Dave Darrin and the German Submarines

In Short

This 1919 wartime adventure follows American destroyer captain Dave Darrin and his loyal friend Dan Dalzell as they battle German U-boats in the Atlantic. Entrusted with protecting troop transports and executing undercover maritime operations, Darrin uses quick tactical thinking, decoy tactics, and concealed naval guns to outmaneuver the enemy. Along the way, he faces down German spies, rescues shipwrecked survivors, and endures personal tragedy on the high seas. The book endures as a vivid, period-accurate window into early twentieth-century naval warfare and the ideal of duty under fire.

The Story

Lieutenant-Commander Dave Darrin commands the United States Navy destroyer Logan on patrol duty during World War I. Facing the relentless threat of German U-boats, Dave uses sharp tactical instincts to protect Allied shipping. During an early engagement, the Logan narrowly dodges a volley of enemy torpedoes before destroying an attacking submarine with shellfire. Shortly after, Dave devises a clever decoy strategy—simulating an "abandon ship" drill—to lure another U-boat into a trap, leading to the capture of the German officer Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold.

Upon searching von Bechtold's vessel, Dave discovers burned documents and uncovers a plot to launch a massive assault using sixty U-boats against an incoming American troopship fleet. At a joint naval conference, Dave presents a bold tactical strategy to defend the fleet, earning the respect of senior American and British officers. Returning to sea, Dave must also root out internal treachery. When a suspicious glow on the ocean reveals a signaling device thrown overboard, Dave unmasks a sailor named Jordan (whose real name is Hartmann) as a enemy agent working aboard the Logan.

When the U-boat fleet launches its massive ambush against the twenty-four thousand troops of the One Hundred and Seventeenth Division, Dave and his crew sprint into the thick of battle. They escort transports, zigzag through torpedo tracks, and execute emergency rescues when the troopship Castle City is torpedoed and sunk. Following this fierce battle, Dave and Dan receive promotions to lieutenant-commander and are assigned to specialized secret operations.

Dan takes temporary command of the Prince, an undercover decoy vessel disguised as a slow-moving merchant tramp but equipped with hidden naval guns behind secret ports. Playing the part of an easy target, the Prince draws U-boats to the surface before unmasking its battery and destroying them. Later, Dave takes command of the modern destroyer Grigsby. During a rescue operation following the torpedoing of the passenger liner Griswold, Dave pulls his own wife, Belle, from the ocean. Though she is initially feared dead from severe shock and immersion, the medical officer works frantically to revive her while Dave waits outside in agony.

Belle miraculously survives and recovers under Dave's care. Reunited with Dan on shore leave, the two officers receive high commendations from their admiral for their extraordinary service. As Belle leaves to join Red Cross efforts in France, Dave and Dan prepare their retrofitted warships for their next secret mission against enemy mine-layers.

How It Unfolds

Midnight on patrol Dave Darrin maneuvers the destroyer Logan through enemy-infested waters, dodging torpedoes by split-second turns before his gunners cripple a German submarine's conning tower and send it to the bottom.

The fake abandon-ship drill Spotting a trailing torpedo at dawn, Dave orders his crew to simulate panic and abandon ship, tricking the enemy U-boat into surfacing right into a naval trap.

Uncovering the secret plot While searching the captured German submarine, Dave captures Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold and recovers partially burned papers revealing a massive ambush planned against an American troop armada.

Treachery in the ranks Dave investigates suspicious glowing bottles thrown into the ocean at night, leading a clever sting operation that catches Seaman Jordan, an un-naturalized enemy spy aboard the Logan.

The battle for the fleet The German submarine wolfpack strikes the troopships, forcing Dave to weave through torpedo fire, sink attacking submersibles, and rescue hundreds of soldiers from the sinking transport Castle City.

The decoy ship trap Dan Dalzell takes command of the Prince, a disguised merchant vessel carrying hidden guns, luring unsuspecting U-boats into close range before blowing them out of the water.

Tragedy and rescue at sea Dave takes command of the destroyer Grigsby and rushes to rescue survivors from a torpedoed liner, pulling his own unconscious wife, Belle, out of the freezing water.

Orders for the next campaign With Belle safely recovered and heading to France with the Red Cross, Dave and Dan meet with their admiral to receive secret upgrades and new orders for their next naval assignment.

The People

• Dave Darrin: A brilliant, humane American naval commander who seeks to defeat enemy U-boats while minimizing unnecessary loss of life. He wants to protect Allied shipping and carry out his duty without succumb to barbaric war practices. Facing torpedo attacks, covert sabotage, and the terrifying prospect of losing his wife at sea, he emerges as a tempered, seasoned leader respected across two navies.
• Dan Dalzell ("Danny Grin"): Dave's closest friend and fellow officer, who balances sharp seamanship with a lighthearted, witty demeanor. He wants to prove his bravery on the high seas and execute daring tactical tricks. By taking command of a dangerous decoy ship, he transforms into an authoritative, confident commander.
• Ober-Lieutenant von Bechtold: A suave, arrogant German U-boat commander captured by Darrin. He seeks to protect his military secrets and maintain an aura of superiority, but his evasions fail to hide the enemy's master plan.
• Belle Darrin: Dave's brave wife, who travels across hazardous waters to serve in the war effort. After surviving a horrific U-boat attack and near-drowning, she chooses to push forward and join the Red Cross in France.
• Seaman Jordan (Hartmann): A secretive sailor on the Logan who attempts to signal enemy submarines using glowing bottles, ultimately caught by Dave's careful detective work.

In Its Own Voice

“We’ll never know how many hundreds of decent lives the work of the last minute has saved,” declared Dalzell hoarsely as he reported on the bridge.

Dan reflects grimly on the harsh necessity of destroying an attacking U-boat before it can launch its deadly torpedoes.

“The world will be hard up, for a century to come, on account of the waste of useful materials caused by this war’s destructiveness.”

Dave muses thoughtfully on the staggering long-term cost of modern warfare while inspecting his new warship.

“It’s that sporting element of risk that makes the game so pleasant,” Dan retorted.

Dan jokes with his fellow officers about the extreme danger of commanding a hidden decoy ship against armed submersibles.

What It's Really About

Behind its fast-paced maritime action, the book examines the moral and mechanical realities of modern naval warfare. It contrasts traditional concepts of military honor with the cold efficiency of submarine tactics and covert sabotage. Through Dave Darrin’s reflective moments, the narrative weighs the heavy burden of command against the sheer destructiveness of war, pointing out how conflict wastes human lives and industrial resources alike. The story also explores themes of discipline, patriotic devotion, and loyalty under pressure, demonstrating how technical skill and composure under fire separate effective military leaders from careless adventurism.

Why Read It Today

This book offers readers an engaging period adventure that captures the immediate post-World War I enthusiasm for naval technology and heroism. Reading it feels like stepping onto the windy bridge of an early steel destroyer, where coal smoke, searchlight beams, and visual signaling dictate the pace of battle. The prose moves with crisp momentum, emphasizing tactical ingenuity and brotherhood over raw sensationalism.

Modern readers should be prepared for typical period traits, including straightforward, black-and-white moral depictions of the war effort, stylized military jargon, and an unyielding patriotic tone characteristic of early twentieth-century juvenile series fiction. The narrative does not linger on deep psychological despair, preferring instead a clean focus on duty and action. Despite these classic tropes, the story retains a genuine historical charm. It will appeal to military history enthusiasts, lovers of classic sea stories, and anyone looking for a brisk, authentic look at how popular literature depicted the Great War at sea just as it ended.