Ohio Class

Silent Service #5

by H. Jay Riker

For years, the Ohio–class submarine served as one of the frontline weapons in America's nuclear Navy. But with the collapse of the USSR, America needs to modernize its arsenal to take into account its new enemies. With that goal, the Navy begins a controversial conversion of the USS Ohio to take America into the future of naval warfare.

The Ohio's ballistic missiles have been replaced, the tubes now capable of a two–pronged attack. What had been used to house ICBMs now can contain SEALs or a new prototype of underwater submarine, a revolutionary undersea fighter that flies through the water, striking targets at will.

Both barrels will be brought to bear against America's newest enemy, Iran. The zealots in power have unleased a terrible two–pronged plan, hoping to attack oil rich nations Oman and the UAE, while at the same time lauching a devasting attack on the American Fifth Fleet in the Gulf. Only one group of sailors and commandos can stop them -- the compliment of the USS Ohio.

Genres: Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2006

About the author

A pseudonym used by William H. Keith Jr..

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mindless entertainment. Quick reads, all five books. I'll skip the author's series about SEAL teams. Time for a break from things military.

I qualified in submarines in 1968. As a "nuke" we simply made the boat go. Nothing much exciting going on back aft.

[Robin Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really silly, full of inaccuracies concerning US submarine operations and terminology, stupid mission.

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a long sequence of attack submarines, Riker's series have suddenly jumped over to a converted SSBN, probably becasuse he ran out of submarine classes and didn't want to write "Virgina Class 2".

After the Soviets, China, Al-Qaeda, the enemy this time is Iran and through the magic of being the author of a fiction book, Riker puts the huge Ohio submarine in the shallow Persian gulf. He does equip it with sci-fi drones though to make it a bit less about how ridiculous it is to have a submarine as tall as the depth of the sea.

This is the last book of the series, and since it's been nearly 20 years, I don't think there will be more. The author went on to write military space sci-fi under the name Ian Douglas (H. Jay. Riker is also a pseudonym by the way), so maybe that is where the submarines are.

I like this kind of books but this is pushing it a bit too far. Still, two stars.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished the 5th and final volume in Riker's Silent Service series, and found it to be the best of the 5. I have enjoyed all of the books; yet this one focused on the newest sub technology as well as the most current threat to U.S. security. The style of writing matches that of previous volumes, and the pace of action is perfect. I just wish Riker would have continued the series.....

[sb072 · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Navy veteran and Subsurface Warfare enthusiast, I can easily say that this is the best Sub series I've ever read. I'm shocked that it's not more popular. The right Director could turn this into a movie series that would leave The Hunt for Red October in its dust.

[bafeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will like this book. The characters are not really fleshed-out, but the military tech-speak sounds authentic and the action is well-scripted.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of the series and my last book OTS by Riker.

[Balaji Dutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Tom Clancy - You will like this book. The characters are not really fleshed-out, but the military tech-speak sounds authentic and the action is well-scripted.