The Submarine Book, Revised & Updated: An Illustrated History of the Attack Submarine [Paperback]

Chuck Lawliss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2000

A concise, readable and fully-illustrated account of how the modern submarine fleets came to be, from the very first underwater vessel that crossed the Thames in 1620, to the ultra-computerized nuclear submarine that functions as the strategic linchpin for most of today's advanced navies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Burford Books; Rev Upd edition (October 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580800785
• ISBN-13: 978-1580800785
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,992,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Glaring Error in the First Few Pages, February 26, 2001

By 

Sure Thing "surething88" (San Diego County, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Submarine Book, Revised & Updated: An Illustrated History of the Attack Submarine (Paperback)

Normally I research an author's background before buying a book on a technical subject such as submarines, but in this case since I was waiting for a plane and was desperate for something to read, I got this book. It initially appealed to me since it was profusely illustrated and even included mention of the "Kursk" incident, but when I saw the rather wide (almost double-) spacing between the lines, I was a little suspicious.

Admittedly, I've only read through the first dozen or so pages so far, but this one error I found really bothers me (especially for a "revised and updated" edition). The world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN 571), was launched in 1954 (January 21st, to be exact), not 1962 as the book states.

In skimming the rest of the book, I came across a photograph of Adm. Hyman Rickover on page 115 "on the deck of a submarine headed out to sea." The submarine's number is clearly visible on the conning tower: 571. It's obviously the Nautilus; why the author would not identify this historic vessel as such or even by name instead of just labeling it as "a submarine" is beyond me. As I finish the rest of the book, I know I'm going to be uncomfortable with any more of this author's assertions.

I think any submarine enthusiast getting this book should use it as an exercise in checking for errors; anyone wanting to learn about submarines should go to a more credible source such as "Submarine Design and Development" by Norman Friedman of the U. S. Naval Institute, books by Norman Polmar also of USNI, or any edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for submarine enthusiasts, June 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Submarine Book, Revised & Updated: An Illustrated History of the Attack Submarine (Paperback)

This book is perfect for those wishing they could live aboard a submarine. In shows an in-depth view of life aboard a sub, and includes a detailed history of the submarine, from peace-time exploration to the fierce battles of WWII. It describes how the U.S. Navy first refused the idea of a submarine, and how the dedicated researchers never gave up. This is an excellent book for submariner-hopefuls and will appeal to any readers of naval or military history.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the first sub in 1620 to computerized nuclear subs, March 17, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Submarine Book, Revised & Updated: An Illustrated History of the Attack Submarine (Paperback)

This military coverage of the attack submarine provides a fine account of how modern sub fleets came to be an important part of the military; from the first sub in 1620 to computerized nuclear subs of today. Submarine Book appears in a new edition which provides a new chapter updating technology and history.