The Deadly Deep: The Definitive History of Submarine Warfare

by Iain Ballantyne Narrated by Paul Ansdell

Overview

This fascinating and comprehensive account reveals how an initially ineffectual underwater boat—originally derided and loathed in equal measure—evolved into the most powerful and terrifying vessel ever invented—with enough destructive power to end all life on Earth. Iain Ballantyne considers the key episodes of submarine warfare and vividly describes the stories of brave individuals who have risked their lives under the sea, often with fatal consequences. His analysis of underwater conflict begins with Archimedes discovering the Principle of Buoyancy. This clandestine narrative then moves through the centuries and focuses on prolific characters with deadly motives, including David Bushnell, an American who devised the first combat submarine with the idea of attacking the British in 1775. Today, nuclear-powered submarines are among the most complex, costly ships in existence. Armed with nuclear weapons, they have the ability to destroy millions of lives: they are the most powerful warships ever created. At the heart of this thrilling narrative lurks danger and power as we discover warfare's murkiest secrets.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

10/15/2018
In an effort to be comprehensive, Ballantyne (Killing the Bismarck: Destroying the Pride of Hitler’s Fleet) seems intent on recounting almost every wartime use of submarines in this exhaustive, and sometimes exhausting, history. He begins with ancient Egyptian and Greek efforts to hunt and wage war underwater and Leonardo da Vinci’s design for a submersible that he ultimately destroyed because it was too devastating a weapon. He reviews the role of such weapons in the American Revolution and the Civil War before devoting most of the book to the first and second world wars. The devastation submarines caused during WWI led to serious consideration of banning them as an “uncivilised, disgusting outrage” akin to poison gas. The weakening resolve of the Allies to keep Germany in check manifested itself in allowing the Nazis to flout the restrictions on submarine manufacture in the Treaty of Versailles. The account continues through to the present day, with the placement of nuclear cruise missiles in submarines. The length and level of detail (at one point, he discusses minor variations in the number of torpedo tubes in a particular 1930s model, without explaining the significance of the information) makes this work mostly suited to students of military history. Photos. (Dec.)

Ben Wilson

"Superbly told. Consistently fascinating."

Northern Mariner

"The author provides us with a global appraisal. Ballantyne skillfully narrates intriguing stories about submarine commanders, sailors, and their boats during their quasi-piratical wartime encounters; each is a fast-moving gem of a tale."

Stuart Crawford

"A most enjoyable and inspiring read."

Mail on Sunday (UK)

"A brilliant deep dive into submarine warfare, from ancient Greek divers right up to our current nuclear fleet."

Booklist (starred)

"A comprehensive history of the submarine. With this overview of the revolutionary warship, Ballantyne ably introduces readers to a subject that boasts an immense bibliography. A great selection for any general interest collection."

Warships International Fleet Review

"A comprehensive, informative, and thoroughly enjoyable history of this lesser-known aspect of warfare. It should be on the bookshelf of every serious military historian and enthusiast."

Major Gerry Bartlett

"This formidable and addictive book."

Captain John Roberts

"Iain Ballantyne plunges you into the thick of the action. This book surely confirms Iain Ballantyne’s position in the front rank of contemporary naval historians."

Booklist

"A comprehensive history of the submarine. With this overview of the revolutionary warship, Ballantyne ably introduces readers to a subject that boasts an immense bibliography. A great selection for any general interest collection."

Admiral Sir Jonathon Band

This well written and absorbing book clearly illustrates truths about war at sea. I commend it to you.

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2018-09-17

In his American debut, British naval historian Ballantyne (Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom, 2016, etc.) tells the story of undersea warfare entertainingly, without skimping on technical details.

The first hint of a vessel that could travel below the surface was in a sketch by Leonardo da Vinci. During the European wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, many tried to build a submarine, but it wasn't until the mid-19th century that a practical sub took to the waters: the Confederate submersible Hunley, which sunk a Union sloop in 1864. From that point, a number of designs were developed, and the modern submarine began to take shape, though many naval officers believed the future lay with the battleship. It was in Germany that the submarine became what it is today. The author chronicles the exploits of German U-boats in World War I and the measures taken to limit their depredations on enemy naval and merchant vessels. By the end of the war, every major combatant was deploying a submarine fleet, though not all were equally adept. The sub resumed its role in World War II, with both Germany and the U.S. making particularly effective use of the "wolf pack" strategy of ganging up on convoys. Ballantyne brings the story up to the present with a look at the role of missile-launching nuclear submarines in the Cold War and after. In the final pages, he speculates on whether a new balance can emerge between Russia and the West and whether other states will use subs to upset the uneasy balance. Much of the appeal of the book lies in the stories of submariners and their feats, such as the Japanese aviator who took off from a sub and fire-bombed an Oregon forest. Years later, he returned to apologize—and was made a citizen of the town he endangered. The book is full of such entertaining and moving stories, especially of the British submariners.

An indispensable book for anyone interested in naval history and a great read for everyone else.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175521161
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	01/22/2019
Edition description:	Unabridged

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