Chuck Lawliss

Dated for the information on recent developments, it is a wonderful history of early development going back to Alexander the Great and Peter the Great of Russia. The latter ordered the construction of a sub but nothing is known about its use.The Continental Army used one against the British blockade of New York and while it failed to hit is target, it gave the British fleet a real scare. Another was used in the War of 1812 but the the most famous early use of a submarine is the CS Hunley which sank a Yankee naval vessel, the Housatonic on February 17. 1864 to become the first submarine to sink a ship.

Later chapters cover the inventors who kept improving their underwater vessels despite little interest exhibit by navies. When WW I started, all countries involved initiated funding submarine acquisitions. The chapter on WW II focuses on the German use of submarines but it also covers Japanese, British, Italian and American forces.

The later chapters cover the development of Atomic subs and race between the Russians and the USA to keep up to have the strongest and most secretive submarine force in existence.

Some photos.… (more)