The Book
Rear Admiral Daniel V. Gallery,
USN presents the reader with a unique memoir: the capture of a Nazi submarine, the
U-505. But it is more than a recounting of one moment at sea, Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea packs
in the Battle of the Atlantic, U-boat details, a biography of the U-505, and editorializing
from a seasoned sailor.
The majority of the book focuses
on the story of the U-505. Work on the U-505 was completed in 1941; it was
first stationed off the coast of Africa and then in the Caribbean. Under its
first captain, the U-505 was successful in her quest to sink many ships.
However, when the captain changed, the crew encountered “bad luck.” Most likely
that luck can be traced to French workers sabotaging the U-boats when they came
back to port. Intermittently, Gallery will interject the U-505 narrative with
an explanation of where he was stationed or naval tactics. The book moves
towards its climactic moment: a play by play of the June 1944 capture of U-505.
In the final pages of the book, Gallery details how the U-505 ended up in the Museum
of Science and Industry and shares his thoughts on war and what we should learn
and remember.
Like most memoirs, Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea, reads
like a conversation. Gallery writes what happened, provides his own opinions,
and creates dialogue for the U-505 crew. Some of the information in the book
comes from the captured records on the U-505 as well as correspondence with the
crew after World War II. The best part about this book is the focus on a part
of World War II that is not prominent in education. Gallery seems aware that
his reader lacks detailed knowledge of submarines and the Battle of the Atlantic,
taking the time to explain and clarify.
The Place
The U-505 exhibit immerses visitors into the story of the “first enemy war ship
captured [by the United States Navy] in battle on the high seas since 1815” (315).
The walk to the submarine explains the Battle of the Atlantic from the toll U-boats
took on shipping to the capture of U-505. Then, you turn a corner and are
confronted with the massive U-boat; looking down on it, as the American sailors
would have in 1944. Visitors to the museum can pay extra for a tour of the submarine;
this is well worth the cost. The tour is popular, so it would be wise to buy
tickets beforehand.While the U-505 exhibit is impressive, it is not the only exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Visitors can ride through a replica coal mine, explore genetics and watch baby chicks hatch, and view the changes in transportation (among other exhibits). There is something for everyone: young and old, science geeks and history nerds. There is an entrance fee, with some exhibits requiring an extra cost (with a timed ticket), and an underground parking garage (also with a fee).
