James Jinks

A very comprehensive and as close as I can imagine it's going to be, to being a definitive history of the submarine service. Highly readable, and clearly written by two fan boys, this is a big undertaking. Some parts can be dry, but it comes alive with human interest stories, experience, and also technical discussions that are not overwhelming. Very intriguing in places, and extremely informative, this is an excellent history. One word of warning though, it's quite an undertaking, make sure you have some time to get into it before you start.… (mais)

I enjoyed this book despite it being very technical in part. The story of the Royal Nay submarine service post WWII, covering the change from diesel to nuclear boats, the complicated interactions with the Americans, who necessarily supplied most of the technology the Royal Navy needed, the rise of Polaris and then Trident and the political twists and turns that are involved with designing and launching boats that will only be used for the unthinkable. The best part of the book is those that deal with the actual submarines themselves, their captains, crews and the missions they undertook, the endless game of cat & mouse with the Soviet submarines, hide & seek under the waves are thrilling, anyone who loved The Hunt For Red October will find this wonderful. I really loved the first real description I have ever seen of the lead-up to the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War by HMS Conqueror, the only British sub to have sunk a vessel in anger since 1945. An excellent book, good mix of serious technical stuff and real derring-do. Great read.… (mais)

Since the end of World War II the Royal Navy Submarine Service has become the linchpin of the British armed forces. Submarines carry the British nuclear deterrent and are called upon to carry out a number of key military roles across the globe. Despite this, very little is known about the Submarine Service. Hennessy has produced a detailed and comprehensive history showing how the submarine came to such prominence, how the service operates, how the technology developed and where it is all going. This is a work of high quality, slightly dry in an academic sort of way, but revealing of incident and action that shines a light on the men who operate these highly complex, expensive and deadly machines.… (mais)