Description: From 1958 to 1970 John Craven was Chief Scientist of the Navy's Special Projects Office. He shared management responsibility for the submarine-borne Polaris missile system, the backbone of America's nuclear deterrent during the Cold War. The nuclear-powered submarines that carried the Polaris missile succeeded in preserving the peace during some of the most dangerous years of the century, but there were many more harrowing episodes involving these subs than the public ever knew. The Silent War tells some riveting behind-the-scenes stories, among them:
-- How the Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered sub, which was crucial to the Polaris missile program, came within days or even hours of destruction due to unforeseen structural problems;
-- The real inside story on the Soviet sub that was the model for The Hunt for Red October -- and the astonishing discovery the Navy made when it learned the truth about the rogue sub's mission;
-- New details about the race against the Soviet Union to recover a hydrogen bomb from a B-52 bomber lying on the bottom of the Mediterranean off Spain;
-- The story of the KGB agent assigned full-time to spy on Craven.

This is an enthralling insider's account of the submarine service during the darkest days of the Cold War.

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