Virginia Class

Silent Service #4

by H. Jay Riker

The U.S.S. Virginia -- the first in the mosttechnologically advanced new class of U.S. attacksubmarines -- sets sail, even as the Navy'shigh-tech submarine program falls under attackfrom a Congress that believes it unneeded.But a threat no one anticipated is glidingsilently through dangerous waters. A rogueKilo-class submarine built by a shadowy andpowerful ally has become the latest weapon inal Qaeda's terrorist arsenal. The submarine'sbrutal strikes have created an explosivehostage situation in the Pacific ... and haveleft hundreds of people dead. This new and stealthy terrorist threat must beeliminated before more innocent lives are lost.But the officers, crew, and Navy SEALsaboard the Virginia will face more than theyanticipated in the turbulent waters of theSouth China Sea -- as one untried Americansub races toward an explosive confrontationwith an old, cunning, and ruthless enemy.

Genres: Military Fiction, Fiction

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

A pseudonym used by William H. Keith Jr..

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. Onto the last of the series, book five, Ohio Class.

[Chris Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one for submariners or ASW specialists! The geopolitical aspects of the plot are believable if pushing the bounds of possibility. The main characters are well described to the point that you can not help but 'root for the goodies' and quietly hope for suitable comeuppance for the baddies. I read the previous one ('Seawolf') but your reading experience wouldn't be spoiled if you hadn't. Would happily read more from this series but would allow a few months.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 4th book in the Silent Service series, we find Commander Tom Garrett facing the nemesis of the Chinese military and their new tactic of co-conspiring with Islamic terrorists in gaining revenge upon the United States. Having picked up a Russian Kilo-class boat from Pakistan, Islamic Jihadists are intent on attacking Western/U.S. interests to fuel a world-wide uprising of Muslims against the West. And attack they do - including the downing of a Japanese passenger airliner which also happens to be carrying Garrett's girlfriend. China has further goals - luring a U.S. carrier group into the China sea under the pretense of halting the Jihadists, only to find themselves attacked by Chinese forces and dealing a crippling economic, military and psychological blow to the U.S. Navy. Into this scene is Garrett, commanding a brand new boat in a brand new class - the Virginia Class - with some improvements, but also many less-positive features compared to the Seawolf class. Most of the changes budget driven rather than performance enhancing.

As with all of Riker's books, the SEALs are incorporated into the story, but not to the extent of earlier volumes in the series. Washington bureaucrats are also once again part of the story, but this time in a bit more positive role and light. As always, incredible underwater tactics and near misses fill several pages, along with the introduction and quick maturity of brand new crew members who show why they will earn their dolphins.

Action packed, politically zeroed, and ultimately triumphant, this is another very good read in the Silent Service series. I look forward to the 5th and final volume in the near future.

[Daniel Bratell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows the Seawolf book, and keeps the same main character, but with a new submarine. The enemy has moved on from China though, and it's now the submarine equipped Al-Qaeda. The author was going with the times, this being written a few years after the attack on World Trade Center.

It is possible to see some doubts about the correctness of the Iraqi invasion though, which is a bit surprising from an American in this line of work in 2004.

Still, there is plenty of "US great", "US military great" as to be expected by an American military techno thriller. Also lots of abbreviations and weapon systems, made up or real. The human relationships are mostly absent, but when present they are not great literature.

I like this kind of books so I'm happy to give it three stars. I'm unlikely to recommend it to anyone though, unless I specifically know they also enjoy this particular genre.

[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]

Entertaining. Onto the last of the series, book five,

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed submarine novel.