Terminal Run

Threat Vector

Piranha: Firing Point

Barracuda Final Bearing

Phoenix Sub Zero

Attack Of the Seawolf

Voyage of the Devilfish

Welcome to USSDevilfish.com, the Cyberspace Home of author Michael DiMercurio.

Terminal Run: The final stage in the flight of a submarine torpedo as it increases speed to reach attack velocity. Terminal Run: The new techno-thriller featuring the dramatic, final undersea showdown between Admiral Michael Pacino and his most hated nemesis, Alexi Novskoyy.

DiMercurio Fan Club Newsletter -- February 2004

As we all eagerly await the release of the next Michael DiMercurio novel, I thought I would share some interesting facts about submarines in this month's newsletter.

For instance, did you know that the United States purchased its first submarine from a man by the name of John Holland? The USS Holland was commissioned on October 12, 1900. She was 53 feet long and had a 45-horsepower gasoline engine. She also carried a crew of 15 and sported one torpedo tube. Not exactly a Cadillac by today's standards, but it was a beginning and an important one.

Then, some fifty-three years later the U.S. began experimenting with the first "tear-drop" shaped hulls. The USS Albacore was commissioned on December 15, 1953. She carried no armaments and had a crew of 55 men. She remained in service as an experimental test-bed for twenty years.

The next year began the age of the nuclear powered submarine. The USS Nautilus SSN-571 was launched on January 21, 1954. Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's brainchild changed submarines forever by giving subs capabilities that they had only dreamed of before. Now, most of you know the story of the Nautilus so I won't bore you with statistics, but there may be a few things you didn't know about nuclear subs in general.

Take for example, the fact that just one pellet of uranium in a fuel rod of a nuclear submarine's reactor is equivalent to 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel! Also, since the year 1950 the United States has spent approximately 800 billion dollars on research and development of submarines. Speaking as a taxpayer, I think that's money well spent.

Throughout the world there are some 160 nuclear submarines patrolling the seas. This includes about 18 U.S. Ohio Class ballistic missile boats that carry a combined firepower equal to about 23,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs.

If you're wondering where I found most of my information, you can read all about it yourself by purchasing, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Submarines," written by none other than Michael DiMercurio and Michael Benson. If you don't already own this wonderful reference book you need to get it ASAP. In it, you'll find a wealth of information and tons of incredible insight written by Michael DiMercurio himself to help you gain an insiders knowledge of the modern nuclear submarine.

In closing, I want to remind you all about our weekly chats in the Sonar Shack Chat Room. We meet every Wednesday night from 9:00pm Eastern to 11:00pm Eastern. There's nothing formal about it, it's just Michael DiMercurio fans getting together for a good time. I hope to see you all there.

Best wishes and fair sailing.

Tim Sharp
President,
The Michael DiMercurio Fan Club

Tim:

Hey there, Sorry it took so long to send this photo to you. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a great New Years celebration! Take care, and I wish everyone much success and happiness in the next year.

I'm honored that you are all interested in me an my situation here. I am in a Corp Support Command, which runs all of the logistics for ALL the forces in Iraq, before, during, and since the war started. We're currently stationed in Balad, about an hour north of Baghdad, and are nearing the end of a year long deployment here.

Just to give some of my history. I am a Chaplain Assistant, which is essentially a bodyguard/secretary/counselor. I've been in for nearly 14 years, which started as an infantryman for 8 years. I've been assigned as a sniper/RTO/Long Range Surveillance team leader/ and now am the Plans and Operations NCO for 30 other Ministry Teams scattered throughout Iraq. I am new to my current job, having just come from Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division (from a Light Infantry Battalion)

On a lighter note, I've been a fan of Michael Dimercurio for several years, and picked up ANOTHER copy of Phoenix Sub Zero to read (from a palace here in Baghdad of all places!!!) last week...I guess he has fans ALL over the place!

I only have a few pictures really, but this one of me beside my vehicle after coming back from a convoy. I'll try to find some good ones to send to you.

I hope this helps, and thank you again.

If there is anything else you can think of to ask me, I'll see what I can do to help!

Thanks and take care,

SGT David Thomas

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USSDevilfish.com Michael DiMercurio E-Mail: readermail@USSDevilfish.Com Tim Sharp President, The Michael DiMercurio Fan Club E-Mail: tsharp@USSDevilfish.Com