I call this my "Manitowoc Bible". Why? First it was written by a Manitowoc Submarine Commander, secondly it covers the entire Manitowoc story in a single book from the beginnings of the shipyards, details of the consruction of the 28 submarines, transporting them from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, and their war records. I found that it had more "little known facts than I dreamed possible. For instance the first sub Peto had the cylinder liners and rod bearings on all four diesel engines replaced while enroute downstream. I never knew how many time the Peto and other subs were ran aground in the river. I never knew that all 28 subs were towed by the same Tug Boat the "Minnesota" and she was built in 1921 and almost sank on the first trip. I didn't know the tug pilots operated from memory, without any maps of the rivers. I never knew the floating drydock was beached on her first return trip ,and the bow modified by plates and other parts prefabricated at Manitowoc, and shipped by rail to a downstream location. I never knew the pieriscope and other structure parts that were removed for bridge clearances were hastily reinstalled before reaching New Orleans because of the German propaganda claim that one of their subs was successful going up the Miissisippi River for some distance and the peto had tobe prepared to fight if needed. I never knew that the subs discovered by accident the fact that radios continued to receive while submerged in Lake Michigan because of the fresh not salt water. Well that's only a few things in the book. Because it is so well written both submariners as well as others can understand the text. Also several nice photographs are included. Rontini lists the book, and it is offered by phone from the Wisconsin Maritime Museum gift shop (920) 684 0218
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