Book Summary and Reviews of The Deadly Deep by Iain Ballantyne

The Deadly Deep by Iain Ballantyne

The Deadly Deep

The Definitive History of Submarine Warfare

by Iain Ballantyne

  • Critics' Consensus (1):
  • Published:
  • Dec 2018, 384 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

The fascinating story of the submarine's evolution from its ancient beginnings to its culmination as the deadliest vessel ever invented.

A fascinating and comprehensive account of 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. Our clandestine journey then moves through the centuries and focuses on prolific characters with deathly motives, including David Bushnell, who in 1775 in America devised the first combat submarine with the idea of attacking the British.

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.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review. An indispensable book for anyone interested in naval history and a great read for everyone else." - Kirkus

"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." - Publishers Weekly

"Iain Ballantyne plunges you into the thick of the action. This book surely confirms his position in the front rank of contemporary naval historians." - Captain John Roberts, Royal Navy, author of Safeguarding the Nations

"This well written and absorbing book clearly illustrates truths about war at sea. I commend it to you." - Admiral Sir Jonathon Band

This information about The Deadly Deep was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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Author Information

Iain Ballantyne

Iain Ballantyne has covered naval and military issues for prestigious publications published on behalf of NATO and the Royal Navy. His recent books include Killing The Bismarck; Hunter Killers; and Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom. Iain lives in England.

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