhances the story and gives in immediacy.
I found this narrator’s voice extremely pleasant, and enjoyed listening to his narration. He has an extremely low key, calm style, yet he is able to differentiate his characters well, and has good expression, though it is expressed in subtle ways. Very occasionally, I wondered if his style was a little too soothing, but then he would have to change his presentation slightly to accommodate the text. By the end of the book, I decided that he was perfect for this sort of book, and would probably excel at any nonfiction.
Because this book was so thorough and so well presented, I give this book 5 stars, though I do not recommend it for those looking for a traditional thriller. I also give the narrator 5 stars, because he was able to invest even the most technical passages with life and interest.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.
There is a lot of technical information, but the author skillfully presents it so that even this landlubber understands enough to follow what is being done, how and why. I found that, perhaps because the subject interests me, the wealth of technical information did not make the book drag, but this is not a thriller, at least in the traditional sense.
When things happen, though, they happen very quickly, but, because the author has prepared the ground very well, he can present the action with tension and immediacy, not having to stop the flow for explanations.
In contrast to the technicalities involved, the author presents the characters in very human ways, and we come to see then, not as moving parts of a demonstration of submarine operations but as individuals. There are some very moving moments, and a good bit of humor, especially in the interactions between the characters, and the author captures the way a good team works together very nicely. Granted I occasionally thought that the main character (drawn from the author’s personal career and experience) seemed a bit *too* smart and versatile in solving problems, but perhaps the author is simply describing his actions, and the character is never too quick to take credit for his accomplishments. He is a team player, and often, ideas spark from the team, and he is able to combine them in some unique ways.
The story itself is amazing, more so because it is based on actual events. Again, the meticulous description of what the divers did, and how they did what they did enhances the story and gives in immediacy.
I found this narrator’s voice extremely pleasant, and enjoyed listening to his narration. He has an extremely low key, calm style, yet he is able to differentiate his characters well, and has good expression, though it is expressed in subtle ways. Very occasionally, I wondered if his style was a little too soothing, but then he would have to change his presentation slightly to accommodate the text. By the end of the book, I decided that he was perfect for this sort of book, and would probably excel at any nonfiction.
Because this book was so thorough and so well presented, I give this book 5 stars, though I do not recommend it for those looking for a traditional thriller. I also give the narrator 5 stars, because he was able to invest even the most technical passages with life and interest.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.
April 19, 2015
Robert Williscroft’s Operation Ivy Bells is the perfect book for readers who loved big trucks and shop class. Williscroft describes in loving detail the mechanics involved in splicing sound cables onto Soviet communication cables, crafting extra decking to hide stolen Soviet nuclear missile parts, repairing and preparing deep sea driving modules. Williscroft details everything from laying out the nuts and bolts to running the boom cranes.
For me, who spent hours under the car with my dad, only to leave all the work to mechanics as soon as I left home, those scenes those scenes caused my eyes to gloss over and skip ahead to the next dive scene. However, I suspect erector set lovers and Tom Clancy fans will be enthralled.
Operation Ivy Bells claims to be a fictional account of a real NSA operation to steal Soviet nuclear secrets during the Cold War. Narrated by the character of Lt. J.R. “Mac” McDowell, the book recounts one operation during the forty year underwater campaign of the deep sea divers aboard the reconditioned nuclear submarine USS Hallibut. The fact that the book ends up recounting only one campaign may confuse the readers since the book opens listing a cast of characters that implies it will cover dozens, but the one campaign Williscroft does recount leaves the reader with plenty of thrills.
Readers may find it hard to feel the story is fictional since the book reads like nonfiction, especially in the introduction and two epilogues which recount historical moments with real personages. The mission involves a test run to see if they can splice a tap into a Soviet communications cable and then retrieve parts of a soviet nuclear test missile, followed by a real run. During their test mission they encounter a wiley Soviet sub commander determined to catch them at all costs.
I found Williscroft’s tone a little confusing as well. When the book opens we find them celebrating in a bar with naked sailors with flaming toilet paper tucked in their buttocks and a bar fly who swears like a sailor. Once they get on the submarine, Williscroft’s seamen don’t swear and he doesn’t even want to mention the content of their “private” video collection. None of the onshore antics make it onto the sub. What looked to be the Navy version of Jim Bouton’s Ball Four turned out to be Operation Petticoat.
For all its imperfections, Ivy Bells is an exciting read. The cat and mouse chase between the Hallibut and the Soviet sub Whiskey will keep readers on edge to the last page.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer and Raising Hell. You can follow him @stephens_pt.
For me, who spent hours under the car with my dad, only to leave all the work to mechanics as soon as I left home, those scenes those scenes caused my eyes to gloss over and skip ahead to the next dive scene. However, I suspect erector set lovers and Tom Clancy fans will be enthralled.
Operation Ivy Bells claims to be a fictional account of a real NSA operation to steal Soviet nuclear secrets during the Cold War. Narrated by the character of Lt. J.R. “Mac” McDowell, the book recounts one operation during the forty year underwater campaign of the deep sea divers aboard the reconditioned nuclear submarine USS Hallibut. The fact that the book ends up recounting only one campaign may confuse the readers since the book opens listing a cast of characters that implies it will cover dozens, but the one campaign Williscroft does recount leaves the reader with plenty of thrills.
Readers may find it hard to feel the story is fictional since the book reads like nonfiction, especially in the introduction and two epilogues which recount historical moments with real personages. The mission involves a test run to see if they can splice a tap into a Soviet communications cable and then retrieve parts of a soviet nuclear test missile, followed by a real run. During their test mission they encounter a wiley Soviet sub commander determined to catch them at all costs.
I found Williscroft’s tone a little confusing as well. When the book opens we find them celebrating in a bar with naked sailors with flaming toilet paper tucked in their buttocks and a bar fly who swears like a sailor. Once they get on the submarine, Williscroft’s seamen don’t swear and he doesn’t even want to mention the content of their “private” video collection. None of the onshore antics make it onto the sub. What looked to be the Navy version of Jim Bouton’s Ball Four turned out to be Operation Petticoat.
For all its imperfections, Ivy Bells is an exciting read. The cat and mouse chase between the Hallibut and the Soviet sub Whiskey will keep readers on edge to the last page.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer and Raising Hell. You can follow him @stephens_pt.
October 5, 2015
ABR's original Operation Ivy Bells audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
I will say right up front – I hated that this story had to end. Operation Ivy Bells is wonderful!
Operation Ivy Bells is an exciting piece of fiction/non-fiction. Robert Williscroft led a saturation team that faced terrible odds at times and were also hell raisers – a certain Russian Submarine Commander could attest to that! In the first few chapters, Lt. Mac McDowall and his saturation team face giant squids, a near death experience and live to torment a soviet commander. During the cold war, Mac and his team of divers must do what no one else has even considered – diving to depths of 1,000 feet, riding the ocean floor during a major storm and within 500 feet of a soviet submarine and more is a story that everyone should hear.
This book is full of excitement and twists – I named only a few. You have to read it to hear more and it is WORTH it!
Williscroft writes such an intense story that one cannot even begin to tell what is truth and what is fictionalized. I was amazed at several things in this story. The first being that he was able to relay technical information in an informative manner but also interesting – who would have thought going to the restroom on a submarine could be deadly? Or that a submarine crew must be aware of water density, depth, and that every sound can be deadly? The second is not being able to tell what is truth and what is not – for instance, who is to say there are no giant squid that undulates in color? The news is full of new sea creatures (giant and otherwise) being discovered. Third, his writing demonstrated just how deadly yet exciting being 500 – 1000 feet below the water can be.
Williscroft’s writing style is excellent. The technical aspect of the operation of a submarine and divers was very realistic – AND interesting. The story flowed, the character development was executed perfectly and the plot was a complete piece of work. In other words, there were no holes anywhere. I hope to hear more by Williscroft in the future. This is definitely a story that will appeal to those who are into conspiracy theories, spies and espionage and a good piece of fiction!
Mark Budwell did a wonderful job of narrating the story. His voices were excellent and indicated just the right amount of intenseness and excitement. He was perfect for this book!
There were no issues with the audio production.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
I will say right up front – I hated that this story had to end. Operation Ivy Bells is wonderful!
Operation Ivy Bells is an exciting piece of fiction/non-fiction. Robert Williscroft led a saturation team that faced terrible odds at times and were also hell raisers – a certain Russian Submarine Commander could attest to that! In the first few chapters, Lt. Mac McDowall and his saturation team face giant squids, a near death experience and live to torment a soviet commander. During the cold war, Mac and his team of divers must do what no one else has even considered – diving to depths of 1,000 feet, riding the ocean floor during a major storm and within 500 feet of a soviet submarine and more is a story that everyone should hear.
This book is full of excitement and twists – I named only a few. You have to read it to hear more and it is WORTH it!
Williscroft writes such an intense story that one cannot even begin to tell what is truth and what is fictionalized. I was amazed at several things in this story. The first being that he was able to relay technical information in an informative manner but also interesting – who would have thought going to the restroom on a submarine could be deadly? Or that a submarine crew must be aware of water density, depth, and that every sound can be deadly? The second is not being able to tell what is truth and what is not – for instance, who is to say there are no giant squid that undulates in color? The news is full of new sea creatures (giant and otherwise) being discovered. Third, his writing demonstrated just how deadly yet exciting being 500 – 1000 feet below the water can be.
Williscroft’s writing style is excellent. The technical aspect of the operation of a submarine and divers was very realistic – AND interesting. The story flowed, the character development was executed perfectly and the plot was a complete piece of work. In other words, there were no holes anywhere. I hope to hear more by Williscroft in the future. This is definitely a story that will appeal to those who are into conspiracy theories, spies and espionage and a good piece of fiction!
Mark Budwell did a wonderful job of narrating the story. His voices were excellent and indicated just the right amount of intenseness and excitement. He was perfect for this book!
There were no issues with the audio production.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
February 12, 2017
Operation Ivy Bells is a wonderful read, replete with memorable characters and enough nautical detail to satisfy any die-hard Tom Clancy fan. Although Amazon places the novel in the genre techno-thriller, it may also be considered historical fiction since the events brought to life by Williscroft did actually happen. The placement of listening devices onto undersea military communication cables in the stormy waters off the eastern coast of the former Soviet Union, resulted in an intelligence boon for the United States during the height of the Cold War. The author’s biography is exciting reading on its own, and highly recommended! Williscroft has “been there, done that,” and his unique experience and knowledge is evident in his effortless delivery of a nail-chewing adventure.
Williscroft immerses the reader in life onboard a submarine. And whether the scene is in the control room or the can (this is where the deep divers equilibrate to the enormous pressures outside the boat before a dive, and slowly depressurize following a dive), you become one with the crew. The jargon—necessary for realism—is easy to pick up thanks to plenty of discrete definitions that do not interrupt the flow or pace of the plot.
A must-read for any aficionado of military historical fiction, techno-thrillers, and submarine adventures, Operation Ivy Bells will not disappoint!
Williscroft immerses the reader in life onboard a submarine. And whether the scene is in the control room or the can (this is where the deep divers equilibrate to the enormous pressures outside the boat before a dive, and slowly depressurize following a dive), you become one with the crew. The jargon—necessary for realism—is easy to pick up thanks to plenty of discrete definitions that do not interrupt the flow or pace of the plot.
A must-read for any aficionado of military historical fiction, techno-thrillers, and submarine adventures, Operation Ivy Bells will not disappoint!
September 27, 2014
"It was super secret. Nobody knew about it except for a very select few, including the President, SecDef, SecNav, one admiral, Craven, the very small contingent at Submarine Development Group One, part of the submarine crew, and the divers. Let me tell you, that's secret like nothing I had ever experienced." – Lieutenant J. R. "Mac" McDowell's comments as he learns about the program he signed up for in Operation Ivy Bells
This is not normally a genre I would read, but once I picked up this book I had a hard time putting it down! It drops the reader into the world of subterfuge and life under the seas that submariners experienced during the cold war. For those of you who have the navy and military background, the accurate technical details are there. And yet for a "non-bubblehead" such as myself (a non-submariner), who is totally unfamiliar with that life, the author describes it in such a way that I didn't get lost in the jargon. He even includes a glossary in the back.
Although this is a novel, it is based on real people, and real (super-secret!) events that the author was intimately familiar with that helped us emerge from the cold war while avoiding a nuclear holocaust.
From hand-to-tentacle combat with squids at the beginning, to underwater hand-to-hand combat between divers near the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the action-packed adventure. I even learned a thing or two, and gained a whole new respect and appreciation for all our service members who keep us safe. I highly recommend this book!
Operation Ivy Bells
Robert G. Williscroft
Robert Williscroft's Website
January 25, 2015
Operation Ivy Bells is a fictional account of the actual historical event in which the U.S. Navy attempted to tap into the Soviet Union’s undersea communication cable during the Cold War. Narrated by Lieutenant J. R. McDowell (“Mac”), the novel recounts Mac’s adventures aboard the submarine USS Halibut as he completes the mission to place taps on the Soviet’s undersea communication lines. Such adventures include mechanical failures, mishaps caused by human error, attacks by sea creatures, scuffles with enemy Russian divers, attempts to paralyze enemy warships, and others. Williscroft injects moments of humor in the novel (specifically, some accounts of good-natured hazing and a scene with a hilarious prostitute named Snorkel Patty). There is never a dull moment in Operation Ivy Bells. The ending is completely satisfying, and towards the end of the mission, Mac begins a lifelong friendship with a very unexpected person.
I am glad that Williscroft provided a glossary of military terms so that we “civilian pukes” can better understand what is happening. Admittedly, the novel is borderline esoteric, but Williscroft makes it easy to read by taking the time to explain things as he goes. My favorite part of the novel is the camaraderie among the member of the team. They watch each others’ backs and are highly supportive of each other (without refraining from manly banter).The funniest part of the novel is when one of the divers is caught in the jaws of a superfish (and left with non-fatal injuries).
Each chapter begins with an illustration that gives a hint as to what the chapter will be about. i liked this idea so much that I may incorporate it into my future novels.
Operation Ivy Bells is an edge-of-your-seat war novel with characters that you just can’t help but love, and just the right amount of suspense at each turn. As Ed Offley (who wrote the foreword) said, “You won’t be able to put this down.”
I am glad that Williscroft provided a glossary of military terms so that we “civilian pukes” can better understand what is happening. Admittedly, the novel is borderline esoteric, but Williscroft makes it easy to read by taking the time to explain things as he goes. My favorite part of the novel is the camaraderie among the member of the team. They watch each others’ backs and are highly supportive of each other (without refraining from manly banter).The funniest part of the novel is when one of the divers is caught in the jaws of a superfish (and left with non-fatal injuries).
Each chapter begins with an illustration that gives a hint as to what the chapter will be about. i liked this idea so much that I may incorporate it into my future novels.
Operation Ivy Bells is an edge-of-your-seat war novel with characters that you just can’t help but love, and just the right amount of suspense at each turn. As Ed Offley (who wrote the foreword) said, “You won’t be able to put this down.”
November 28, 2014
Loved the book! I think Operation Ivy Bells will appeal to a wide audience, and that readers who are fans of the "Tom Clancy" genre will find Operation Ivy Bells to be an especially fun foray into fresh territory; offering grist for some interesting "how much of that was real?" conversations. As a Navy veteran, I found the details that set context for the story to be familiar and authentic. The book covered an area of Naval operations I was not familiar with but had heard rumors of while I was on active duty. The author's narrative style made for an easy read and should make the book readily accessible to readers who aren't Navy or military veterans. I think all readers will find the pace and action level of the book to be compelling. The story moves right along, and I found myself surprised by how quickly I got through the book. There's also a great "hook" at the end, linking the fictional storyline to real-world events, which brings the book to a great close. I had trouble putting the book down, and I suspect that others will too. I highly recommend Operation Ivy Bells, especially to fans of quality military-political fiction!
October 29, 2016
Hoo yah, one heck of a read.
The Cold War was not so cold, especially for spy submarines and black op saturation divers.
Robert Williscroft takes us on a one of a kind adventure that until a few years ago would have been above top secret. The real life divers and submariners are unsung national heroes. This novel's hero is an uncannily clever Saturation Diving Officer who worked himself up through the enlisted ranks to become one of the smartest conning and diving officers on the USS Halibut, or as its divers know her "Flatfish", as it ventured into Russian waters, toying with the very lethal Russian surface and submarine fleet. This five star read has enough technical detail to prove the authenticity of the writer, and enough gripping drama to keep you glued to your reading chair. As divers say, "Hoo Yah, one heck of a read."
The Cold War was not so cold, especially for spy submarines and black op saturation divers.
Robert Williscroft takes us on a one of a kind adventure that until a few years ago would have been above top secret. The real life divers and submariners are unsung national heroes. This novel's hero is an uncannily clever Saturation Diving Officer who worked himself up through the enlisted ranks to become one of the smartest conning and diving officers on the USS Halibut, or as its divers know her "Flatfish", as it ventured into Russian waters, toying with the very lethal Russian surface and submarine fleet. This five star read has enough technical detail to prove the authenticity of the writer, and enough gripping drama to keep you glued to your reading chair. As divers say, "Hoo Yah, one heck of a read."
November 20, 2014
WOW, from attacks by Humboldt squid, to groupers, to knife fights with Soviet divers hundreds of feet below the surface, this novel will keep you on the edge of your chair late into the night.
Some of the best kept secrets of the cold war provide the backdrop for the daring do of Lieutenant Mac McDowell and his team of saturation divers as they work to save the nuclear submarine Halibut and accomplish her vital missions.
Written cleanly with a thrill a minute, it’s never clear if Mac, his divers, or even the submarine crew will live to tell their tale. I highly recommend you enjoy this book written by a first rate adventurer.
George Jackson
Captain USN (Ret.)
a.k.a. G. William Weatherly
author "Sheppard of the Argonne"
Some of the best kept secrets of the cold war provide the backdrop for the daring do of Lieutenant Mac McDowell and his team of saturation divers as they work to save the nuclear submarine Halibut and accomplish her vital missions.
Written cleanly with a thrill a minute, it’s never clear if Mac, his divers, or even the submarine crew will live to tell their tale. I highly recommend you enjoy this book written by a first rate adventurer.
George Jackson
Captain USN (Ret.)
a.k.a. G. William Weatherly
author "Sheppard of the Argonne"
April 23, 2015
I love everything to do with the Cold War. This book was on my must read list as soon as I discovered it. It is billed as a novel, but I suspect there is far more fact than fiction involved. What is not to disbelieve about the US tasking a nuclear sub to sneak into Russian waters to do slightly naughty things?
Operation Ivy Bells was most certainly a real operation, and if I was a gambling man I would bet that Robert Williscroft was indeed part of the crew.
There is too much hard fact and too little fluff in the book to think otherwise.
If you share my passion for history, particularly the cat and mouse game that was the Cold War, this book is for you.
Operation Ivy Bells was most certainly a real operation, and if I was a gambling man I would bet that Robert Williscroft was indeed part of the crew.
There is too much hard fact and too little fluff in the book to think otherwise.
If you share my passion for history, particularly the cat and mouse game that was the Cold War, this book is for you.
December 5, 2015
A book equal to the best of Clancy and even better because he lived it
This book is one of the best I hAve ever re
This is one of the best military books I have ever read. It's absolutely brilliant .
It's almost impossible to put this book down. It is superbly written and it displays the call to duty of a true warrior. My sincere complements to a outstanding and a brilliant author.
This book is one of the best I hAve ever re
This is one of the best military books I have ever read. It's absolutely brilliant .
It's almost impossible to put this book down. It is superbly written and it displays the call to duty of a true warrior. My sincere complements to a outstanding and a brilliant author.
January 14, 2016
I read this as a fictional story about factual events. Remembering my time on diesels, when Halibut was a Regulus boat at Pearl harbor in the early 1960's and seeing boats returning from "North", Operation Ivy Bell was written as a believable account of operations during the Cold War era. It is a "can't put down" book that both submariners and civilians can enjoy reading.
October 29, 2015
A thriller for sure, hard to put down.
March 11, 2018
Tremendous
The action is non stop and vivid descriptions. We have apparently many extremly dedicated and brave personel representing the USA.
The action is non stop and vivid descriptions. We have apparently many extremly dedicated and brave personel representing the USA.
June 12, 2019
"Operation Ivy Bells" by Robert Williscroft is the dramatic, fictional re-telling of one of the Cold War's most legendary US Navy and NSA combined intelligence operations against the Soviet Union (to appreciate what a collection coup this was for the United States, I recommend googling "Operation Ivy Bells" and reading the Wikipedia article on that subject. Or better yet, read the non-fiction book "Blind Man's Bluff" by Sherry Sontag). But to get an understanding of what it must have been like to be a crew member or a diver on the USS Halibut nuclear attack submarine that conducted the most successful intelligence operation of that era, I highly recommend this fast-paced, suspense-techno-thriller. "Operation Ivy Bells" tells the story of the USS Halibut's ground-breaking covert mission through the eyes of a fictional dive officer, J.R. "Mac" MacDowell. Mac, as he is called by his fellow sailors, is an experienced jack-of-all-trades submariner (much as was his creator) chosen to lead the dive team attaching listening devices to an underwater Soviet communications cable and then retrieving Soviet missile parts from a splash-down area in the Sea of Okhotsk. Mac is a typical ultra-cool, alpha-male hero of a sort that flourished during the 1980's hey-day of men's action fiction (yes, men's fiction was a thing in the 80s). While it might not seem realistic given the clay-footed anti-heroes most of us are accustomed to these days, this actually is a clever way for the author to portray the mission from several perspectives at once without confusing the reader with too many scene and POV changes. Mac is everywhere at once, solving every kind of submarine challenge during every conceivable crisis that might face a Cold War era submarine crew operating covertly in hostile waters against a ruthless foe. I have a military and intelligence background as a ground and airborne type but I am fairly clueless about submarine and deep sea operations. I am not anymore. I can honestly say I learned much from this book about my brethren in the silent service. Robert Williscroft is a Cold War veteran of the Navy submarine service. He served as an enlisted sonar tech, commissioned weapons officer, navigator, deep sea diver and Arctic/Antarctic explorer during his eclectic career. As a result, he is particularly qualified to pen this most technically accurate submariner's yarn. "Operation Ivy Bells" is a great submarine suspense-techno-thriller. While the 80s era men's fiction model with its egoist protagonist might sound tinny to some ears, it didn't bother me (my favorite of this type was Jerry Ahern's Cold War classic, "The Survivalist"). There is also some salty sailor talk about the opposite sex and a few overly used F-bombs... but that's part of the book's technical realism. After all, these are sailors. And the Cold War was never particularly kind to those with pearl-clutching sensitivities. "Operation Ivy Bells" is one good read.
April 16, 2021
Operation Ivy Bells is the fictional account of actual joint U.S. Navy, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency mission to place wire taps on Soviet underwater communications cables in the Sea of Okhotsk during the Cold War. Author Robert G. Williscroft has brought his years of experience as both a qualified nuclear submariner, and Navy deep sea diver, into play in weaving this page-turner about that Top Secret mission.
The reader is introduced to Navy Lieutenant “Mac” MacDowell, his saturation dive team, and the officers and crew of the specially-equipped nuclear powered submarine USS Halibut, as they ply the frigid waters off the major Soviet Naval and missile testing facilities in the northern Pacific. On not one – but two – missions, they elude Soviet submarines and surface ships to, first, locate the main communications cable in the Sea of Okhotsk, and prove that it can be tapped, and, on the second trip, to emplace a more-or-less permanent wiretap. In the process, Mac and his team wrestle the elements, deep-water fauna, and even Soviet divers in completing their mission.
In this novel, Williscroft skillfully introduces the reader to the intricacies of deep sea saturation diving, weaving them and the operation and navigation of an especially- configured nuclear submarine, into the narration.
I can recommend this book for anyone enjoys military historical fiction, submarine stories, the challenges of deep-sea saturation diving, or just a plain, thoroughly enjoyable, sea yarn.
The reader is introduced to Navy Lieutenant “Mac” MacDowell, his saturation dive team, and the officers and crew of the specially-equipped nuclear powered submarine USS Halibut, as they ply the frigid waters off the major Soviet Naval and missile testing facilities in the northern Pacific. On not one – but two – missions, they elude Soviet submarines and surface ships to, first, locate the main communications cable in the Sea of Okhotsk, and prove that it can be tapped, and, on the second trip, to emplace a more-or-less permanent wiretap. In the process, Mac and his team wrestle the elements, deep-water fauna, and even Soviet divers in completing their mission.
In this novel, Williscroft skillfully introduces the reader to the intricacies of deep sea saturation diving, weaving them and the operation and navigation of an especially- configured nuclear submarine, into the narration.
I can recommend this book for anyone enjoys military historical fiction, submarine stories, the challenges of deep-sea saturation diving, or just a plain, thoroughly enjoyable, sea yarn.
April 1, 2023
Excellent book with elements of both Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. Based on real world missions, and described in incredible detail with some fun thrown in toward the end. The real guys, host platforms and equipment on which this story was based did what no one else in the world could do and in places very few could go. The problem with success in nuclear deterrence is that we are unable to measure that success short of a lack of mushroom clouds on the horizon. This offers an extremely rare look into a world necessarily shrouded in secrecy. The number and level of unit and individual awards intrepidly earned by USS Parche, USS Halibut and others, as well as the men of SUBDEVGRP 1.
Left out of the story was the ultimate betrayal by NSA employee Ronald Pelton in 1979, who informed Soviet officials of the existence and details of Operation Ivy Bells for a mere $35,000. Not germaine to the narrative, but a tragic ending for this unbelievably heroic effort.
I highly recommend "Operation Ivy Bells" for a glimpse into the shadows of what highly select people do to keep us safe.
Left out of the story was the ultimate betrayal by NSA employee Ronald Pelton in 1979, who informed Soviet officials of the existence and details of Operation Ivy Bells for a mere $35,000. Not germaine to the narrative, but a tragic ending for this unbelievably heroic effort.
I highly recommend "Operation Ivy Bells" for a glimpse into the shadows of what highly select people do to keep us safe.
March 30, 2024
This is a highly fictionalized account of the true story of Operation Ivy Bells. First off, who doesn't love submarines and underwater action? I was really looking forward to reading this book. In the end, however, it was just an okay book. There are several areas where it struggled either to keep my attention or to make it believable. First, there were stretches where the technical discussions nearly put me to sleep. There has to be a better way to relay that information. Second, the main character, Mac, seems to be almost like a superhero, managing to be everywhere at once and knowing how to do everything needed, while always keeping his timing perfect. Hmm. Perhaps a little bit out of touch with reality.
I'm a member of the ARC team and have left an honest review voluntarily.
I'm a member of the ARC team and have left an honest review voluntarily.
March 30, 2022
Operation Ivy Bells is about submarine warfare and espionage during the Cold War...a novel that cloaks quite a lot of history. Of course, there's some embellishment of the history; including a giant squid attack, but at other times, one cannot even begin to tell what is truth and what is fiction. it reads more like a memoir, makes one wonder? Perhaps, the author overstates the political consequences of a mistake--just for the sake of drama? While this was a great book, I'm not inclined to suspend belief and continue with the "Mac McDowell" series.
August 25, 2021
Excellent book. This author goes far beyond good research; he obviously speaks from life experience when he describes the technologies and submarine capabilities of the cold war era. I enjoyed every page and I was disappointed to come to the end.
I don't know if this is based on a real operation or not but it certainly could have.
I don't know if this is based on a real operation or not but it certainly could have.
November 9, 2023
I’m a former Navy Reserve officer and Merchant Mariner. I very much enjoyed this book but I don’t think a person lacking a nautical background would enjoy it. It is very extensive in scenarios that are described “nautically” and as such are just beyond the average reader’s ability to properly comprehend. .
December 3, 2017
Very good fact based novel.
January 19, 2019
Good Book with great flow
I so enjoyed this book by Robert. The wonderful plot kept me wanting to finish. I will look forward to reading more of books by this great author.
I so enjoyed this book by Robert. The wonderful plot kept me wanting to finish. I will look forward to reading more of books by this great author.
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