For centuries people dreamed of navigating under the sea, but it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that inventors succeeded in developing practical submarines. With the coming of World War I, nations saw something entirely new in war: the deadly effectiveness of underwater craft, as German U-boats threatened to starve Britain and brought the United States into the war, thus proving submarine operations more important than the great battles on land. A generation later, in World War II, U-boats came back on the attack in the Atlantic, while in the Pacific, U.S. submarines literally put Japan out of business. Then, in the nuclear age, the true submarine became the most powerful weapon of war ever created—the force that paradoxically kept the peace.

In one dramatic narrative, Thomas Parrish tells the story of those who first dreamed of underwater ships; of the ingenious and practical inventors and engineers who created and developed the submarine; of the visionary and controversial national leaders and naval strategists; of the famous skippers on all sides—steel-nerved men like America's Dick O'Kane and Germany's Reinhard Hardegen—who wielded this weapon; of the famous and infamous deeds of boats like the U-20, the Wahoo, and the nuclear-powered Nautilus and George Washington; and of the tragedies that befell boats like the American Thresher and the Russian Kursk.

This compelling book blends strategy, technology, high policy and high adventure. It is as entertaining as a high-tech thriller—essential for understanding the last hundred years of war.

Reviews:

“A superb, in-depth history of the submarine, ranging from the 18th century to present-day nuclear-submarine technology. Following an explanation of the appearance of the sub during the U.S. Civil War, Parrish continues with solid chapters on the role of subs in World War I, the between-war period of further advances in undersea technology, and the important role of subs in the World War II battles of the Atlantic and the Pacific, ending with chapters that cover present-day subs, the tragic loss of the Russian submarine Kursk, and more recent concern for advanced sonar technology and its potential negative impact on undersea mammals. Parrish applies his considerable narrative skills, providing a captivating background to the importance of subs in naval warfare, the functional aspects of how subs operate, the significant historical events that involved submarines, the influence of subs on sea power, and the political ramifications during the many eras of sub advancements, including the role played by subs during the Cold War.”—Library Journal

"This may not be the definitive book on submarines, but it sure comes close."— U.S.A. Today Magazine

“Parrish has written a superb history of the submarine. . . . This brilliant, dramatic account of submarines and the men who sailed in them is a required acquisition for every military history collection. Summing Up: Essential. All libraries.” —Choice.

“In his exhaustive study, [Parrish] charts the history of this revolutionary craft, taking pains to stress its halting rise to prominence as a near indispensable feature of modern naval warfare.”—Washington Post

“Parrish synthesizes voluminous naval literature on the submarine in this fine popular presentation….Within each historical metamorphosis of the submarine, up to its contemporary incarnation as a nuclear-armed nemesis that can destroy an entire country, Parrish showcases famous submariners, including aggressive personalities such as Karl Dönitz,, Mush Morton, and Hyman Rickover. To a minutia-ridden subject, Parrish brings a superb general treatment that will attract naval-history readers.”—Booklist

“With a dry wit, Parrish distills a large subject into a compelling popular narrative that draws the reader in. ... From the heights of national policy to the surface of battle to the depths of sailors’ sacrifices and back again, like a submarine repeatedly diving and surfacing, [The Submarine] makes a fascinating ride."—San Diego Union-Tribune

The Submarine is available at all bookstores and from these online booksellers:
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