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On the Bottom

The Raising of the Submarine S-51

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About this listen

On September 25, 1925, the S-51 tragically sank to the ocean floor, and Edward Ellsberg was the man whose courage and determination brought it back

The sinking of the submarine S-51 was one of the greatest tragedies in American naval history. Due to a miscommunication and subsequent collision between the sub and a passing steamship on a September night, the S-51, including 33 of its crew of 36, sank to the ocean depths. The tragedy of the S-51 captivated the nation, and was a fixture in the pages of American newspapers. The story took on a whole new dimension when the navy decided to take over the salvage of the 1,000-ton behemoth from a civilian company.

Heading the crew tasked with this impossible feat was Edward Ellsberg, at the time a lieutenant commander. On the Bottom is Ellsberg's account of the successes and failures he and his men experienced as they attempted an astonishing feat of engineering and bravery: the first salvage of a submarine from the open ocean.

©1946 Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc. 20th Century Armed Forces Engineering Military Modern Naval Forces Submarine War
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A random choice on Audible's included selection and what a great tale. Many of the techniques of modern salvage developed here continue to be used today and just an amazing tale. Worth a listen What's even more remarkable is the salvage ship involved was moored on Battleship row in Pearl harbour during the '41 attack , damaged and survived went onto to do remarkable repair work throughout the Pacific campaign.

Brilliant derring do developing modern salvage.

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I'm not really into diving or much into military history. However, this was a really good account of the trials and tribulations faced when trying to recover the S-51 Submarine very the depths of it's resting place. Under water salvage isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but this task was undertaken nearly 100 years ago and is truly stunning account. Well worth a listen

Really good story

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I know nothing of the Navy, its practices, customs and awkward vernacular.

But I recognise heroic adventure.

Prior to WW1, a US submarine is sunk, a tragic accident and sits on the sea bottom, a mere 110 feet below the surface. 110 feet. Less than 40 metres. Think about that for a second. It's no distance at all.

But it may as well be the distance to the moon, such are the complexities involved in diving and working at that depth. The pressure, the cold and the pitch black ocean.

Despite setback after setback, the brave men spoken about here, fail to recognise when it's time to wrap up warm and go home. Their herousm is relentless.

Inventing new technology on the fly, our heroes labour under incredibly dangerous conditions, in order to bring their drowned comrades home.

Gripping, from start to finish.

Gripping

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I have had the hard back copy of this book in my collection for over 20 years only 10 years less than I have been diving and it's probably the best hard hat salvage story I have ever read and loses nothing as an audio book , true story real heroes with real skill and courage .

Best hard hat diving book ever

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As a sport diver that has regularly visited the depths these hard hat divers worked at, I was in awe at the conditions and complexity of their tasks and the duration of time they spent on site at times.
But for the 1920s this should be made into a film.

Fascinating and detailed.

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