dives. The Thresher expedition, coupled with the search for Scorpion, allow for a fascinating backdrop from which the authors tell the story of the construction of Trieste II, brought on site to search for Scorpion in October 1968, and Trieste III, which would dive on both sites a handful of times throughout its career between 1969 and 1979. As a pioneer of deep-sea exploration and manned submergence, the involvement of the three Trieste bathyscaphes in these searches for lost submarines weaves a profound story. Featuring a forward by retired Lieutenant Don Walsh, the book is a great read and stands as a significant contribution to maritime history. Michael L. Brennan, PhD Jacksonville, Florida The ultimate goal of the US Navy’s 1959–1960 Project Nekton was to send a manned submersible into Challenger Deep, while also measuring a suite of oceanographic and geological metrics. Following a series of test dives late in 1959, the successful dive into Challenger Deep on 23 January 1960 was made by US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard, the son of Trieste’s designer Auguste Piccard. Polmar and Mathers’s chronicling of the bathyscaphe’s design, development, and career as a naval research submarine is a compelling read. The authors’ careers as a naval consultant and intelligence officer, respectively, play a strong role in their ability to document and describe the pioneering of such a massive technological achievement and its profound impact on furthering deep-water exploration. The description of the trials and ultimate record-breaking dives includes interesting descriptions of the deep “hadal” zone. Equally interesting in the history of the Trieste is the bathyscaphe’s later career. This includes the deepsea missions to find the wreckage of two nuclear submarines: USS Thresher (SSN593), lost in April 1963, and USS Scorpion (SSN-589), lost in May 1968—both with all hands. Following a deep-tow camera system’s detection of debris from Thresher, Trieste dived on the wreck site in June 1963 and made several subsequent assessment SEA HISTORY 179, SUMMER 2022
independence. Dolin divides these vessels into two types: the first were heavily armed ships with large crews whose singular purpose was to locate and capture enemy ships. The second were armed merchant vessels that sailed between the world’s ports to trade goods. American privateers were commissioned by federal and state governments with letters of marque, a license permitting them to take prizes in time of war. The documents served as both official letters of reprisal and bonds of good behavior. When a prize was deemed legal by an admiralty court, the vessel and its contents were auctioned and sold. Privateer vessel owners, captains, and crew were remunerated according to a predetermined share agreement. Those maimed in a battle, or the survivors of those killed in battle, were The Glencannon Pressusually provided for by way of a reimbursement/health 4 col. inches (2.25 x 4.5 inches) scheme, somewhat reminiscent of a classic pirate Prefer right hand page, bottom right.pact. When the War for Independence broke out, Great Britain had the largest navy in the world and, with it, controlled most of the world’s oceans and seaborne trade. The nascent Continental Army, in comparison, was undertrained, poorly equipped, and
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