Covert Duress

by Todd Tucker

Danny Jabo takes command of the USS Pittsburgh, and soon finds himself operating in some of the world's most dangerous waters. It's a journey across the globe, and back in time, as Danny must familiarize himself with diesel-powered submarines and the heroic World War II captains who commanded them.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2017

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Covert Duress, now-commander Jabo, captain of his own boat (the USS Pittsburgh), is tapped to serve aboard a Pakistani diesel sub as an advisor, alongside a Pakistani commander who went to school at Annapolis, training alongside the men and women of the US Navy and Marines.. Jabo is asked to serve aboard the PNS Khalid, commissioned in 1999. The United States and Pakistan at this time have closer ties, both because India hasn’t lost its reputation for being a Soviet client, and because the stresses of 9/11 and the Afghan invasion have not yet happened. The Pakistanis are on a mission to covertly destroy a ship leaving an Iranian harbor with mysterious barrels aboard that are thought to be weapons which will be used against Pakistan or her allies, the US included. While Jabo is providing technical assistance to the Pakistanis (which mostly consists of hanging out on the bridge and providing feedback when asked), his own ship is undergoing a safety test that could put it out of action for a year if anything goes awry. This book is even shorter than it appears because several chapters are excerpts from the fictional WW2 submarine memoir, Rig for Dive, which Jabo re-reads to acquaint himself with diesel sub operations. Rig for Dive featured prominently in the first Jabo book, inspiring the crazed officer who attempted to destroy the Alabama.

While there's very little in the way of plot here, the amount of details into navy ops is still winsome, especially with the added Pakistani element.

[Allan Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cmdr. Jabo is a passenger/consultant aboard a submarine serving under the flag of a different nation. There are explanations of the differences in a nnuclear and a diesel submarine and is slow reading at times. Jabo's boat is in a dry dock during the bulk of this book and being tested in the remainder of the book that if his sub failed, it would probably be out of service for another year to year and a half. Several times during the book are chapters of a log by a submarine commander during a WWII action cruise. All in all, the book was disjointed and a disappointment when compared to other Danny Jabo Novels.

[James Nuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic Submarine Life

This is a finely crafted adventure that follows the lives of several true to life submariners. Although not as action packed as some of this genre the descriptions are compelling and the characters and the studies in leadership make for a very good read. Highly recommended. The interspersed segments of WWII action come straight from the patrol logs of famous subs. The added link to the actual Navy archive material is terrific.

[Norman K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

After two excellent yarns and a mediocre third, Covert Duress seemed the author was under covert duress to get something, anything, to publication. Contract obligation? Whatever, if the author did all the research detailed in the epilogue, he should have had a basis for much more than a couple hour, predictable read. Basically boring with limited character development as a carryover from the previous books. A disappointment.

[Dan Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Series!

After reading all the books in this series I hope Mr Tucker will write some more Danny Jabo books or spin offs on one of the main characters. I liked the references to the WW 2 books on submarine patrols and plan on reading them. A very good series and I look forward to Mr Tucker 's next book.

[Aaron G Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great naval book on submariners. I enjoyed the action and the writers ability to paint a solid picture without bogging the reader down in too many technical facts. I've read all four of books in the Jabo series and hope there will be more!

[Leslie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut back in future books about detail. Too much irrelevant detail. Liked the action and history of submarines

Too much irrelevant detail. Liked the history of submarines and the action scenes. All in all a good book and would recommend.

[Richard L Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This charts the continued story of career of Danny Jabo in the modern Submarine services. It also tells the adventures of the Sub service in the Pacific during
WW2. Great on all accounts!!

[Frank Fusco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and gripping

Wonderful insight of the submarine world. Some not so pretty scenes. Reminding the reader of the realities of war whether in water or land.

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Very interesting series.

[John Fagner, 1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t see any reason for this book to have been written. I’ve read all books in this collection, but wasn’t too enthused with this one. Hopefully this will lead into the next adventure.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another example of submarine action

A fast easy read, not filled with needless information. An interesting concept of international and political workings in the navy

[Bruce A Fuerbringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

A good read, like the entire series. May not be overly action packed, but very entertaining and informative to a non-Navy reader. Looking forward to a book number 5,