One of the most successful and innovative American submarines in World War II, Barb made a total of twelve war patrols under three commanders. Barb was initially assigned to SubRon 50, home ported at Rosneath, Scotland. Under her first CO, Commander John R. Waterman, Barb participated in the American invasion of North Africa, and conducted three additional patrols. A fifth European patrol was commanded by Nicholas Lucker, Jr, a SubRon 50 staff officer, to give Waterman a rest break. Waterman then commanded Barb on two more patrols after the boat was transferred to Pearl Harbor, during which he was credited with sinking two enemy ships.

Lieutenant Commander Eugene B. Fluckey assumed command for Barb's eighth through twelfth patrols. During these five patrols, Barb was credited with sinking a total of 25 enemy ships, for a total of 179,700 tons (reduced post war to 13-1/3 ships and 95,289 tons. In one instance, Fluckey took Barb into Namkwan Harbor on the surface, attacking the shipping anchored there and successfully evading the Japanese counter-attack. He received the Medal of Honor for this raid. On Barb's final patrol, Fluckey used rockets to attack several shore installations, and launched the only American "invasion" of the Japanese mainland when several Barb crew members went ashore with a demolition charge and blew up a train.

This edition of Barb's war patrol reports includes a Foreword by former Barb officer Everett Weaver.

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