The Submarine Boys and the Middies Or, the Prize Detail at Annapolis

A young crew of teenage captains finds themselves at the heart of a bustling shipyard where the newest submarine torpedo boats are being built for the U.S. Navy. Captain Jack Benson, barely sixteen, and his quiet engineer friend Hal Hastings watch their first vessel, the Pollard, glide in the harbor while their shipbuilder, Jacob Farnum, teases the possibility of a future craft bearing Jack’s name. The dialogue crackles with pride, rivalry, and the promise of new opportunities as the yard races against rival builders and foreign inventors.

Amid the clatter of rolling stock and the scent of fresh paint, the boys learn that their success could earn them shares in the company and even a namesake vessel—if the Navy agrees. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and the story captures the excitement of early submarine innovation, the camaraderie of a close‑knit team, and the looming challenges of a world eager for underwater power. Listeners will be drawn into the mix of ambition, friendship, and the clang of steel that defines this adventurous first act.