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Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate
On 17 March 1959, the USS Skate became the first submarine to surface at the North Pole.
Under the guidance of James Calvert this nuclear submarine had navigated through polar ice packs, braved atrociously cold conditions, and broken through layers of thick ice to arrive at their destination; the northernmost point of the world.
This mission, however, was not just about completing a seemingly impossibly feat of Arctic exploration.
It also had huge implications for military strategy during the height of the Cold War.
Now that submarines were able to travel under and break through the ice, it gave the U.S. military the capability of being avoid detection under the ice while being able to launch their Polaris missiles from points far closer to the Soviet Union.
James Calvert’s remarkable account of his two voyages to the Arctic with the USS Skate provides vivid insight into life in a nuclear submarine and how these men were able to complete this treacherous mission.
“a frank, honest and humorous account of the problems faced in penetrating this vast unknown.” Naval War College Review
“he brought a keen eye for detail to his account of that first rise to the North Pole” The New York Times
“[James Calvert] proves as handy with pen as with periscope. … the two penetrations of the ice pack, in August of 1958 and March of 1959, make fresh and original reading.” Kirkus Reviews
Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate should be essential reading for anyone interested in naval history and how U.S. Navy made innovative strides in arctic exploration through the 1950s.
James Calvert served in the United States Navy, where he commanded USS Skate, the third nuclear submarine commissioned and the second submarine to reach the North Pole, which became the first to surface at the pole. His account of this journey, Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate was published in 1960 and Calvert passed away in 2009.
Under the guidance of James Calvert this nuclear submarine had navigated through polar ice packs, braved atrociously cold conditions, and broken through layers of thick ice to arrive at their destination; the northernmost point of the world.
This mission, however, was not just about completing a seemingly impossibly feat of Arctic exploration.
It also had huge implications for military strategy during the height of the Cold War.
Now that submarines were able to travel under and break through the ice, it gave the U.S. military the capability of being avoid detection under the ice while being able to launch their Polaris missiles from points far closer to the Soviet Union.
James Calvert’s remarkable account of his two voyages to the Arctic with the USS Skate provides vivid insight into life in a nuclear submarine and how these men were able to complete this treacherous mission.
“a frank, honest and humorous account of the problems faced in penetrating this vast unknown.” Naval War College Review
“he brought a keen eye for detail to his account of that first rise to the North Pole” The New York Times
“[James Calvert] proves as handy with pen as with periscope. … the two penetrations of the ice pack, in August of 1958 and March of 1959, make fresh and original reading.” Kirkus Reviews
Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate should be essential reading for anyone interested in naval history and how U.S. Navy made innovative strides in arctic exploration through the 1950s.
James Calvert served in the United States Navy, where he commanded USS Skate, the third nuclear submarine commissioned and the second submarine to reach the North Pole, which became the first to surface at the pole. His account of this journey, Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate was published in 1960 and Calvert passed away in 2009.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2019
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107 people want to read
About the author
James Calvert
27 books1813-1892
There is more than one author named James Calvert in Goodreads.
There is more than one author named James Calvert in Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 22, 2015
This book has suddenly become hugely topical, thanks to the unusual (during the short period Man has inhabited Earth) and significant extent of melting of the North polar icecap. The resulting opportunities to forge trade routes by sea to/from the Far East, considerably shortening the distance, time, and transport costs, will prove irresistible.
Surface at the Pole describes an extraordinary military ‘adventure’; led by a remarkable man who later rose to the rank of vice-admiral in the US navy. Anyone contemplating a career in the armed forces of their nation might be well advised to read this book, and consider Calvert’s leadership and calm, lateral, decision making skills. What we might call ‘luck’ did play a part at times. However, this book indirectly reminds that such ‘luck’ can be considerably enhanced by teamwork, knowledge, attention to detail, and decisions which promote odds in favour. Bearing all that in mind, this book more than many draws attention to the stark line between success and failure; moreso where weather is a factor.
What so delighted me was to find that here was a very human ‘sailor’ who could write so extremely well. I found myself utterly caught up and held in the vividness of his narrative, and the community of crew on board, that in a cold room in January, reading by table-light, sitting wrapped-up in bed under a white, lofty, goosedown duvet; I could very almost imagine myself as part of the scene. This compelling book really is that difficult to take a break from. My only regret was that the narrative wasn’t longer in length.
Obit. at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/us/... [accessed 25-Jan-2014].
Surface at the Pole describes an extraordinary military ‘adventure’; led by a remarkable man who later rose to the rank of vice-admiral in the US navy. Anyone contemplating a career in the armed forces of their nation might be well advised to read this book, and consider Calvert’s leadership and calm, lateral, decision making skills. What we might call ‘luck’ did play a part at times. However, this book indirectly reminds that such ‘luck’ can be considerably enhanced by teamwork, knowledge, attention to detail, and decisions which promote odds in favour. Bearing all that in mind, this book more than many draws attention to the stark line between success and failure; moreso where weather is a factor.
What so delighted me was to find that here was a very human ‘sailor’ who could write so extremely well. I found myself utterly caught up and held in the vividness of his narrative, and the community of crew on board, that in a cold room in January, reading by table-light, sitting wrapped-up in bed under a white, lofty, goosedown duvet; I could very almost imagine myself as part of the scene. This compelling book really is that difficult to take a break from. My only regret was that the narrative wasn’t longer in length.
Obit. at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/us/... [accessed 25-Jan-2014].
July 18, 2021
Brilliant but be prepared for a cold read with most of the time spent under the ice!
Having served two years in command of the USSS Trigger, James Calvert was summoned to Washington to meet Admiral Rickover. Ultimately the meeting resulted in Calvert being put in charge of the USS Skate, a nuclear submarine following in the footsteps of the first Nautilus. His brief was to take Skate under the ice to the North Pole.
It sounds reasonably simple - if you are a submariner that is - but putting it into effect had plenty pf obstacles along the way. Calvert, with an experienced crew on board, along with a select group of civilian scientists and technicians, duly set sail in the summer of 1958. His brief was to surface once he had reached the ice pack and if possible as close to the North Pole as he could safely get.
Surfacing in the packed ice was a tricky business as he had either to find a pseudo-lake among the ice floes, called a polynya (pronounced poleenyuh he tells us), or a lead, which is a continuous stretch of open water akin to a river, to achieve this. Neither was easy but on her first voyage he was able to surface nine times, not without various degrees of difficulty, which not only tested the resolve of Carver and his crew but tests the nerves of the reader, too!
Unfortunately there were no appropriate polynyas or leads that were suitable close to the Pole but the voyage was successful otherwise in that it proved that man could rely on the complexities of a nuclear submarine to survive under the icy waters. Having said that, there were moments when danger looked imminent but it was diverted by the skill of the crew.
Having returned home, Carver took a brief rest but in the winter of 1959 he and Skate were off again to the Arctic. Fortunately he had most of his original experienced crew on this second voyage, so everyone was well aware of the potential perils that they might encounter. And it was as well they did for they were called on more than once to avert disaster.
On this voyage they did manage, albeit with great difficulties and after much searching for exit points, to break through the relatively thin ice on a number of leads without damaging any of the submarine's superstructure. They did have one problem with a mast but in temperatures of minus 35 degrees one of the crew managed to complete the repairs, at the expense of frost-bitten fingers.
They surfaced very close to the North Pole and also close to Ice Station Alfa, where they spent a number of days among the personnel there. Before leaving they planted the American flag at the North Pole and returned home to a warm welcome reception.
'Surface at the Pole' is as good a read as a thriller, the reader is definitely on the edge of the seat wondering as they repeatedly negotiated surfacing in tight spots among the shifting ice whether they would manage it or not. In addition a serious leak occurred in the submarine's pipes and, knowing how vital it was to keep everything in full working order, it was a stressful time wondering whether they could stem the flow of ice cold water and make the necessary repairs.
They did so and some of the crew even managed to find time to make an impromptu dive beneath the ice, suitably suited to protect them from the minus 20 odd degrees Arctic sea! And on that chilly note, be warned, as I said at the beginning, it is an ice cold, but thoroughly absorbing read.,
Having served two years in command of the USSS Trigger, James Calvert was summoned to Washington to meet Admiral Rickover. Ultimately the meeting resulted in Calvert being put in charge of the USS Skate, a nuclear submarine following in the footsteps of the first Nautilus. His brief was to take Skate under the ice to the North Pole.
It sounds reasonably simple - if you are a submariner that is - but putting it into effect had plenty pf obstacles along the way. Calvert, with an experienced crew on board, along with a select group of civilian scientists and technicians, duly set sail in the summer of 1958. His brief was to surface once he had reached the ice pack and if possible as close to the North Pole as he could safely get.
Surfacing in the packed ice was a tricky business as he had either to find a pseudo-lake among the ice floes, called a polynya (pronounced poleenyuh he tells us), or a lead, which is a continuous stretch of open water akin to a river, to achieve this. Neither was easy but on her first voyage he was able to surface nine times, not without various degrees of difficulty, which not only tested the resolve of Carver and his crew but tests the nerves of the reader, too!
Unfortunately there were no appropriate polynyas or leads that were suitable close to the Pole but the voyage was successful otherwise in that it proved that man could rely on the complexities of a nuclear submarine to survive under the icy waters. Having said that, there were moments when danger looked imminent but it was diverted by the skill of the crew.
Having returned home, Carver took a brief rest but in the winter of 1959 he and Skate were off again to the Arctic. Fortunately he had most of his original experienced crew on this second voyage, so everyone was well aware of the potential perils that they might encounter. And it was as well they did for they were called on more than once to avert disaster.
On this voyage they did manage, albeit with great difficulties and after much searching for exit points, to break through the relatively thin ice on a number of leads without damaging any of the submarine's superstructure. They did have one problem with a mast but in temperatures of minus 35 degrees one of the crew managed to complete the repairs, at the expense of frost-bitten fingers.
They surfaced very close to the North Pole and also close to Ice Station Alfa, where they spent a number of days among the personnel there. Before leaving they planted the American flag at the North Pole and returned home to a warm welcome reception.
'Surface at the Pole' is as good a read as a thriller, the reader is definitely on the edge of the seat wondering as they repeatedly negotiated surfacing in tight spots among the shifting ice whether they would manage it or not. In addition a serious leak occurred in the submarine's pipes and, knowing how vital it was to keep everything in full working order, it was a stressful time wondering whether they could stem the flow of ice cold water and make the necessary repairs.
They did so and some of the crew even managed to find time to make an impromptu dive beneath the ice, suitably suited to protect them from the minus 20 odd degrees Arctic sea! And on that chilly note, be warned, as I said at the beginning, it is an ice cold, but thoroughly absorbing read.,
September 13, 2014
The sub I was on (USS Queenfish) went to pole and did a marvelous job of mapping new territories, but it was the Skate and the Nautilus the paved the way. I wasn't on the Queenfish when it went to the pole, but I wish I would've been part of that history. I relive my days as a submariner and all the perils that go along with that and the brotherhood that exists,every time I read a book on submarines. This is a must read for all those that crave adventure.
November 24, 2025
Surface at the Pole: The Extraordinary Voyages of the USS Skate (1960) by James Calvert tells the story of trips by the nuclear submarine USS Skate under the North Pole in the late 1950s. Calvert was a submarine captain who had also served on submarines in WWII.
Calvert was recruited into the nuclear navy by Admiral Rickover. The Skate was the third US nuclear submarine. The Skate was the first submarine to surface at the North Pole. The book describes the skill of the crew in finding small openings in the ice and surfacing the Skate in them. Without modern computers the crew did an incredible job in finding these spots.
Calvert was also aware that the Australian Arctic explorer Hubert Wilkins had taken a submarine under the polar ice cap years earlier. But Wilkins had lacked a submarine like the Skate and could not explore far. Calvert actually meets Wilkins and writes about it in the book.
Surface at the Pole is well worth a read for anyone interested in the early days of the nuclear navy and polar exploration.
Calvert was recruited into the nuclear navy by Admiral Rickover. The Skate was the third US nuclear submarine. The Skate was the first submarine to surface at the North Pole. The book describes the skill of the crew in finding small openings in the ice and surfacing the Skate in them. Without modern computers the crew did an incredible job in finding these spots.
Calvert was also aware that the Australian Arctic explorer Hubert Wilkins had taken a submarine under the polar ice cap years earlier. But Wilkins had lacked a submarine like the Skate and could not explore far. Calvert actually meets Wilkins and writes about it in the book.
Surface at the Pole is well worth a read for anyone interested in the early days of the nuclear navy and polar exploration.
May 19, 2020
Really interesting narrative describing the under the ice exploration of the polar cap. Makes me glad I wasn't aboard!!! It brought claustrophobic thoughts!!!!!! Well written interesting and informative!!!
October 9, 2023
The one virtue that every man admires most is self control under all circumstances. My favorite quote from this book.
May 10, 2020
Undeterred
A voyage into a world completely unknown to most of mankind. The courage and tenacity they displayed should make all of us proud of those that serve our Country....
A voyage into a world completely unknown to most of mankind. The courage and tenacity they displayed should make all of us proud of those that serve our Country....
February 2, 2020
As a country and even as a world, our people have become used to the impossible. We sent men to the moon and a probe to take perfect photos of Pluto, for gosh sake.
But my grandparents remembered how excited they were and how their imaginations raced when people first reached the north and south poles on foot. And I’m old enough to recall the interest that was generated when Captain Calvert and his crew surfaced the Skate at the North Pole. Taking a submarine under the ice for weeks at a time seemed like quite an adventure.
Reading this book about that time rekindled my interest and excitement. And imagine, most people today don’t know about this feat, certainly don’t remember it happening, or wouldn’t care about it if they did. They’d rather get there adventure from comic books.
But my grandparents remembered how excited they were and how their imaginations raced when people first reached the north and south poles on foot. And I’m old enough to recall the interest that was generated when Captain Calvert and his crew surfaced the Skate at the North Pole. Taking a submarine under the ice for weeks at a time seemed like quite an adventure.
Reading this book about that time rekindled my interest and excitement. And imagine, most people today don’t know about this feat, certainly don’t remember it happening, or wouldn’t care about it if they did. They’d rather get there adventure from comic books.
February 16, 2020
Great information about the arctic the submarine and the people
The author made this history come alive. It wasn’t too technical but had enough to let you understand how a submarine functions. It told the story of the men and what they felt under the ice and how they felt with it. Great life lessons for anyone.
The author made this history come alive. It wasn’t too technical but had enough to let you understand how a submarine functions. It told the story of the men and what they felt under the ice and how they felt with it. Great life lessons for anyone.
February 11, 2020
A Great Adventure
Relive vicariously the emotions of fear and awe of the first men to travel under the attic ice by submarine to the North Pole as they learn new procedures and test unproven equipment.
Relive vicariously the emotions of fear and awe of the first men to travel under the attic ice by submarine to the North Pole as they learn new procedures and test unproven equipment.
February 16, 2020
Experiencing the Arctic vicariously.
Very informative and told in a very interesting and entertaining way. Very descriptive and felt like you were experiencing it all along with them.
Very informative and told in a very interesting and entertaining way. Very descriptive and felt like you were experiencing it all along with them.
February 21, 2020
Greatest read. !
This a super read about the experiences of a sub crew under polar ice with the best of experiences and the most frightening !!
This a super read about the experiences of a sub crew under polar ice with the best of experiences and the most frightening !!
August 9, 2020
This account of the Skate at the pole, captivated me and even when not reading it, I had constant thoughts of the incredible courage and determination of the captain and the crew who trusted in him and his judgement. Very well written, and informative as to the challenges of being under the polar ice, with few opportunities to surface. Truly an eye opener to the uninitiated in submarines and the constant peril they faced under the ice... As a former US Navy 'hard hat' diver, I well understand the underwater element, and the dangers there. Under the ice, is another world entirely. Hoorah Deep Sea.
July 13, 2020
An interesting memoir of one of the first nuclear submarines and its voyages under the Arctic ice. My favorite part was how the community that was living on a glacier started up a motor to help the Skate find the closest weak part in the ice where it could surface. I also learned the top part of a submarine is called a sail, which makes sense. Part military and part scientific history with a bit of exploration thrown in.
March 14, 2021
An interesting read by the commander of SSN Skate about what it was like to be the first to break through the ice on a submarine on top of the world. The book is a first hand account of two journeys to the north pole conducted by the crew of the Skate submarine in the late 1950s. There is a lot of knowledge you will gain about the Arctic after reading this engaging book.
March 22, 2020
Interesting, if not gripping. It was a valuable addition to the various polar accounts I've been reading, and interesting to hear of something a little more modern. Also rather fascinating to hear about a journey under the polar ice, rather than over.
September 3, 2020
Incredible account of a most glorious and dangerous expedition
An incredibly well written document that reads like a novel and keeps the reader engaged wanting to discover like the crew of the Skate did.
An incredibly well written document that reads like a novel and keeps the reader engaged wanting to discover like the crew of the Skate did.
February 13, 2021
Modern Arctic Adventure
I did not ever quite figure out the reasons for such a dangerous mission? Luck played a major role for their being able to return. This is a interesting book to read in a forgotten time period of America.
in
I did not ever quite figure out the reasons for such a dangerous mission? Luck played a major role for their being able to return. This is a interesting book to read in a forgotten time period of America.
in
March 10, 2021
Heros of the artic deep
Someone had to be first and Calvert and the crew of the Skate proved their metal! Cliff hanging thriller not to be outdone.. Best of the trio of sub reads so far.
Someone had to be first and Calvert and the crew of the Skate proved their metal! Cliff hanging thriller not to be outdone.. Best of the trio of sub reads so far.
April 22, 2022
The captain of the USS Skate, the second submarine to travel to the north pole, and the first one to surface through the ice tells the story of the 2 voyages that the submarine and it's crew took to the area.
April 19, 2020
This is a very interesting book with a lot off information about the polar region and also about submarines. The story kept me interested.
April 24, 2020
Outstanding
Outstanding book! I couldn't put it down. Clearly written and easy to follow. I felt like I was right there with them.
Outstanding book! I couldn't put it down. Clearly written and easy to follow. I felt like I was right there with them.
July 8, 2020
Excellent account and charmingly naive in the boyish America and alle she stands for is great 1950'es- way
August 12, 2020
Great historical account of the challenges faced by the crew of the USS Skate while attempting, and subsequently completing, surfacing a submarine at the North Pole in winter.
March 21, 2021
Nice read!
I really & truly did enjoy Calvert's tome on the State's Arctic adventures. It really did hold my interest. Nice job Jimbo!
I really & truly did enjoy Calvert's tome on the State's Arctic adventures. It really did hold my interest. Nice job Jimbo!
February 13, 2025
Great 1st hand account of the first submarine to surface at the north pole in winter (1959)
September 19, 2025
An excellent listen/read. This is one that will find itself on my shelf permanently.
February 24, 2024
A GOOD READ ON A SUB HEADING TO THE NORTH POLE UNDER THE ICE . IT IS WORTH THE TIME TO READ.
December 1, 2019
Great !
To the point and with no filling up in between with too much of personal or background stuff...real life adventure told in simple words
To the point and with no filling up in between with too much of personal or background stuff...real life adventure told in simple words
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews