Aptly named for the small fish bearing silver streaks along either side of its body, the submarine USS Silversides (SS-236) was commissioned a mere eight days after the attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941.  Silversides would enjoy a highly successful 5-year tenure, sinking 23 enemy ships.  After 14 missions, Silversides was decommissioned in 1946 and subsequently entered service as a Naval training vessel near Chicago.  
The vessel would eventually find its way to Muskegon, Michigan, where she now holds a prominent position in the Great Lakes Naval Memorial.

A slow, mysterious opening statement sets the tone for the venerable submarine submerging to embark on her perilous assignment.  The tempo suddenly becomes fast as Silversides stealthily glides through the dark, murky waters.  The music becomes increasingly intense as the vessel steadily moves forward, culminating in the inevitable conflict.  After the boisterous “battle sequence”, the mood is jubilant and brisk in tempo with the music coming to an exciting finish.

Silversides

William Owens 10