Hunter Killers: The Dramatic Untold Story of the Royal Navy's Most Secret Service

by Iain Ballantyne

HUNTER a submarine designed to pursue and attack enemy submarines and surface ships using torpedoes.HUNTER KILLERS will follow the careers of four daring British submarine captains who risked their lives to keep the rest of us safe, their exploits consigned to the shadows until now. Their experiences encompass the span of the Cold War, from voyages in WW2-era submarines under Arctic ice to nuclear-powered espionage missions in Soviet-dominated seas. There are dangerous encounters with Russian spy ships in UK waters and finally, as the communist facade begins to crack, they hold the line against the Kremlin's oceanic might, playing a leading role in bringing down the Berlin Wall. It is the first time they have spoken out about their covert lives in the submarine service.This is the dramatic untold story of Britain's most-secret service.

Genres: Military History, Nonfiction, History, War, Biography, Naval History

497 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2013

About the author

'Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom - 80th anniversary edition' is Iain's latest book and an updated and expanded new version of the 2016 original, this time published both as an e-book and a shop paperback. His previous book was 'Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (Sept 2019), also for Agora Books.

Although he has written several naval history books, including those on the Second World War and the Cold War, Iain Ballantyne has, during the course of his career as a journalist, editor, and author, also covered the activities of land forces.

Those assignments took him to Kuwait, Oman, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Hong Kong, sometimes during times of conflict. Iain has visited WW2 battlefields in company with those who fought there as young men, while also spending hours in conversation with Arnhem veterans.

As a teenager, Iain embarked on an expedition to follow the course of the Rhine, including a pilgrimage to Oosterbeek and Arnhem. He retraced the route of the British Airborne soldiers in 1944 as they tried to take the famous ‘bridge too far’.

Iain Ballantyne’s assignments as a writer on naval affairs have taken him from the Arctic to mine infested waters off war-torn Kuwait, aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier off Libya, into the South China Sea and below the Irish Sea in a hunter-killer submarine.

Iain has contributed to coverage of naval and military issues in national and regional newspapers, and provided analysis and commentaries for radio and television, as well as prestigious publications by NATO and the Royal Navy.

His most recent naval history book was 'The Deadly Trade: The Complete History of Submarine Warfare from Archimedes to the Present' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018). It was published in the USA in December 2018, as 'The Deadly Deep' (Pegasus Books).

Iain's other books include ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion, 2013), which was published in the USA in September 2019 as 'Undersea Warriors' (Pegasus Books).

Iain won a Mountbatten Certificate of Merit for his action-packed depiction of the pursuit and destruction of Hitler's flagship as recounted in ‘Killing the Bismarck’ (Pen & Sword, 2010).

In 2017 he was awarded a Fellowship by the UK’s Maritime Foundation. One of its top annual awards, it recognised Iain’s immense contribution to the maritime cause since 1990, as a journalist, author of naval history books and Editor of 'WARSHIPS International Fleet Review' magazine from 1998 to the present.

Reviews

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2013, Hunter Killers looks at post-war Royal Navy attack submarine operations through the eyes and careers of several commanders in the years ending around the end of the cold war. This means a lot of gripping anecdotes spread over 75 chapters covering experiences with surviving WW2 conventional boats right up to the huge nuclear subs of recent years. Many incidents involving Soviet boats are recounted - for all of you Tom Clancy fans, this reinforces my belief that fact is always more exciting than fiction. Missile boats do get an extensive mention, because some of these commanders served on missile boats as well as attack boats - this helps understand the difference in pace that crews operate under. If you like spy stories, then the tales of successful Soviet espionage operations to obtain details of submarine systems are brilliant. The author pokes fun at the James Bond movie 'The Spy Who Loved Me' over it's cavalier treatment of submarine operational methods, but surely nobody takes Roger Moore Bond movies that seriously anyway. There is even mention of a Royal Navy Frigate, captained by a former submariner, evading a torpedo launched at it by a Russian ship, with the concern that even if it was a blank it would punch straight through the 5mm thick plating - great stuff!

[Kurt Rackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great piece of both journalism and history.

Iain Ballantyne has succeeded in surpassing the equivalent American tome Bilnd Man's Bluff in bringing the secretive world of the Royal Navy's Submarine Service of our the shadows.

Encompassing the RN's activities after the war up to the present day, he uses historical and journalistic references combined with personal stories of former sub commanders to bring the murky world of the Cold War to life. Treading the fine line of secrecy and disclosure, he attempts to draw the reader into the action while never losing sight of the cultural and political imperatives of the Cold War nations.

He succeeds brilliantly - this is a readable and memorable account that I can't recommend too highly to anyone with an interest in naval operations, especially submarines.

[Sean Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply researched, a tale of 70 years of submariners and their ships

You get the impression that the Silent Service is a tightly knit, small group, but never so much as reading excerpts from the diaries of the commanders who shepherded the UK service through the height of the Cold War. A bit technical in spots, but overall terribly engaging. Couldn’t put it down.

[ANTHONY CURTIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant the battle of the Seas

Gripping, in depth analysis of the race for domination of the protection of our people,the stakes could not be greater,this is Stealth that goes beyond what you could imagine.really great read Highly Recommended.

[David P · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable general history of the Royal Navy in the cold war. Focusses more strongly on the people than the technology, with plenty of personal histories of key officers and events.

[The Bookster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great history of the submarine development and the royal navy's silent service since WW2, woven with biographical accounts and stories.

[Felix Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about life in Submarines, but don't expect an objective coverage. "Britain best, everything else is bad"

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read, written from the memoirs of Submariners in the Royal navy from WW2 into the cold war.

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunter Killers traces the origin and development of the Royal navy's Submarine Service from WWI through to the modern age of SSNs. The development post-WWII takes the vast majority of the book. The complex and disparate advances and story-lines are expertly weaved together by Iain through following the careers of three officers from their entry into the Service through their advances through the ranks and the various boats they served on.

The book thoroughly looks at the development of the Silent Service and the inclusion of the personal stories makes for an enthralling read which is split into numerous small chapters allowing for the book to be picked-up or put down at any time. A definite read if you are interested in the history of the British submarine service.

[Mike Woodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of concentrating what is a large subject matter into the personal stories of just a few people who were involved in cold war submarine matters. It is very readable but that is from a perspective of someone who served in the RN for 25 years (not submarines) therefore I am well aware of the lingo. This might be confusing to others even with the presence of a glossary.

For me the book did wander a bit and give me the impression, at times, that the author was just retelling social chat from his friends in the submarine service than an objective look at the subject.

In all though it is a very readable book and a worthwhile read for anyone who has an interest in what went on under the water during the cold war. I certainly learnt one or two things.

[Al Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was worried that this might be a very technical book full of the intricacies of different submarines and their performance. Not at all. The book is written like a thriller and is a real page turner. Thoroughly recommended if you have any kind of interest in the cold war or submarine operations.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and covers the activities of the Royal Navy's submarines through the Cold War period. It also provides a good deal of insight into what it means to be a submariner.

[Norbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and detailed history of the Royal Navy's submarines from 1945 to 1990

[Philip Gardocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful anecdotal stories of the British underwater navy