Tailships

John Rodgaard's "Tailships: The Hunt for Soviet Submarines in the Mediterranean 1970-1973" offers a detailed examination of a critical yet often overlooked chapter in Cold War naval history. Drawing from his personal experience as a Navy officer stationed aboard destroyers during this period, Rodgaard provides an insider's perspective on the cat-and-mouse games played between American surface vessels and Soviet submarines in the contested waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The book centers on the practice of "tailing" Soviet submarines, a dangerous and technically demanding mission that required American naval crews to track and monitor Soviet underwater vessels as they moved through the Mediterranean. This region served as a crucial theater during the early 1970s, as the Soviet Navy expanded its presence and capabilities, challenging American naval dominance in what had traditionally been considered a Western sphere of influence. The period Rodgaard covers represents a particularly tense phase of the Cold War, following the Six-Day War and during the ongoing proxy conflicts that characterized superpower relations.

Rodgaard's firsthand experience lends authenticity to his narrative. Rather than presenting a sanitized or overly technical account, he captures the day-to-day realities faced by sailors assigned to these demanding missions. The work explores the operational challenges inherent in tracking submarines, including the limitations of sonar technology available at the time, the difficulty of maintaining contact without being detected, and the physical and mental strain placed on crews who spent extended periods at heightened alert status.

The author provides valuable context about the strategic importance of the Mediterranean during this era. As Soviet naval power grew, the presence of their submarines in the Mediterranean posed potential threats to NATO operations, commercial shipping lanes, and the security of allied nations bordering the sea. American tailships served as both intelligence-gathering platforms and as a means of signaling resolve, demonstrating that Soviet underwater movements were being monitored and tracked. This mission carried significant diplomatic and military weight, even if it rarely made headlines.

One of the book's strengths lies in its attention to the human dimension of Cold War naval operations. Rodgaard does not simply recount tactical maneuvers and operational procedures; he also conveys the atmosphere aboard the destroyers, the relationships among crew members, and the professional culture of the Navy during this period. This approach helps readers understand that behind the strategic chess game between superpowers were real sailors performing demanding and sometimes monotonous work under challenging conditions.

The technical aspects of submarine tracking are explained in accessible terms, making the subject matter comprehensible to readers without specialized naval knowledge. Rodgaard describes the capabilities and limitations of various detection systems, the procedures for maintaining contact with a submarine, and the tactics employed when contact was lost. These details illuminate the complexity of anti-submarine warfare and the high level of skill required from officers and enlisted personnel alike.

The book also touches on the broader geopolitical context of the period, including the impact of détente on naval operations, the role of intelligence gathering in Cold War strategy, and the evolving nature of submarine technology. As Soviet submarines became quieter and more capable, the challenge of tracking them increased, pushing American naval forces to refine their techniques and equipment continually.

Rodgaard's writing style is straightforward and unpretentious, befitting his background as a naval officer rather than a professional historian or journalist. The narrative maintains a steady pace, moving between operational accounts, technical explanations, and observations about naval life. While the book may lack the polish of works by established military historians, its authenticity and specificity provide value that more generalized accounts cannot match.

For readers interested in Cold War history, naval operations, or the practical realities of military service during this era, "Tailships" offers a window into a specialized aspect of the superpower confrontation. The book serves as both a historical document and a personal memoir, preserving the experiences of those who participated in these operations and ensuring that this particular mission type is not forgotten in broader Cold War narratives. Rodgaard has made a worthwhile contribution to the literature on Cold War naval history, providing details and perspectives that might otherwise have remained accessible only through classified archives or fading memories.