The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures by Captain William R. Anderson is an incredible, true story of man’s first exploration of the Arctic Ocean by submarine. The world’s first nuclear powered attack submarine, the USS Nautilus SSN-571, gave mankind a new nautical opportunity equal to the exploration of space. Nautilus was capable of diving below the ocean’s surface, and remaining there; limited only by the crew’s endurance, and food carried – an undersea version of the capsules shooting into space at that time.

The book is a very well written account of those first voyages below the icecap at a time when sonar sensors were not as capable as they are today and a submarine slowly manoeuvring amongst the ice was in constant danger of being damaged or destroyed. If anything had gone wrong during those missions, the first sign to the rest of the world would only have come days later when nothing more was heard from the boat.

The bravery shown by the USS Nautilus’s crew is almost beyond description, and thankfully, Captain Anderson has shared this adventure with us. I know most historians will recognize his name, and this title, but anyone who is not familiar with them, would do well to pick up this book. It is clearly written so anyone can understand what is taking place during this early visit to a very inhospitable region. ( )

The true story of one of mankind's greatest adventures.