by Paul Brown.
Hardback (horizontal: 9.7×12.8 inches). 272 pages. 2026.
It has the look of a photo book, and it contains many, but the text delves into the design, development, and deployment of UK submarines during the Cold War. Classes include: S, T, U, A, Porpoise, Oberon, Valiant, Resolution, Swiftsure, Trafalgar, and Upholder. Also included: midget subs and HTP subs which were adapted from U-boats (U-1407 in specific) and keel up subs that used variants of the German technology.
Design and development examine systems and equipment in some detail for each class. Deployment mostly centers around “firsts” and “lasts.” Firsts are subs that were first to do something, like crack through the ice cap or run underwater from point A to B. Lasts are a wide variety of accidents, from running aground and being hit by surface ships to explosions that lost the sub.
Submarine enthusiasts will enjoy the ins and outs of each Class’ system descriptions, while those with a less technical interest will enjoy the various deployments — although it sure seems like a lot of accidents and disasters over the course of the book.
The book contains 132 black and white photos, 39 color photos, three color maps, three color illustrations, and one black and white cartoon.
This was a far more extensive history than expected, and pleasantly so.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
