Phantom Fleet

“Compelling…Phantom Fleet should rank at the top of the list for any student of history.”—The Washington Free Beacon

“Phantom Fleet has as much propulsion and panache as the daring mission it recounts. Alexander Rose tells this cat-and-mouse story with the confidence of a writer in total command of his material. Strap in for an incredible wartime adventure tale.”—Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time

“A heart-pounding narrative of the U.S. Navy’s clandestine hunt for and ultimate capture of a Nazi U-boat. Using a kaleidoscope of voices and sources, Alexander Rose drops readers into one of the most dramatic stories of World War II. More than just an excellent history, Phantom Fleet is a page-turning thriller.”—James M. Scott, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Black Snow, Rampage, and Target Tokyo

“Alexander Rose tells the fascinating story of a submarine heist that never should have worked, with outstanding detail and a style that draws you into his vivid portraits of both frontline sailors and naval leaders. Phantom Fleet is a book you’ll be glad you picked up.”—Gregory A. Freeman, author of The Forgotten 500 and Sailors to the End

“Phantom Fleet is a thrilling account of one of the most improbable success stories of World War II. The courage, resourcefulness, brilliance, and determination of the men who defeated the Nazis’ submarine threat and captured U-505 is breathtaking. In Rose's able hands, the enthralling story gets the telling it so richly deserves.”—Eric Jay Dolin, author of Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution

“Alexander Rose deftly uses a single extraordinary incident—the U.S. Navy’s capture of a German U-boat at sea in 1944—to tell the broader story of the U-boat war in World War II. Rose writes in a lively and at times even conversational style, which makes for fast and easy reading, but his intricate knowledge of the strategies, weaponry, and personalities on both sides of the U-boat war shines through on every page. Phantom Fleet is a rare book that will satisfy both casual readers and hardcore military history buffs.”—William Geroux, author of The Ghost Ships of Archangel and The Fifteen

"[A] rousing account...Riveting...Readers will relish Rose’s blend of fascinating naval lore and nerve-wracking drama."—Publishers Weekly

“A thrilling, deeply researched account of one of the most audacious naval operations of World War II…Known for his ability to bring history to life in page-turning narrative nonfiction, Rose once again demonstrates his mastery in weaving technical detail, character-driven storytelling and gripping tension into a compelling historical drama….Phantom Fleet is a triumph of narrative nonfiction….an essential read for military history buffs, fans of naval adventures and anyone interested in the razor’s edge between failure and victory.”—Yakima Herald-Republic