Torpedo Run

by Robb White

A damaged and drifting U.S. Navy PT boat, the Slewfoot, is off the coast of New Guinea during World War II. The new captain can only operate "by the book" which causes deep resentment and even mutiny, resulting in a test of wills.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, World War II, Historical Fiction, War, Military Fiction

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Robb White was partnered with gimmick horror film king William Castle during Castle's most popular and productive period. Born in the Philippines, White was a preacher's son who held a wide variety of jobs before landing in the Navy during World War II. He initially collaborated with Castle on the short-lived TV series "Men of Annapolis" (1957), then joined forces with the enterprising producer-director on the horror thrillers "Macabre" (1958), "House on Haunted Hill" (1959), "The Tingler" (1959), "Homicidal" (1961), and "13 Ghosts" (1960). He later went back to TV writing, including "Perry Mason" (1957), as well as novels.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book among a pile of readers digests in my grandparents bathroom back when I was about 14. I remember making frequent bathroom visits so I could keep reading, I just thought it was so exciting (I wasn't your average girl, apparently) and I read it at least twice.

I don't know how it would stand up to my more "developed" reading palate now but I have to give it four stars because it stood out in my mind all these years and from what I remember it really was a good story.

CONTENT: Clean

[Gregory Eakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

She was nameless, with only a number given to her by the Navy, but her crew called her Slewfoot.

Torpedo Run is the tale of the PT boat Slewfoot and her gutsy crew of sailors as they struggle to deal with the death of their captain and the hard nosed replacement captain that's green around the edges and more square than a pizza box. When the realities of war hit this new crew, a lot of learning happens between the old crew and the new captain.

I don't know how this obscure book isn't more famous. Sure, it might not have the literary depth of Steinbeck, or the teenage angst of Salinger, or the historical accuracy of Bernard Cornwell, but Robb White holds his own.

The plot is rather predictable, but it captures your attention, moving fast and not dwelling on anything. White's descriptions betray an impressive knowledge of naval technology, terminology, and experience, which helps to create the adventure's atmosphere while maintaining an economy of words.

This book is like a good bowl of mashed potatoes - simple, but deeply enjoyable.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the beloved Captain of a tight knit PT boat crew is killed, the crew expects their capable Lieutenant to be promoted. Instead, the Navy sends them a hard nosed, by the book, fresh from Officer's School Captain. Oh, and his role model is William Bligh. He doesn't seem to realize that it is the 1940s, and men can't be treated like they were in those crazy old days. Peter Brent hates the new Captain as much as any man, but when he sees the crew begin to fall apart, he needs to find a way to salvage the situation. And that may be supporting the man responsible for the problem in the first case. Lt. Peter Brent is about to know what being the captain is all about, regardless of what the Navy says.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine story of men-at-war on the floating bomb that is a Patrol Torpedo boat, although the men are barely more than boys made old before their years - it is established early on that the Captain is (or was) "an ancient twenty-one". However, he has been killed in action, and his replacement is a martinet fresh out of the Naval Academy whose by-the-rules-regime unravels the highly-strung crew, with the boat's Executive Officer trying to keep everyone together. White's spare prose has elements of humour and humanity in among the descriptions of combat and although aimed at younger readers it doesn't come across as such.

[Bill Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

decided to read it again. This was a quick read and the story still holds up well. The characters had great development and there was some good banter between them. I also apricated the limits of the technology of the day and the great struggle that the men went through. The result gave me a great sense of what it was like to be on a torpedo board in WWII. Overall this is a great read and I am glad that I read it again.

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robb White had the knack for making you feel the emotion of the characters in the story; of putting you into that tense situation he created and making it seem like you are right there with them. This time we are in a PT boat during WWII and we just got a green skipper straight out of Melville, Rhode Island.
A great read!

[J.C. Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun couple hour read. I found it in a library giveaway bin, brought it to a football game (it wasn't a good game), and finished it before the end. A nice little story about a WWII patrol boat that somehow gets your heart pumping as if you're there.

[Jack Mort · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "Secret Sea" by Robb White when I was in elementary school in the 1960's. I found this at a thrift store several years ago and read it tonight at one sitting. The book is fast paced and an easy read. I enjoyed reading a book by Mr. White for old time's sake.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good WW II yarn.

Robb white is one of my favorite authors.
This story took me back to the early days of the war in the Pacific.

[Keith Barros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. A good description of life on a PT Boat in WWII. The story line is a little cliched, but it's enjoyable.

[james chatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

Good action and kept you interested it had some twists but had a good ending if you like ww2 books this is a good read and it will keep your interest

[Katherine Gingrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language: 3/4 For sailors prinstine only three words in the entire book.
Drugs: 3/4 They are sailors, come on. There is alcohol and morphine.
Sex:0 All guys and Navy in WWII
Violence:2/4 Mutiny, battle violence

This book is about a PT boat in the Pacific during WWII. It is a really tight knit little floating community where the oldest was 21. The captain is the one who hold them all together, but the captain dies and instead of having the XO just take over the Navy insists on putting another guy in the captain's place. He come straight from the academy with a rulebook in hand determined to follow them all to the letter despite everything the crew has gone through or how they ran it under their old captain.

[David Despain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a special relationship with this novel. I believe it was one of the first longer novels I read growing up. Surprisingly, even now in 2018, I can still remember aspects of the plot. An intense, epic yet intimate WWII thriller, this is the tale of the crew of an American PT boat and it’s harrowing journey as it battles the Japanese Navy.

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this first in 5th grade and was amazed. It's still a fun, easy read. This was the first novel I ever read that really made me think about fiction and how it operates. It's probably not really a five-star book--but it is to me.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first novels I have ever read as a child. The story has always stuck in my head even after a 26 year naval career. Slewfoot!!

[George Kasnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in an accelerated reading program in the fifth grade and this was the first book I read in that program. Already an avid reader, this continued that trajectory.

[Robin Halvorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oldie but a goodie. Sorta like the Caine Mutiny without Captain Queeg.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during WWII on a PT boat in the Pacific. Scary at times and sad too to think that in reality out of 531 boats 99 were lost. The average age to join a PT boat (according to wikipedia) was 21.