Yashimoto's Last Dive

Devotees of World War II naval adventure may enjoy this slow, drawn-out tale, but Trew won't win any new fans. The story revolves around the long-range duel between Togo Yashimoto, ruthless commander of submarine I-357, and John Barratt, stolid skipper of the British destroyer Restless. In the Mozambique Channel off East Africa in 1942, the Japanese sub sinks a U.S. Liberty ship but is severely damaged by a fluke shot from the freighter's gun. To maintain secrecy Yashimoto machine-guns the survivors and takes I-357 to a semi-deserted island for repairs. One American does survive, though, and is picked up by Restless. His account of the atrocity inflames Lt. Commander Barratt (whose wife died in a Japanese prison camp) and, disregarding wireless orders, Barratt tracks and finds the camouflaged sub. After long, detailed accounts of life aboard the two vessels, there is, finally, a showdown. Almost all the characters are flatly drawn, and the action finale comes too late to save the book. (January 4)