Men Under the Sea

Book excerpt: “Ellsberg’s writings chronicled his experiences and attitudes on the topic of marine salvage in a manner which has no equal in naval literature.” —War History Online Commander Edward Ellsberg rose to fame after leading the harrowing effort to raise the sunken submarine S-51 just off Long Island. That is where he begins Men Under the Sea, his tribute to and history of the men who risk everything to plunge into the blackness of the deep sea. Ellsberg holds an expert’s knowledge of deep-sea salvage, and that knowledge has put him repeatedly on the front lines of some of the world’s worst wrecks. After the S-51, Ellsberg goes on to the heartrending tale of the sinking of the submarine S-4, which sank after a collision with forty sailors aboard. Commander Ellsberg races to the scene through land, air, and sea to search for potential survivors trapped aboard the sunken sub. Ellsberg also regales readers with stories of some of the most famous underwater missions in history, such as men submerging deep to recover £5 million worth of gold from the wreck of the Laurentic, bringing vast treasures from the ocean bottom, and diving to rescue thirty-three survivors from the stricken submarine Squalus. Ellsberg’s passion, experience, and natural narrative talent turn Men Under the Sea into an unforgettable voyage.