This is a horrifying and fantastically well researched tale of the Cold War. While it primarily details how the Soviets secretly sank a US submarine in May 1968, it also ties in how the despicable and infamous spy John Walker was directly responsible for the capture of the USS Pueblo in January 1968 and the sinking of the USS Scorpion in May of the same year. This traitor continued to spy for the Soviets for almost 20 years until he was caught in 1985. He still feels he did no wrong. The Soviets claim (off the record) that the sinking of the Scorpion was in retaliation of the US sinking the Soviet sub K-129, which actually sank on its own, apparently while trying to launch a nuclear attack on Hawaii. (see "Red Star Rogue" for that horrific story. This is the sub that Howard Hughes raised with his ship, "Glomar Explorer")

Only some of this tale has been declassified, and the families have still not formally been told the real reason for the loss of the sub. Interestingly, Bob Ballard of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, famous for finding the Titanic, was also the one who verified the location of the sub and photographed the damage to it. He did this just prior to finding the Titanic. In fact, the Titanic mission was a *cover story* for finding the Scorpion! Turns out ol' Bob had been working for the CIA for a couple decades!

According to the book, because President Johnson didn't take any action against the North Koreans for capturing the Pueblo (a blatant act of war), he knew the public would insist on military action if it was revealed that the Soviets attacked & sank one of our subs. At the same time, if the public found that a rogue element of the Soviet Union had tried to launch nuclear missiles at Hawaii just 2 months before the Scorpion sinking, then all-out war would be unavoidable. It was decided by both governments to pretend that neither event ever happened!

I've also read "Red Star Rogue" and definitely recommend that incredible and also horrifying story. People think the Cuban Missile Crisis was perhaps the closest we got to actual war during the Cold War. Not even close. It appears that the K-129 actually *launched* a nuclear missile. We have no idea what caused it to detonate while still in the tube, sinking the sub, but it's the greatest stroke of luck the USA has ever had. I'd also recommend "Blind's Man Bluff" for more on submarines during the Cold War.

As a former Cold War Submariner, I have some pretty good background on submarines and their operations. My submarine service and familiarity with 'the boats' is what piqued my interest in this book.

This book simply makes too many leaps of faith to be considered seriously. I note that some other reviews have stated that this book was "well researched"... and yet my copy of the book contains no bibliography. Have other readers of this book noticed this rather glaring omission, or is my copy the only one with the bibliography left out?

There are too many shadowy characters in this book as far as I am concerned. Most notably for me, the supposed two sailors that were said to have been on another submarine operating in that same area (that's pretty curious!) and yet they took no note or interest in an underwater explosion? And the shadowy characters get even more shadowy when the reader is told that the sailors are told to keep quiet 'or else'? This is the stuff of fiction/action dramas - more along the lines of 'Red October' (movie version) if you ask me.

As a former submariner, I couldn't possibly recommend this book as a serious look at what may have happened to USS Scorpion. There are just too many leaps of faith to be very credible.

This book simply does not add a single item of fact about this incident that has been reported in numerous other accounts. It was a most frustrating "read". I really do not like books that speculate on what those in the story "might have done", or, "most likely would have done" etc. I do not understand the reason this book was written, other than to make money for the authors, due to the very valid and ongoing interest in this most curious incident. Waste of time.

i did not find this book credible. he has some hearsay type evidence from interviews or from someone who overheard something. the attack from the helicopter is basically a theory. if he had a credible living witness that would back his theory it might be different.

there are many things that can go wrong on a submarine and it looks like the crew had some time to don a life vest. i would suggest flooding in the forward torpedo room would be more plausible (possibly the Mk 37 theory).
i would suggest that the navy release the photos of the torpedo room (edit out any classified gauges,etc.

Incredible story of submarines and spies. A hugely interesting book on the things we never knew about the Cold War. G. Gordon Liddy might not be right about everything (I suppose) . . . but the G Man sure told it straight when it came to this one!

I lived just outside Norfolk in 1968 when Scorpion was lost. I got married a couple of years later and left the area, but will NEVER forget how it affected our community. This book describes things exactly as they happened. It was like going back in a time machine.

Finally the Scorpion story has been told. I only wish I could change the outcome.

The book is full of factual errors. It is just made up. I remember the day the Scorpion went down just before the Guardfish (SSN-612) was going on a westpac cruise. I lived the submarine life for six years. This book just isn't realistic at all.

The nuclear attack submarine USS Scorpion was lost in 1968. There were no survivors. Reconstructing its tragic demise must have been a monumental task.

According to the book's endnotes the authors use numerous primary avenues of research to reconstruct its interception and sinking. These include (in no particular order) several thousand pages of declassified Navy and intelligence documents; newspaper and magazine archives; first-ever access to the spy John Walker Jr.'s unpublished prison manuscripts; unprecedented interviews with Walker's recent prison contacts; interviews with a former friend and shipmate of Walker who was a government witness at his trial; academic papers and published books; material obtained from journalists Peter Earley and retired Navy captain and diplomatic envoy Peter Huchthausen; translated Russian materials; unprecedented interviews with a retired Soviet rear admiral linked to both the Scorpion and K-129 incidents; interviews with former Soviet captains; the public statements of at least two American admirals; an interview with a retired Orion VP commander; interviews with Orion pilots including one who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with submariners who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with sailors aboard the surface vessels who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with Navy personnel who manned the phone banks aboard Scorpion's tender when the submarine was declared missing; an interview with a former submarine squadron commander; the statements of the warrant officer who received Scorpion's final transmission; the statements of the warrant officer's wife; the statements of a Navy communications specialist who transmitted Scorpion's final messages from Greece to fleet headquarters; interviews with the Navy's Chief Scientist who led the search for Scorpion's wreckage and headed the investigation into its loss; comprehensive interviews with a Trieste and Alvin pilot who conducted covert missions on behalf of the Navy including dives to the Thresher wreck; and the thorough examination of Scorpion's declassified wreckage photos.

Also noted is an extensive list of former Scorpion and Skipjack-class crewmen including a former Chief Petty Officer and torpedoman who was on Scorpion's commissioning crew; a former executive officer aboard Scorpion; as well as Scorpion sailors whose tours on the boat ended shortly before its final deployment, provided comprehensive information about routine operational procedures aboard the submarine and Scorpion's intelligence-gathering missions, and attested to its high level of maintenance and performance. One of them publicly stated his belief that Scorpion was struck by a torpedo on a recent National Geographic documentary.

This just barely touches upon the credited sources listed and explained in the notes of All Hands Down. There are dozens and dozens more, the majority of them identified by name, a few kept anonymous for reasons explained in the notes. I took the time to list only some of those whose information is said to relate to Scorpion's sinking. There are many, many others who provided historical and personal details.

The group that has coordinated its negative "reviews" to try and label this book fiction either has no concept of what constitutes a high journalistic/historical threshold of accuracy and credibility, has a collectively marginal degree of literacy that precludes familiarity with narrative historical writing, or is being intentionally dishonest and is trying to dupe the public simply because they disagree with the findings of All Hands Down. The only fiction here is that this group has any interest in selling anything but its own particular agenda--and that does not include an honest reading or evaluation of the book.

I wish to state for the record that I exchanged correspondences about All Hands Down with its authors at length after reading the book.

The nuclear attack submarine USS Scorpion was lost in 1968. There were no survivors. Reconstructing its tragic demise must have been a monumental task.

According to the book's endnotes the authors use numerous primary avenues of research to reconstruct its interception and sinking. These include (in no particular order) several thousand pages of declassified Navy and intelligence documents; newspaper and magazine archives; the spy John Walker Jr.'s unpublished prison manuscripts; interviews with one of Walker's prison contacts; interviews with a former friend and shipmate of Walker who was a government witness at his trial; academic papers and published books; material obtained from journalists Peter Earley and retired Navy captain and diplomatic envoy Peter Huchthausen; translated Russian materials; interviews with a retired Soviet flag officer; interviews with former Soviet captains; the public statements of at least two American admirals; an interview with a retired Orion VP commander; interviews with Orion pilots including one who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with submariners who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with sailors aboard the surface vessels who participated in the search for Scorpion; interviews with Navy personnel who manned the phone banks aboard Scorpion's tender when the submarine was declared missing; an interview with a former submarine squadron commander; the statements of the warrant officer who received Scorpion's final transmission; the statements of the warrant officer's wife; the statements of a Navy communications specialist who transmitted Scorpion's final messages from Greece to fleet headquarters; interviews with the Navy's Chief Scientist who led the search for Scorpion's wreckage and headed the investigation into its loss; interviews with a Trieste and Alvin pilot who conducted covert missions on behalf of the Navy; and the examination of Scorpion's declassified wreckage photos.

Also noted is an extensive list of former Scorpion and Skipjack-class crewmen including a former Chief Petty Officer and torpedoman who was on Scorpion's commissioning crew; a former executive officer aboard Scorpion; as well as Scorpion sailors whose tours on the boat ended shortly before its final deployment, provided comprehensive information about routine operational procedures aboard the submarine and Scorpion's intelligence-gathering missions, and attested to its high level of maintenance and performance. One of them publicly stated his belief that Scorpion was struck by a torpedo on a recent National Geographic documentary.

This just barely touches upon the credited sources listed and explained in the notes of All Hands Down. There are dozens and dozens more. I took the time to list only some of those whose information is said to relate to Scorpion's sinking. There are many, many others who provided historical and personal details.

The group that has coordinated its negative "reviews" to try and label this book fiction either has no concept of what constitutes a high journalistic/historical threshold of accuracy and credibility, has a collectively marginal degree of literacy that precludes familiarity with narrative historical writing, or is being intentionally dishonest and is trying to dupe the public simply because they disagree with the findings of All Hands Down. The only fiction being sold is that this group represents anyone but its own particular agenda--and that does not include anything remotely like an honest reading or evaluation of the book.

I wish to state for the record that I exchanged correspondences about All Hands Down with its authors at length after reading the book.

This book was one of two summer reading picks at my library that interested me. But it was never in so I finally decided to buy it. I'm glad I did.

All Hands Down is an exciting look a submarine incident from the nineteen-sixties. The authors use ordinary English to show landlubbers like me how the Scorpion was sunk and recreate its last moments. The description of the search efforts was excellent. The book tells about the search and rescue effort of trying to find Scorpion. Sailors rushed off on ships in the middle of the night from all over the country. We see it as it happened and the pace is thrilling. The notes in back are written almost in the style of the main story and I recommend everyone take the time to read them. They are very informative and explain the puzzle of what happened.

I also recommend "The Coldest Winter" by David Halberstam. Odd name for another summer pick! But these two books will keep you reading.

A very entertaining novel that has been mislabeled "nonfiction." Sewell is a good writer so the book is a good read but the conclusions are pure fiction and cannot be substantiated. Sewell is a nuclear trained submariner who spent most of his time aft and not directly associated with submarine operations. That becomes obvious to a qualified submariner. There was no attack by the Soviets on the Scorpion just as conclusions drawn in his previous book about the K-129 are erroneous.

The story about the submarine, and more important, the crew and their families is very good. It provides good insight into modern submarine life and the stress on families of submariners.

Robert Harmuth

Bought this among a bunch of other books for a long Amtrack ride. Very interesting, lots I didn't know about submarine missions. It would have been helpful to have a map to orient me.

After reading this book in its entirety, I found several of the technical aspects presented to be completely inaccurate. It is very clear that the author did not do his research into the technical aspects of submarine construction and operations. Further, the author demonstrates a profound weakness in his understanding of the dynamics of underwater physics.
The only items that I found to be even remotely interesting were the preface and discussions about the lives of some of the crew.
Regarding the main theme of this book: It is an interesting read of fiction and should be reclassified as such.
There is no reliable source of evidence presented in this book that validates the assertion that the Soviets sank the Scorpion.
Overall, I found this book to be a very disappointing read and would not recommend it for those who are interested in Naval history and specifically, learning about what happened to this submarine and her crew.

I had not intended to write a review of All Hands Down, however much I enjoyed it--which was immensely. I do not consider myself a qualified book reviewer. I am, however, well versed in the technical aspects of surface vessel and submarine construction. And I can attest that the technical elements of All Hands Down are highly well-researched.

To be honest, as another reader (and better reviewer than I) said, I consider myself an agnostic in the argument between those who believe Scorpion was attacked by the Soviets and those who believe the cause of the sinking is unknown.

But the tactics of a small group of Internet chat room members (see Robert Steele's review of Ed Offley's "Scorpion Down" to see what they put him through) who have entered this forum representing themselves as "book reviewers" is deplorable.

Read All Hands Down and make up your own mind. Or, like me, continue to ponder. Either way, you will enjoy the book and appreciate its authoritativeness. It is thoroughly engaging and journalistically sound.

All Hands Down is an an amazing book that tells what it was like to be a Cold War submariner better than any I've ever read--and I know about men and submarines. I grew up around subs, and still remember the days our family spent waiting for my dad to come home. This book brought back the mixed concern and anticipation that would start with a look in my mother's eyes, and spread to all of us, as we counted down the days till his boat was expected in.

Good books for me create a kind of magic. They transport us into other people's lives, take us to the places they know, make us feel their emotions. All Hands Down did just that, except in my case it was like a time machine bringing me back to a place I'd grown up in. It made me remember the heroism of our submariners. Melancholy without ever being melodramatic, it told the story of our proud submarine sailors and the uncounted wives and children who would wait, and hope, for their return from mysterious voyages. In the case of Scorpion's crew, they did not. Between the original secrecy surrounding the submarine's disappearance, and confusing media accounts that ought to have tried a little harder to research their subject matter, the story of the events that took them from their families was nearly lost.

I am grateful the authors of this book found it.

All Hands Down is a tale of courage and heart. Whether you have an interest in submarines, or just in a well-researched book of men and the sea, I heartily recommend it.

This book makes me very sad. I served on the USS Scorpion SSN-589 from 1962 through 1964 as a fwd Electronics Tech. The Scorpion was the first submarine I had served on. About one third of the crew that was lost were my former crewmates. We had tense times together on northern patrols and had fun together on a quick shore leave in Bermuda.

The title makes me most upset. If they had used the word Theory instead of True then it might have been ok. There are too many facts that are incorrect to even come close to making this theory believable. The helicopter attack is wrong by many factual accounts. Namely the helicopter could not carry the two torpedoes mentioned.

On June 2 the National Geographic Channel presented Titanic: The Final Secret. The videos that were shown and Dr. Ballards comments strongly disproves the torpedo theory and supports the implosion caused by some unknown internal problem.

There is no physical evidence of a torpedo attack. There is a lot of physical evidence of implosion. The best comparison is that of the RMS Titanic. She was hit by an iceberg and ripped a hole in her side. She then filled up with water and sank. Now we see the pretty pictures of the Titanic sitting on the bottom.

In the case of the USS Scorpion we see pictures that can only be explained by an implosion. Something caused the USS Scorpion to go below its crush depth and implode. NO ONE knows exactly what happen.

The author Kenneth Sewell claims to be a "nuclear engineer". In fact he was a machinist mate which is akin to being an auto mechanic. Jerome Priestley claims to write fiction for Tom Clancy. He continues to write fiction and not the truth.

Please do not feed these people with your money or time.

This amazing book tells what it was like to be a Cold War submariner better than any I've ever read--and I know about men and submarines. I grew up around subs, and still remember the days our family spent waiting for my dad to come home. All Hands Down brought back the mixed concern and anticipation that would start with a look in my mother's eyes, and spread to all of us, as we counted down the days till his boat was expected in.

Good books for me create a kind of magic. They transport us into other people's lives, take us to the places they know, make us feel their emotions. All Hands Down did just that, except in my case it was like a time machine bringing me back to a place I'd grown up in. It made me remember the heroism of our submariners. Melancholy without ever being melodramatic, it told the story of our proud submarine sailors and the uncounted wives and children who would wait, and hope, for their return from mysterious voyages. In the case of Scorpion's crew, they did not. Between the original secrecy surrounding the submarine's disappearance, and confusing media accounts that ought to have tried a little harder to research their subject matter, the story of the events that took them from their families was nearly lost.

I am grateful the authors of this book found it.

All Hands Down is a tale of courage and heart. Whether you have an interest in submarines, or just in a well-researched book of men and the sea, I heartily recommend it.

I enjoyed this book, which was well written. Unfortunately, I am skeptical about the conclusion. I then realized why I enjoyed it - it reminded me of the film "Ice Station Zebra" (based on an Alistair MacLean novel) that was released in 1968, the year the Scorpion sank. In "Ice Station Zebra," Ernest Borgnine plays a Soviet double agent who tries to sabotage the submarine USS Tigerfish so the Russians can win the race to recover a capsule containing film from an orbiting spy camera. Watch the movie Ice Station Zebra for insight into 1968 technology, then realize how far-fetched the conclusion in "All Hands Down" is. ODD HOW THIS REVIEW GOT THE FIRST NEGATIVE COMMENT (Not helpful) WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF ME POSTING IT ......

Who in their right mind can make up a story that an act of war has been covered up for forty years?? Where does this lunacy come from?? Are the publishers of this 'tale' insane to subtitle a work of fiction as "The TRUE story of the Soviet attack...." Is this just a ploy to get a movie deal?? There is nothing plausible, believable or remotely even possible for this story line. There is not one shred of evidence anywhere in the book that can even suggest that the story is real. Perhaps the authors only desire was to dance, spit and urinate on the watery grave of 99 submariners. They have done good job, if that was their goal. The silliest matter of this farce is to suggest that either the Soviets or the Americans were capable of participating in such a secret coverup for forty years. Perhaps even more unbelievable is that the two authors were the only people in the world who could uncover it!!! (How did they do this and miss the holy grail and the fountain of youth??) This is just nuts. We can forget the fact that there is no physical evidence at the wreck site to even suggest torpedo involvement. But why let details get in the way of a creative writing experiment. King Neptune will send the authors to Davy Jone's Locker for enternity as rightful punishment for suggesting this 'sea story' is true.

Wow - hijacked ships, threatened nuclear destruction, spies, revenge and closure. Hollywood needs to make this book into a movie! All Hands Down sets us on a course of events leading to the ultimate destruction of the Fast Attack Submarine - the USS Scorpion. It was hot and heavy times with all the branches of our military in regards to Communist forces around the globe. We had Vietnam, Africa and the High Seas to name just a few. The best analogy is to think of two basketball teams under the basket going after a loose ball. The scrambling, the bumping, elbows flying - it all goes on, and this went on for years with no referees. And that has led us to the story of the demise of the Scorpion.
Ken and Jerome have been meticulous in their research and attention to detail. Read the book and make your own decision. The conclusions ring right with me. I commend Ken and Jerome on the caring and sensitivity shown to the crew's families. Well Done!

Wow - hijacked ships, threatened nuclear destruction, spies, revenge and closure. Hollywood needs to make this book into a movie! All Hands Down sets us on a course of events leading to the ultimate destruction of the Fast Attack Submarine - the USS Scorpion. It was hot and heavy times with all the branches of our military with regards to Communist forces around the globe. We had Vietnam, Africa and the High Seas to name just a few. The best analogy is to think of two basketball teams under the basket going after a loose ball. The scrambling, the bumping, elbows flying - it all goes on, and this went on for years with no referees. And that has led us to the story of the demise of the Scorpion.
Ken and Jerome have been meticulous in their research and attention to detail. I commend Ken and Jerome on the caring and sensitivity shown to the crew's families. Well Done!

I went on line to buy a copy of this book for my father, Father's day is coming up soon. He served in the Navy. In general, I like to keep things simple, so; I really enjoyed reading this book. My wife saw it and bought it for me. She's knows what I like. She's also a good woman and I think I'll keep her!

The best part was when they talked about the crew. I wish I could have known Captain Slattery, Chief Bishop, Mazzuchi, Pospisil, Foli and all the other guys who were lost. They were good men and deserve to be honored. We are free today because of men like this. God bless every one of them.

As a former Cold War submariner (USS Atlanta SSN-712) I appreciate the author's amazing attention to detail and focus on the ordinary sailor's point of view. Too many military books are limited to strategic topics and the views and decisions of high-ranking officers. Sewell wisely tells his story with a balance between the officers, the bluejackets who operate the sub and their families on shore.

I was a nuke MM2(SS) at sea 1983-87. Does this book acurately portray life aboard a sub? Sort of. Sewell does tend to idealize the life and attitudes of the guys on board. Everyone seems to be a 4.0 sailor who loves the Navy and is highly regarded by their peers. This is unrealistic (and to me, a bit annoying) but perhaps understandable given the central subject matter. At least when I was in the sub service, 80-percent of the crew (including the officers) couldn't wait for the day they would never again have to seal themselves into a big, smelly sewer pipe with 100 other guys. Someone should write a sub book explaining some of the nasty stuff that the public doesn't know, such as venting sanitary tanks inboard, field days, ORSE drills, boat stink, radiation spills, Bluenose hazing, sleeping on watch, bilge diving, sonar girls getting too much liberty, and incompetence (we ran smack into the rocky bottom of Gibraltar due to a navigation oversight).

I really liked this book, it's the most well written book I've read in a long time, just the right amount of (understandable) "teck-stuff", but the book reads like a novel, only the story is backed with hard facts and evidence.

I'm buying three more books for Father's day; hope Dad and the grandpa's don't read books reviews.

I did notice that a few guys really hate this book. I want to thank them. Their personal attacks actually caught my attention...thanks guys. I check out some of their claims, none of them offered any evidence, other than "take my word for it." I also checked their other reviews. What a bunch of hate mongers! They don't like anybody!

This book is well written, a great read and exciting, but it is not a true story. There are many gross errors, embellishments and parts that were fabricated. Most of the reading public wouldn't catch these, I'm a retired Navy Captain that had nuclear submarine command. I also reviewed the last two books on Scorpion, Silent Steel and Scorpion Down for the Naval Institute's magazine Proceedings. The following is a list of some on the really obvious errors:
1. Calling a student at the Naval Academy a Cadet instead of a Midshipman, a really stupid mistake for supposedly a well researched book.
2. Calling the Puffer a ballistic missile submarine when it is an attack submarine. It would take on a few minutes to check that fact.
3. The authors give a Soviet Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) helo in 1968 more capabilities than a modern US ASW helo has. The pick the wrong ASW torpedo it would carry.
4. The author's mix up Ultra High Frequency and High Frequency communications and radio encryption and decryption. The have no understanding of submarine to shore or submarine broadcast communications.
5. The procedures for the submarine rising to communications depth are wrong, significantly wrong. The same for a Mk 37 torpedo "hot run" in a torpedo tube.
This is just a few of many errors. The book is a good read, but they need more than double, super secret sources to make their case. They need to do proper research.

I read the reviews, was intrigued by the controversy and bought the book.

If the critics wanted to keep me from buying All Hands Down, well, they failed. This book consists of verifiable information taken from a variety of official and credible sources, including the US Navy's Board of Inquiry into the loss of the USS Scorpion.

In the short period that I've been on this earth, I've heard people claim that the moon landings were faked, that George Bush destroyed the World Trade Center on 9/11. There will always be people who will try to force their opinions on you. They try to talk a good game, but in the end, they have no verifiable facts to support the theories, just a lot of, "This guy said this!"

I'm reminded of an old saying; "The cynic doesn't believe anything others say, but he expects you to believe him"

Read the book; make up your own mind. It's worth the time.

I will never forget being out on patrol in 1968 and having an officer tell me that the USS Scorpion had been attacked and sunk.

I am not an expert on submarine construction, like some of the people leaving reviews pretend to be. But I do know that what they're saying contradicts the Navy's official investigation into the Scorpion incident. According to the U.S. Navy, Scorpion didn't implode. At least not before there was an explosion in its forward section. The only thing that's even debatable is what caused that explosion . . . and I can still hear that officer's voice in my memory.

"Attacked and sunk."

ALL HANDS DOWN brought chills to my bones as I relived the weeks following Scorpion's disappearance. It was like it was forty years ago all over again.

A compelling, thoroughly researched historical narrative of the highest caliber. Though ALL HANDS DOWN reads with a novelist's flair and insight, and has a shocking hypothesis -- that the Soviet Navy was responsible for the sinking of the USS Scorpion in May of 1968 -- this thoroughly researched book contains an overwhelming preponderance of evidence to make its point, and there are extensive endnotes for those who wish to pursue matters further (as I have). All in all a powerful, compelling read that sheds light on a mystery that endured for four decades, and should bring some measure of closure to the many surviving family members who contributed to the book.

------------------

Reading this book was a visceral experience. As other reviewers have stated, it made me feel as if I was reliving the events that led to Scorpion's destruction. All along, I kept wishing the tragic outcome was not a foregone conclusion, even as the narrative led inexorably--and yes, excitingly--toward that outcome. The stories of the families brought me close to tears, just as learning the full extent of the treason committed by John Walker Jr. filled me with rage.



As one of the Soviet admirals quoted in the book states, "The Cold War was a real war." It had real heroes, real villains, real battles . . . and sadly real casualties. ALL HANDS DOWN brings them all to life in dramatic fashion.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reviewing all possible information on the loss of the Scorpion. The book does a wonderful job of mixing technical data and the stories of our brothers that were lost in this tragedy. I have never been totally comfortable with the "official" explaination, but as this was also only a theory based on piecing together information, we will never be able to all agree on a final cause. Ken's research is very detailed, and when mixed with information presented at the Court of Inquiry. My recommendation is to read the book and make up your own mind as to the validity of the theory.

In my opinion the best part of the book is the telling of the stories, the men, women and families involved. I have read the responses from the family members, and if nothing else, this book has helped them to some extent gain some closure. I feel like I knew these men, and in some sense I did as a cold war submariner. I think that Sewell/Preisler paint a picture of these gallant men's lives that even a non-submariner can appreciate.

As and educated person and submarine veteran, I read the book with an open mind. Personal attacks on the author should be red flag to anyone reading reviews.

ALL HANDS DOWN is being savaged by a small but devoted group of men interested in downplaying the threat posed by the Soviet Union in the past and Russia in the future. Some of these men are retired Naval officers who sit around sipping cocktails with the counterparts from the Soviet navy and bemoaning their wounded feelings.

It's a shame that they can't muster equal sympathy for the 99 men aboard Scorpion who were murdered by the Soviets in 1968.

Besides being a page-turner that's impossible to put down, ALL HANDS DOWN is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Cold War history. Its reconstruction of the taking of the USS Pueblo, and insights into the John Walker Jr. spy case, are fascinating.

The Soviets have publicly boasted they could have won World War III based on the information Walker gave them about our submarine force. Sewell and Preisler are the first authors ever to present information about Walker's current prison status, his two unpublished manuscripts, and his imminent release . . . after which he will be entitled to live off his Navy pension.

I barely remembered news of the Scorpion's loss in 1968. I happened upon this book by chance and figured it was worth the effort: it was and it wasn't. I have since learned that there is a veritable cottage industry surrounding the Scorpion. Did it sink because of an accident? Or as the result of a Soviet attack? Did the Soviet sub K-129, sunk earlier in the year, plan a rogue nuclear attack on Pearl Harbor? Did the US Navy sink the K-129 and the Soviets take their revenge on the Scorpion?

Like the arguments about the Kennedy assination, lone gunmen, magic bullets and the grassy knoll, it is likely that arguments about the Scorpion's sinking will go on for a long time to come without resolution.

"All Hands Down" is a well written. Much of the narrative has to do with the crew of the Scorpion, their lives, families and imagined life on the submarine. A large part of the story is given to the North Korean seizure of the USS Pueblo and the spying of the Walker family. These latter events play a big and equally speculative role in "All Hands Down".

In fact, the careful reader will note that the authors engage in a lot of speculation to support their claims and, therein, rests the ultimate weakness of "All Hands Down". While others herald this book as conclusively proving the Scorpion was deliberately sunk by the Soviets, others denigrate it as a fanciful tale woven to make a few bucks.

I officially declare myself agnostic in the battle between believers and non-belivers.

In terms of a book about the lives of submarinersa and their vital role during the Cold War, "All Hands Down" is top notch. The professionalism and dedication of the Scorpion's crew, no matter the cause of their demise, is well told here and reflects the patriotism of all American submariners who haved served the United States so well.

Read "All Hands Down" for that reason and accept the mystery of the Scorpion as secondary to this tale of submarining.

Jerry

A compelling, thoroughly researched historical narrative of the highest caliber. Though ALL HANDS DOWN reads with a novelist's flair and insight, and has a shocking hypothesis -- that the Soviet Navy was responsible for the sinking of the USS Scorpion in May of 1968 -- this thoroughly researched book contains an overwhelming preponderance of evidence to make its point, and there are extensive endnotes for those who wish to pursue matters further (as I have). All in all a powerful, compelling read that sheds light on a mystery that endured for four decades, and should bring some measure of closure to the many surviving family members who contributed to the book.

I read ALL HANDS DOWN at the suggestion of a friend who was familiar with the story of the U.S.S. Scorpion and thought that I would find the book interesting. Did I ever! ALL HANDS DOWN is highly engrossing and completely believable. The book's central theory--that the Soviets were behind the sinking of the Scorpion--is laid out in a very clear and convincing manner. Kudos to authors Kenneth Sewell and Jerome Preisler for presenting this true story in such a dramatic and powerful manner.

The only factual information I gleaned from "All Hands Down" was from the interviews with the family members and friends of the Scorpion crew. The real "facts" pictures and documentation surrounding the Scorpion's demise essentially illiminate any type of torpedo explosion either their own or someone elses. The "bite" out of the sail the authors describe as evidence is actually where the main induction valve and snorkel were attached. A large induction pipe lead from there beneath the turtle back to the AMS where the emergency diesel was located. When the sail was ripped off by the implosion the welds and attachments for the main induction, snorkel base ripped the area away from the sail.

The Hormone helo of that era had a very limited ASW capability beyond line of site of the ship. At 250 miles it would have had to be above 30,000 feet (well above its operational ceiling) to effectively communicated with the ship. Even assuming the helo knew the exact location of Scorpion at lift off, 589 could have been anywhere within a > than 2400 Sq mile area once the helo got to the "known" position.

As a Tactical Action Officer in the mid seventies I would not even have considered prosecuting a submarine at 250 miles with our deployed Helo assets, Thats why we had fixed wing assets (S3 Viking and land based P3. And this was in 1968!!!!

Although I was a Scorpion crew member (63'-65') functioning as a Reactor Operator I never considered myself then or now as a "Nuclear Engineer". In fact none of the Officers whom I served with had degrees in Nuclear Engineering but many had engineering degrees. We were all nuclear trained operators and maintainers. Additionally although we stood training watches "up front" while qualifying for our Dolphins few enlisted nucs(E4-E6)had the time to function in any "operational" capacity forward of the reactor compartment. I wonder where Mr. Sewell found the time to become so expertise in submarine operations and deployment. I also wondered this after readinf Red Star Rouge.

On page 263 the authors state that prior to being attacked "Scorpion had reported to SUBANT headquarters,giving her exact location and ETA to target (the Russian flotilla near the Canaries)" The fact is that the Scorpion transmitted several messsages long after they had completed their surveillance mission.The transmissions were completed around 3AM GMT 22 May. The Scorpion imploded at 6:22 PM GMT 22 May some 15 hours after that transmission. At a transit speed of 18 to 22 Kts this would place the Scorpion more between 270-330 miles from the position they conducted the communication. The Hormone would have had to Dead Recon not only where the Scorpion was located but also there inroute navigation to a spot within 1/4 mile of Scorpion's location. I think the probability of that occuring is astronomical.

Other than the family interviews and background data on the crew I found very little to believe in the rest of the book

From Page One of this book I was taken into a world few people enter. The opening segment puts me 11,000 feet underwater where I see the wreckage of Scorpion as viewed by the crew of a deepwater submersible craft.
Then I'm back in 1968--on the USS Pueblo as it's taken captive by North Korea, and then into the dark life of the worst traitor in U.S. history. Next I am introduced to members of Scorpion's crew, where I come to experience the world of a submariner on spy missions in Soviet waters and elsewhere. Sadly, I am later taken onto the rainy pier where the ship's family members waited in vain for their loved ones forty years ago. In the end, I am taken into the heart of a historic mystery.

I won't give away the end, but want to say that I had only a marginal interest in the subject before hearing the authors on the radio, and am glad I picked it up. It is a superb, mesmerizing read--a perfect combination of research and novel-like storytelling.

From Page One of this book I was taken into a world few people enter. The opening segment puts me 11,000 feet underwater where I see the wreckage of Scorpion as viewed by the crew of a deepwater submersible craft.
Then I'm back in 1968--on the USS Pueblo as it's taken captive by North Korea, and then into the dark life of the worst traitor in U.S. history. Next I am introduced to members of Scorpion's crew, where I come to experience the world of a submariner on spy missions in Soviet waters and elsewhere. Sadly, I am later taken onto the rainy pier where the ship's family members waited in vain for their loved ones forty years ago. In the end, I am taken into the heart of a historic mystery.

I won't give away the end, but want to say that I had only a marginal interest in the subject when I bought this book, but am glad I listened to a friend that insisted I pick it up. It is a superb, mesmerizing read--a perfect combination of research and novel-like storytelling.

From Page One of this book I was taken into a world few people enter. The opening segment brought me almost 11,000 feet underwater to the wreckage of Scorpion as seen by the crew of the deepwater submersible Alvin.
Then I'm back in 1968--pulled aboard the USS Pueblo as it's taken captive by North Korea, and then into the dark life of the worst traitor in U.S. history. Next I am introduced to members of Scorpion's crew, where I come to experience the world of a submariner on spy missions in Soviet waters and elsewhere. Sadly, I am later brought onto the rainy pier where the ship's family members waited in vain for their loved ones forty years ago. In the end, I am taken into the heart of a historic mystery.

I won't give away the end, but want to say that I had only a marginal interest in the subject when I bought this book, but am glad I listened to a friend that insisted I pick it up. It is a superb, mesmerizing read--a perfect combination of research and novel-like storytelling.

First off, if you are going to believe someone who writes something you have to believe what the person says about themselves. Several people I know and converse with on a regular basis have asked Mr. Sewell to let us know how, as an enlisted Machinist mate, he was able to become a Nuclear Engineer while in the Navy. None of us who spent longer time than Mr. Sewell were able to do so and we don't claim to be one.
Did he think somehow that saying so would sell more books. I have read his biography online and it contains nothing about college education, merely stating he was on a submarine for 5 to 8 years depending on which review you read.
So, with that in mind, I looked at what was written very carefully. As usual with fiction books of this type, there are numerous errors that made it obvious neither of the authors had been on a 585 class boat, but that is fine, it is the story that they are trying to sell about what happened to the Scorpion that makes no sense.
There are numerous pictures available to the public of the hull and how it is resting and what happened to it, plus there is much acoustic evidence that has been published, that put together show that what happened here to cause the major damage to the boat was an implosion, not a torpedo. At 2000 feet, the middle part of the boat imploded, causing the ER to end up in the AMS. There is no hole in the boat that would cause anyone to think that a torpedo hit it. I won't even waste time on the story that was put together to show how a torpedo was launched, nor waste time asking where is the acoustic evidence to show a torpedo hit. Those type of tales are similar to the fiction in Red Star Rogue that Mr. Sewell wrote, that had the Russian submarine far far away from where it actually is known to be.
I guess if you wanted to read fiction, you can say it is better written that some of the other fiction about the Scorpion, but sorry, it is not the truth. Many of the facts about how the boat operated and what the crew were like were not accurate either, but the main thing is there was no torpedo hit. The Russians did not sink it.
I spent 2 1/2 years on the Scorpion; also as a Machinists Mate and was leading ELT the last two years and got off her a year before it went down. So nice try, but this book is really a waste of money, even at the $3.50 I paid for it, if you want to read it to find out what happened to the Scorpion. The real truth is that no one knows exactly what caused it to go down. Until the Navy is willing to send down equipment to take a lot more pictures and do more research at the site, we never will know what happened exactly. But the Torpedo theory has been debunked for a long time. But then I guess saying I don't know, doesn't sell enough books.
Bill Lee

The other reviewers have covered most of the highlights. I'd add these things:

1. This is a reminder of how hot - and dangerous - the Cold War really was.

2. Contrary to some of the reviews, the authors do present good evidence of their theory. They've also included a photo which for me is a smoking gun (admittedly, the version used in the book isn't that clear).

3. The writing is top notch, but then you'd expect that from Preisler.

Great hypothosis. Where is the proof? The "bite" at the aft end of the detached sail is offered as proof of a torpeado hit, but there should also be a hole in the hull in way of the "bite" and the metal missing from the "bite" should also be missing from the hull. No photos of that part of the hull are presented. If the metal missing from the detached sail is still present attached to the hull, then I would consider it evidence that a torpeado did not hit at that location and surmise that the force of breakup was so great as to cause the sail to detach.

The premise seems pausable and there is a lot of circumstantial evidence, but no smoking gun. Much of the evidence offered is contradicted elsewhere, so I would expect some sort of explaination as to the differences. Where's the beef?

Could the Soviets have begun reading messages so quickly after seizure of USS Pueblo? Would they risk such a valuable piece of intelligence in order to get revenge for alleged sinking of K129? The premise is that some renegade group within the KGB took over control of Soviet warships,atempting an unauthorized missile strike from K129 and then sinking of Scorpion. Soviet Captains unable to control their own ships? If there is one thing that former Soviets believe in, it is in the chain of command. I have a very difficult time believing that anyone is going to pull the wool over the eyes of Soviet Captains or that they would obey an order outside their chain of command.

This book reads too much like a novel.

Having read all the books in Jerome Preisler's Tom Clancy's Power Plays series, I knew he could tell a fast-paced story based on real-world politics and interesting characters, and was intrigued when I found out he'd collaborated with a submariner named Ken Sewall on a nonfiction work about the USS Scorpion, as I also enjoy books on maritime history.

I wasn't disappointed. ALL HANDS DOWN reads like a novel.

I was surprised to learn early in the book that Robert Ballard, the undersea scientist who found Titanic, was actually on a secret mission to examine the Scorpion wreck when he did so. Incredibly (to me) the entire Titanic expedition was an excuse, or "cover story", as Ballard was working for the CIA.

The mystery of what happened to this submarine is tied together with heartbreaking stories of the crewmen and their families, and also the story of John Walker Jr., the spy who almost lost the Cold War for the United States. It is told in short scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat.

All in all, a great book that I read in a single sitting. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Having read all the books in Jerome Preisler's Tom Clancy's Power Plays series, I knew he could tell a fast-paced story based on real-world politics and interesting characters, and was intrigued when I found out he'd collaborated with a submariner named Ken Sewall on a nonfiction work about the USS Scorpion, as I also enjoy books on maritime history.

I wasn't disappointed. ALL HANDS DOWN reads like a novel the same way that In the Heart of the Sea by Nathanial Philbrick does, or A Night To Remember by Walter Lord, the classic about the RMS Titanic that is one of my favorites.

In fact, I was surprised to learn early in the book that Robert Ballard, the undersea scientist who found Titanic, was actually on a secret mission to examine the Scorpion wreck when he did so. Incredibly (to me) the entire Titanic expedition was an excuse, or "cover story", as Ballard was working for the CIA.

The whole mystery of what happened to this submarine is tied together with heartbreaking stories of the crewmen and their families, and also the story of John Walker Jr., the spy who almost lost the Cold War for the United States. It is told in short scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat.

All in all, a great book. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Having served on the comissioning Crew of the USS Scamp SSN588 I have always been interested in the accounts of the Scorpion Disaster.This account has been a very telling one of our loss of the SSN589.The account of just what John Walker has been amplified in this book.I think it is a "Must Read"for all Submariners. William Roberts,FTCM(SS)USN,Ret

Books about the 1967 loss of the US Navy nuclear submarine Scorpion have become something of a cottage industry. Last year we had Stephen Johnson's "Silent Steel and Ed Offley's "Scorpion Down", and now we have "All Hands Down" by Kenneth Sewell and Jerome Preisler. In the end, Johnson proclaimed himself as something of an agnostic about the cause of the Scorpion's loss, although it is clear that he favors the idea that a mechanical accident resulted in a fatal plunge of the submarine below crush depth, while Offley opted for a far more dramatic conclusion that a Soviet submarine had deliberately sunk the American boat with a torpedo (Offley's evidence for this seemed rather slim, consisting mainly of an unconfirmed and dubious story an acoustical recording of the event later being used as a training aid).

Sewell and Preisler also assign blame to the Soviets (after all, the book's subtitle is "The True Story of the Soviet Attack on the USS Scorpion"), although the details of their scenario differ somewhat from Offley's -- they conclude that a Soviet antisubmarine warfare helicopter was used to launch a torpedo to sink the Scorpion in misguided revenge for the loss of the Soviet sub K-129 that the Soviets erroneously believed had been the victim of either a deliberate American attack or at best accidentally destroyed through aggressive American tactics. "All Hands Down" is admittedly excitingly written and the authors build a chain of circumstances including the North Korean capture of the US Intelligence vessel Pueblo and the betrayal of top secret communications secrets by the traitor John Walker, but in the end it must be asked whether their case is really plausible. Their only direct evidence appears to be claims made three or four decades after the event by a handful of former (and unidentified) Soviet naval officers that the Soviets had sunk the Scorpion back in 1967. Unfortunately missing from the book is any kind of analysis of the hydrophonic acoustical recording evidence (although some claim that it is consistent with a torpedo attack, other experts dispute this and attribute the sounds heard to the collapse of the pressure hull as the submarine sank below "crush depth") and, perhaps more importantly, also missing is an examination of the photographic evidence (which some experts state is proof that the hull was not penetrated by a torpedo). To accept the authors' scenario, the reader must be able to accept that the chief of the Soviet Navy was willing to risk an all-out war in order to carry out his mistaken revenge.

I found "All Hands Down" an enthralling book to read, but ultimately it did not present its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The authors of All Hands Down don't brag about being spies or having access to "top secret" information, probably because they didn't. They don't ask the reader to believe what they write on just "blind faith." They present facts and evidence, most of it from the US Navy's Board of Inquiry and other credible sources. They assume that the reader has a brain and they let him (or her) draw their own conclusion. As Joe Friday would say, "Just the facts Ma'am."

During the last forty years I've listened to dozens of sailors claim to have the "inside scoop" on the Scorpion disaster. In each case, when you examine the story, it turns out to be a load of BS. Mr. Dodge, I know what you did in the navy. I applaud you for your service to our country, but I also know that forty years ago, you were just a young pup and much to low in the pecking order to have been included in that small group of men who were really in the know.

One of the few men who really was in that loop is the renowned naval scientist Dr. John Craven. During his last interview on the loss of Scorpion, he made it very clear that only a few high ranking people had access to the acoustical information and nobody posting a review on this Amazon.com site, including myself, was on that list. Ouch! The truth hurts!

I'm only 2/3rds of the way through All Hands Down. I might even change my rating after I complete the book, you never know. But so far, the authors have supported their claims with facts. They have done a decent job of putting the pieces together in a logical order. Perfect? No, but believable? Yea. But what I really like about this book is how they have allowed the friends and family members of the Scorpion crew tell their stories in their own words.

Can you imagine what it was like, hearing that your husbands' submarine was missing, not from the Navy, but from the television? The evening news broadcast? One wife tells how a moving truck showed up at her door, unannounced. How strangers started packing her belongings, her husbands belongings. Of how she was given a plane ticket and told to go home. Discarded like an old shoe by the Navy her husband served and loved.

If the critics, these "master spies" have any evidence, then let's see it. I'll bet it would make a great book and I look forward to reading it. So, 007 and 006, how about it? Put up, or shut up and remember, "Just the facts Ma'am!"

I worked in the acoustic intelligence branch of navy Intelligence when the USS Scorpion went down and
continued to do so when the event was investigated (acoustic and photo intelligence data).

I am afraid that readers interested in knowing the truth about the Scorpion tragedy will not find it here. If one desires to read a "thriller" about the cold war, well--OK. I learned during my career with navy intelligence to collect the data and evaluate it accurately regardless of the result. Of course, I wasn't trying to make money entertaining the average American reader. Interesting--maybe, factual--no.

I was surprised to find that I tremendously enjoyed ALL HANDS DOWN. I am not a believer in particular Scorpion theory and am very skeptical, and was very critical of another book on this subject.

I can't say I've been persuaded by any argument thus far, but it is not correct to say the authors were unfamiliar with the reports another reviewer, Mr. Rule, mentions.

I met both authors at a recent lecture event. They explained that these reports have been available for ten years and showed me portions of them that they had brought for their presentation. They also featured a slideshow with photographs of the wreckage and had a very open discussion of this evidence.

My own further research indicates nothing definitive about the reports. Dr. John Craven's team of experts had their own conclusions and those conclusions were very different from those arrived at in the reports.

For those who do not know, Dr John Craven was the leader of the team that found Scorpion in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. The men who wrote the reports that Mr. Rule is talking about were not.

Also, the Navy does not accept any report as conclusive. I checked on this, so Mr. Rule needs to be clear about his information instead of fudging to try and make his point.

In the book Blind Man's Bluff one of the men who wrote the report Mr. Rule is talking about was asked how Dr. Craven could find Scorpion in all that water if he was wrong about his conclusions. The man who wrote the report said something like "Maybe it was luck that he found Scorpion", which was stupid. You can't find a missing submarine on luck.

Another thing I feel I should mention is that the authors did not conjecture about the helicopter. They were told about it by a Russian admiral and explained how he was a person that would have had access to the information during the Cold War. At their lecture they explained that they had researchers in Russia and when I went back to check the notes in the book I learned this was true.

I have to admit I was prepared not to like ALL HANDS DOWN, but found it very persuasive and also moving on a personal level (for me) when it discussed the lives of the sailors in detail and was respectful of their service as well.

I was surprised to find that I tremendously enjoyed ALL HANDS DOWN. I am not a believer in particular Scorpion theory and am very skeptical, and was very critical of another book on this subject.

I can't say I've been persuaded by any argument thus far, but it is not correct to say the authors were unfamiliar with the reports another reviewer, Mr. Rule, mentions. I met both authors at a recent lecture event and they explained that these reports have been available for ten years and showed me portions of them that they had brought for their presentation. My own further research indicates nothing definitive about the reports and that Dr. John Craven's team of experts had their own conclusions and those conclusions were very different from the reports. Dr John Craven was the leader of the team that found Scorpion in the middle of the Atlantic ocean and the men who wrote the reports that Mr. Rule is talking about were not. Also, the Navy does not accept any report as conclusive. I checked on this, so Mr. Rule needs to be clear about his information instead of fudging to try and make his point.

In the book Blind Man's Bluff one of the men who wrote the report Mr. Rule is talking about was asked how Dr. Craven could find Scorpion in all that water if he was wrong about his conclusions about it, which the report says is the case. The man who wrote the report said something like "Maybe it was luck that he found Scorpion", which was stupid. You can't find a submarine on luck.

Another thing I feel I should mention is that the authors did not conjecture about the helicopter. They were told about it by a Russian admiral and explained how he was a person that would have had access to the information during the Cold War. At their lecture they explained that they had researchers in Russia and when I went back to check the notes in the book I learned this was true.

I have to admit I was prepared not to like ALL HANDS DOWN, but found it very persuasive and also moving on a personal level (for me) when it discussed the lives of the sailors in detail and was respectful of their service as well.

I was surprised to find that I tremendously enjoyed ALL HANDS DOWN. I am not a believer in particular Scorpion theory and am very skeptical, and was very critical of another book on this subject.

I can't say I've been persuaded by any argument thus far, but it is not correct to say the authors were unfamiliar with the reports another reviewer, Mr. Rule, mentions. I met both authors at a recent lecture event and they explained that these reports have been available for ten years and showed me portions of them that they had brought for their presentation. My own further research indicates nothing definitive about the reports and that Dr. John Craven's team of experts had their own conclusions and those conclusions were very different from the reports. Dr John Craven was the leader of the team that found Scorpion in the middle of the Atlantic ocean and the men who wrote the reports that Mr. Rule is talking about were not. Also, the Navy does not accept any report as conclusive. I checked on this, so Mr. Rule needs to be clear about his information.

In the book Blind Man's Bluff one of the men who wrote the report Mr. Rule is talking about was asked how Dr. Craven could find Scorpion in all that water if he was wrong about his conclusions about it, which the report says is the case. The man who wrote the report said something like "Maybe it was luck that he found Scorpion", which was stupid. You can't find a submarine on luck.

I have to admit I was prepared not to like ALL HANDS DOWN, but found it very persuasive and also moving on a personal level (for me) when it discussed the lives of the sailors in detail and was respectful of their service as well.