Disasters of the Deep: A Comprehensive Survey of Submarine Accidents & Disasters

by Edwyn Gray

This is the fully revised and updated edition of the first comprehensive account of every peacetime submarine disaster from 1774 to the present day. By examining many of the sinkings in considerable detail, analysing what went wrong and describing attempts made to rescue the crew and vessel, Edwyn Gray traces the development of the submarine.

Genres: Nonfiction

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2003

About the author

Edwyn Gray is a British author who specialises in naval writing. Educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, Gray read economics at the University of London and then joined the British civil service. His writing career began in 1953 when he started writing for magazines. His first book was published in 1969, and he became a full-time writer in 1980.

Reviews

[Gergely · Rating 2 out of 5]

Provides a great overview on the various submarine accidents and disasters. Research, sourcing, and quality are ok, the reason I knocked off a star is the quantity vs quality approach.

Sure, it lists a lot of (if not practically all) sub disasters, but by that same token, the book almost never goes into details beyond a concise description of the issue, interspersed with excerpts from some survivor/eyewitness accounts, where available. This is a good book if you want the overarching history, but if you want details and in-depth information about any particular submarine disaster, you'd best use this as a springboard.

[Iain Bulpett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive account of submarine disasters, from 1700 experiments to 2002. Covering the the pre-war, inter-war & post-war eras. Also contains listings of those lost in both world wars, although due to war time secrecy the accounts are sketchier. Thoroughly enjoyed reading the exploits & explanations of bravery & ingenuity that proceeded the vessels of today.

[Krissh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Researched

Interesting book if you are interested in submarines. Shocking waste of life of many submariners whose lives could have been saved if rescue attempts had been started earlier.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to skip through some of the chapters in WWI because it got to be too much of a "grocery list" for disasters. Really enjoyed some of the very early developments of subs and then the nuclear powered subs.

[Peter Fortier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actuate?

I was a sub-sailor in the 60's & 70's and found many glaring errors. However, it was very interesting, I'm sure the author had to rely on records which were not allowed to be complete due to security.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting.

[TackMc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encyclopaedic detail on submarine disasters