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Guided Tour
Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship
Only the author of The Hunt for Red October could capture the reality of life aboard a nuclear submarine. Only a writer of Clancy's magnitude could obtain security clearance for information, diagrams, and photographs never before available to the public. Now, every civilian can enter this top secret world and experience the drama and excitement of this stunning technological achievement...the weapons, the procedures, the people themselves...the startling facts behind the fiction that made Tom Clancy a #1 bestseller. Submarine
Exclusive photographs, illustrations, and diagrams Mock war scenarios and weapons launch procedures An inside look at life on board, from captain to crew, from training exercises to operations The fascinating history and evolution of submarines
Tom Clancy's controversial views on submariner tactics and training methods
Exclusive photographs, illustrations, and diagrams Mock war scenarios and weapons launch procedures An inside look at life on board, from captain to crew, from training exercises to operations The fascinating history and evolution of submarines
Tom Clancy's controversial views on submariner tactics and training methods
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
211 people are currently reading
1369 people want to read
About the author
Tom Clancy
986 books9,151 followersThomas Leo Clancy Jr. was an American novelist and military-political thriller pioneer. Raised in a middle-class Irish-American family, he developed an early fascination with military history. Despite initially studying physics at Loyola College, he switched to English literature, graduating in 1969 with a modest GPA. His aspirations of serving in the military were dashed due to severe myopia, leading him instead to a career in the insurance business.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as "the best yarn." This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy's works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy's financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
While working at a small insurance agency, Clancy spent his spare time writing what would become The Hunt for Red October (1984). Published by the Naval Institute Press for an advance of $5,000, the book received an unexpected boost when President Ronald Reagan praised it as "the best yarn." This propelled Clancy to national fame, selling millions of copies and establishing his reputation for technical accuracy in military and intelligence matters. His meticulous research and storytelling ability granted him access to high-ranking U.S. military officials, further enriching his novels.
Clancy's works often featured heroic protagonists such as Jack Ryan and John Clark, emphasizing themes of patriotism, military expertise, and political intrigue. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he became one of the best-selling authors in America, with titles like Red Storm Rising (1986), Patriot Games (1987), Clear and Present Danger (1989), and The Sum of All Fears (1991) dominating bestseller lists. Several of these were adapted into commercially successful films.
In addition to novels, Clancy co-authored nonfiction works on military topics and lent his name to numerous book series and video game franchises, including Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. His influence extended beyond literature, as he became a part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and was involved in various business ventures, including a failed attempt to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.
Politically, Clancy was a staunch conservative, often weaving his views into his books and publicly criticizing left-leaning policies. He gained further attention after the September 11 attacks, discussing intelligence failures and counterterrorism strategies on news platforms.
Clancy's financial success was immense. By the late 1990s, his publishing deals were worth tens of millions of dollars. He lived on an expansive Maryland estate featuring a World War II Sherman tank and later purchased a luxury penthouse in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
He was married twice, first to Wanda Thomas King, with whom he had four children, and later to journalist Alexandra Marie Llewellyn, with whom he had one daughter.
Tom Clancy passed away on October 1, 2013, at the age of 66 due to heart failure. His legacy endures through his novels, their adaptations, and the continuation of the Jack Ryan series by other writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 5, 2017
A guide to nuclear submarines. This in not my usual cup of tea, but I was pretty happy with it. The descriptions are thorough, writing is clear, and some of the historical examples and hypothetical situations are pretty exciting. There's quite a lot of technical detail, which some might like, but often bogged the book down for me. I think the two biggest problems are; not enough of the historical/hypothetical stories, and so much focus on the machines instead of the crew.
April 1, 2019
for the longest time i thought this would be collecting dust on my shelf (read floor) in perpetuity
September 2, 2014
Before I read this book, I thought that nuclear submarines were a bit dull, they were long, tube-shape ships that didn't have any cool-looking turrets, and that WW2 submarines looked much better. Now, I know that the nuclear submarine is the penultimate warship, it's hard to detect, armed with the world's deadliest weapons, and can travel waters that no other ship can. This book taught me that submarines are our deadliest weapon of war, not missile silos, because a submarine can move anywhere on earth, and hit any target, but all a missile silo can do is hope it doesn't get hit first.
August 31, 2012
Having been a submariner I can tell when somebody guesses at "the life". As always, Clancy hit right on the head. Excellent.
March 3, 2013
Tom Clancy talks about and tours various submarines. About as interesting as you would think it would be.
September 6, 2023
Meticulously researched, this book paints a clear picture of the life and purpose of submarines throughout the world in the latter half of the twentieth century. I am curious to see what the authors' reactions to events unfolding in current times might be after reading at least a dozen references in the text to the significant shift in geopolitics at the end of the "Cold War".
The authors sound melancholy about the end of the "Cold War" as it was written in 1993 and rereleased in 2003. Perhaps when one "superpower" has a clearly defined "enemy" in another "superpower" it is easy for people to align themselves with the altruism that "we must win because we are right." This type of nostalgia is markedly dangerous, as it is a root cause of the current military situation in Europe, specifically between Ukraine and Russia, or more specifically, Putin and NATO. Whatever the reason, hawkish sentiments are thinly veiled in this text.
Apart from my criticism of the politics and values inherent in the authors' work, this was an informative look at an important set of military machinery, and more importantly, the people who are responsible for these machines and their employment. If the reader uses a little inductive reasoning, one can draw conclusions about the world we live in today regarding inexplicable technological anomalies often recorded by US Navy personnel, the ongoing threat of "nuclear" war, and the processes that governments and private parties go through to control the global milieu.
The authors sound melancholy about the end of the "Cold War" as it was written in 1993 and rereleased in 2003. Perhaps when one "superpower" has a clearly defined "enemy" in another "superpower" it is easy for people to align themselves with the altruism that "we must win because we are right." This type of nostalgia is markedly dangerous, as it is a root cause of the current military situation in Europe, specifically between Ukraine and Russia, or more specifically, Putin and NATO. Whatever the reason, hawkish sentiments are thinly veiled in this text.
Apart from my criticism of the politics and values inherent in the authors' work, this was an informative look at an important set of military machinery, and more importantly, the people who are responsible for these machines and their employment. If the reader uses a little inductive reasoning, one can draw conclusions about the world we live in today regarding inexplicable technological anomalies often recorded by US Navy personnel, the ongoing threat of "nuclear" war, and the processes that governments and private parties go through to control the global milieu.
June 27, 2020
Buku ini merupakan buku pertama di dalam siri 'A Guided Tour'. Siri buku ini merupakan buku yang dikategorikan di dalam 'bukan fiksyen' (non-fiction). Di dalam buku ini,penulisnya,Tom Clancy,mengajak pembaca untuk menerokai dunia kapal selam,terutamanya kapal selam penyerang berkuasa nuklear (di dalam bahasa Inggeris dikenali sebagai Nuclear Attack Submarine dengan singkatan,SSN). Terdapat dua buah kapal selam yang dijadikan contoh iaitu kapal selam jenis 688I yang diberi nama USS Miami (kelas Los-Angeles) dan kapal selam kelas 'T' iaitu HMS Triumph. Masing-masing merupakan kapal selam penyerang nuklear buatan Amerika Syarikat dan British.
Selain meneliti apa yang terdapat di dalam kedua-dua kapal selam tersebut,para pembaca juga didedahkan dengan pelbagai maklumat sejarah dan teknikal yang berkaitan dengan penciptaan,latihan,pengoperasian dan peperangan kapal selam. Maklumat-maklumat teknikal kedua-dua buah kapal selam juga dipersembahkan kepada pembaca. Ini merangkumi peralatan-peralatan yang digunakan di dalam sesebuah kapal selam penyerang nuklear seperti sonar,sistem persenjataan,sistem pendorongan dan lain-lain perkara yang berkaitan. Untuk menambahkan kefahaman para pembaca mengenai bagaimana sesebuah kapal selam penyerang berkuasa nuklear beroperasi ketika di dalam peperangan,penulis turut memperuntukkan sebuah bab khusus yang membincangkan perkara tersebut. Dengan menggunakan senario-senario operasi rekaan,penulis menerangkan bagaimana kapal selam penyerang nuklear mampu diaturgerakkan untuk menjayakan misi-misi yang mampu dilaksanakan oleh sesebuah kapal selam itu.
Dari segi bahasa,bahasa Inggeris yang digunakan agak mudah untuk difahami dan tidak kompleks. Tidak dinafikan,terdapat beberapa istilah ketenteraan yang digunakan. Namun,perkara ini bukanlah satu masalah yang besar kerana penulis menyediakan sebuah jadual glosari khusus di akhir buku ini untuk menerangkan kepada pembaca maksud-maksud istilah tersebut. Gambar-gambar juga disediakan oleh penulis untuk membantu pembaca mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih jelas mengenai subjek-subjek yang dibincangkan.
Namun demikian,saya juga mendapati terdapat beberapa kekurangan di dalam buku ini. Kekurangan-kekurangan tersebut saya senaraikan seperti di bawah ini:
1) Penulis menerangkan dengan agak terperinci mengenai kapal selam USS Miami,tetapi agak kurang memberikan penjelasan yang sama kepada kapal selam HMS Triumph. Hal ini dapat dilihat apabila dibandingkan tahap ketelitian penerangan antara kedua-dua buah kapal selam. Sebagai contoh,penulis memberikan penjelasan yang panjang lebar mengenai senjata torpedo Mark 48 ADCAP (Advance Capability) yang dibawa oleh USS Miami. Manakala,apabila membincangkan torpedo yang digunakan oleh HMS Triumph iaitu torpedo Tigerfish dan Spearfish,hanya beberapa perenggan sahaja digunakan untuk penerangan.
2) Penggunaan dan pemilihan USS Miami dan HMS Triumph sebagai contoh juga saya dapati bertindih (redundant). Tidak dinafikan,kedua-dua kapal selam berbeza negara penggunanya. Namun,saya berpendapat,apa salahnya sekiranya penulis membincangkan juga kapal selam peluru berpandu balistik nuklear (Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine atau SSBN). Tidak kira sama ada dari Amerika Syarikat (kelas Ohio) atau British (kelas 'V'),sudah tentu akan membuatkan buku ini tambah menarik. Bukan itu sahaja,pembaca akan mendapat 'bonus' kerana dapat mengetahui maklumat-maklumat penting mengenai kedua-dua jenis kapal selam di dalam sebuah buku. Walaupun kedua-dua jenis kapal selam tersebut mempunyai kuasa pendorongan yang sama (nuklear),tetapi masing-masing mempunyai peranan dan cara beroperasi yang berlainan antara satu sama lain. Yakni,gantikan perbincangan mengenai salah satu antara USS Miami atau HMS Triumph dengan mana-mana kapal selam peluru berpandu balistik nuklear dari kedua-dua negara di atas.
3) Kekurangan ketiga juga berkaitan dengan kekurangan kedua,iaitu bertindih. Kedua-dua kapal selam yang diperbincangkan sebenarnya hampir sama keupayaannya dari pelbagai segi. Hal ini kerana kedua-dua kapal selam itu dicipta di negara Barat atau NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Tambahan pula,sebagai sekutu rapat,terdapatnya persamaan teknologi kerana kedua-dua negara,Amerika Syarikat dan British,berkongsi kepakaran dan teknologi untuk membantu antara satu sama lain dalam penghasilan kapal selam penyerang nuklear. Mungkin adalah baik sekiranya salah satu perbincangan kapal selam digantikan dengan perbincangan mengenai kapal selam jenis yang sama tetapi buatan USSR (United Socialist Soviet Republics)/Rusia,yang merupakan musuh Amerika Syarikat dan NATO ketika era Perang Dingin dahulu. Namun begitu,saya memahami perkara ini sukar dilakukan mungkin kerana kesukaran penulis sendiri untuk melakukan kajian akibat kekangan-kekangan dan sekatan-sekatan tertentu. Tambahan pula,penerbitan asal buku ini adalah pada tahun 1993 dan Perang Dingin baru sahaja berakhir. Jadi,atas faktor ini mungkin menyebabkan kesukaran penulis mendapatkan maklumat yang berkaitan dan meneliti sendiri kapal selam penyerang nuklear milik Rusia secara peribadi atas sebab-sebab keselamatan dan kerahsiaan.
Walau bagaimanapun,buku ini tetap menarik untuk dibaca,terutamanya kepada mereka yang berminat dengan kapal selam. Maklumat-maklumat yang dipaparkan adalah sangat berinformasi dan agak lengkap. Namun begitu,perlu ditegaskan di sini bahawa maklumat-maklumat yang dipaparkan di dalam buku ini masih tertakluk kepada sekatan-sekatan yang ditetapkan oleh pihak tentera dan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat. Hal ini dilakukan untuk memastikan rahsia-rahsia keupayaan sebenar negara tersebut terpelihara dan tidak terdedah kepada musuh. Selain itu,terdapat juga maklumat-maklumat yang sudah lapuk (outdated)(buku ini sudah berusia 19 tahun). Namun demikian,nilai dan mutu buku ini masih tidak terjejas terutamanya dari sudut pengetahuan dan sejarah pengoperasian kapal selam penyerang nuklear. Malah,buku ini merupakan antara buku terbaik yang dihasilkan yang membincangkan mengenai kapal selam penyerang nuklear.
Selain meneliti apa yang terdapat di dalam kedua-dua kapal selam tersebut,para pembaca juga didedahkan dengan pelbagai maklumat sejarah dan teknikal yang berkaitan dengan penciptaan,latihan,pengoperasian dan peperangan kapal selam. Maklumat-maklumat teknikal kedua-dua buah kapal selam juga dipersembahkan kepada pembaca. Ini merangkumi peralatan-peralatan yang digunakan di dalam sesebuah kapal selam penyerang nuklear seperti sonar,sistem persenjataan,sistem pendorongan dan lain-lain perkara yang berkaitan. Untuk menambahkan kefahaman para pembaca mengenai bagaimana sesebuah kapal selam penyerang berkuasa nuklear beroperasi ketika di dalam peperangan,penulis turut memperuntukkan sebuah bab khusus yang membincangkan perkara tersebut. Dengan menggunakan senario-senario operasi rekaan,penulis menerangkan bagaimana kapal selam penyerang nuklear mampu diaturgerakkan untuk menjayakan misi-misi yang mampu dilaksanakan oleh sesebuah kapal selam itu.
Dari segi bahasa,bahasa Inggeris yang digunakan agak mudah untuk difahami dan tidak kompleks. Tidak dinafikan,terdapat beberapa istilah ketenteraan yang digunakan. Namun,perkara ini bukanlah satu masalah yang besar kerana penulis menyediakan sebuah jadual glosari khusus di akhir buku ini untuk menerangkan kepada pembaca maksud-maksud istilah tersebut. Gambar-gambar juga disediakan oleh penulis untuk membantu pembaca mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih jelas mengenai subjek-subjek yang dibincangkan.
Namun demikian,saya juga mendapati terdapat beberapa kekurangan di dalam buku ini. Kekurangan-kekurangan tersebut saya senaraikan seperti di bawah ini:
1) Penulis menerangkan dengan agak terperinci mengenai kapal selam USS Miami,tetapi agak kurang memberikan penjelasan yang sama kepada kapal selam HMS Triumph. Hal ini dapat dilihat apabila dibandingkan tahap ketelitian penerangan antara kedua-dua buah kapal selam. Sebagai contoh,penulis memberikan penjelasan yang panjang lebar mengenai senjata torpedo Mark 48 ADCAP (Advance Capability) yang dibawa oleh USS Miami. Manakala,apabila membincangkan torpedo yang digunakan oleh HMS Triumph iaitu torpedo Tigerfish dan Spearfish,hanya beberapa perenggan sahaja digunakan untuk penerangan.
2) Penggunaan dan pemilihan USS Miami dan HMS Triumph sebagai contoh juga saya dapati bertindih (redundant). Tidak dinafikan,kedua-dua kapal selam berbeza negara penggunanya. Namun,saya berpendapat,apa salahnya sekiranya penulis membincangkan juga kapal selam peluru berpandu balistik nuklear (Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine atau SSBN). Tidak kira sama ada dari Amerika Syarikat (kelas Ohio) atau British (kelas 'V'),sudah tentu akan membuatkan buku ini tambah menarik. Bukan itu sahaja,pembaca akan mendapat 'bonus' kerana dapat mengetahui maklumat-maklumat penting mengenai kedua-dua jenis kapal selam di dalam sebuah buku. Walaupun kedua-dua jenis kapal selam tersebut mempunyai kuasa pendorongan yang sama (nuklear),tetapi masing-masing mempunyai peranan dan cara beroperasi yang berlainan antara satu sama lain. Yakni,gantikan perbincangan mengenai salah satu antara USS Miami atau HMS Triumph dengan mana-mana kapal selam peluru berpandu balistik nuklear dari kedua-dua negara di atas.
3) Kekurangan ketiga juga berkaitan dengan kekurangan kedua,iaitu bertindih. Kedua-dua kapal selam yang diperbincangkan sebenarnya hampir sama keupayaannya dari pelbagai segi. Hal ini kerana kedua-dua kapal selam itu dicipta di negara Barat atau NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Tambahan pula,sebagai sekutu rapat,terdapatnya persamaan teknologi kerana kedua-dua negara,Amerika Syarikat dan British,berkongsi kepakaran dan teknologi untuk membantu antara satu sama lain dalam penghasilan kapal selam penyerang nuklear. Mungkin adalah baik sekiranya salah satu perbincangan kapal selam digantikan dengan perbincangan mengenai kapal selam jenis yang sama tetapi buatan USSR (United Socialist Soviet Republics)/Rusia,yang merupakan musuh Amerika Syarikat dan NATO ketika era Perang Dingin dahulu. Namun begitu,saya memahami perkara ini sukar dilakukan mungkin kerana kesukaran penulis sendiri untuk melakukan kajian akibat kekangan-kekangan dan sekatan-sekatan tertentu. Tambahan pula,penerbitan asal buku ini adalah pada tahun 1993 dan Perang Dingin baru sahaja berakhir. Jadi,atas faktor ini mungkin menyebabkan kesukaran penulis mendapatkan maklumat yang berkaitan dan meneliti sendiri kapal selam penyerang nuklear milik Rusia secara peribadi atas sebab-sebab keselamatan dan kerahsiaan.
Walau bagaimanapun,buku ini tetap menarik untuk dibaca,terutamanya kepada mereka yang berminat dengan kapal selam. Maklumat-maklumat yang dipaparkan adalah sangat berinformasi dan agak lengkap. Namun begitu,perlu ditegaskan di sini bahawa maklumat-maklumat yang dipaparkan di dalam buku ini masih tertakluk kepada sekatan-sekatan yang ditetapkan oleh pihak tentera dan kerajaan Amerika Syarikat. Hal ini dilakukan untuk memastikan rahsia-rahsia keupayaan sebenar negara tersebut terpelihara dan tidak terdedah kepada musuh. Selain itu,terdapat juga maklumat-maklumat yang sudah lapuk (outdated)(buku ini sudah berusia 19 tahun). Namun demikian,nilai dan mutu buku ini masih tidak terjejas terutamanya dari sudut pengetahuan dan sejarah pengoperasian kapal selam penyerang nuklear. Malah,buku ini merupakan antara buku terbaik yang dihasilkan yang membincangkan mengenai kapal selam penyerang nuklear.
December 11, 2025
Although now outdated, Submarine still offers a fascinating and detailed look into the inner workings of nuclear submarines. It covers nearly every aspect of their technology, operations, missions, and onboard crew life. The writing is clear and engaging, and while it includes technical discussions of weapons and sonar systems, I found everything well explained and never bogged down in excessive detail.
As noted, much of the book is now out of date in 2025, and I hope the Tom Clancy estate will authorize an updated edition. Personally, I found the sections on crew life and training to be the most compelling and would have welcomed more material on what it’s like to live and work inside a nuclear submarine. Overall, it remains a highly recommended read for those interested in learning about nuclear submarines, particularly during the Cold War era.
As noted, much of the book is now out of date in 2025, and I hope the Tom Clancy estate will authorize an updated edition. Personally, I found the sections on crew life and training to be the most compelling and would have welcomed more material on what it’s like to live and work inside a nuclear submarine. Overall, it remains a highly recommended read for those interested in learning about nuclear submarines, particularly during the Cold War era.
October 1, 2018
IF you are a fan of Clancy AND you LIKE the technical aspexcts of his novels, this book is interesting. (If you are not a fan of the technical aspects, stop here and go no further!).
Imagine a book long technical description of many aspects (if not all) of asubmarine and sub warfare. For some this is like a big bowl of Choclate ice cream and fudge. He delves into all aspects from order, design, fabrication, commisioning to operations as well as aspects of strategy in submarine warfare. NOT for the light hearted reader.
Imagine a book long technical description of many aspects (if not all) of asubmarine and sub warfare. For some this is like a big bowl of Choclate ice cream and fudge. He delves into all aspects from order, design, fabrication, commisioning to operations as well as aspects of strategy in submarine warfare. NOT for the light hearted reader.
June 12, 2022
I inherited this book and thought I’d eventually read it out of technical interest. It’s OK that the details are 30 years out of date, but when combined with the “aw shucks” American boosterism that’s interspersed throughout, the book feels both disjointed and vaguely unpleasant.
If you are looking for a better “life underwater” tale, I recommend “Around The World Submerged”, an adventure referenced in this one.
If you are looking for a better depiction of Navy life, I suggest “Supercarrier”, a book about the USS Enterprise, written at about the same time as this one.
If you are looking for a better “life underwater” tale, I recommend “Around The World Submerged”, an adventure referenced in this one.
If you are looking for a better depiction of Navy life, I suggest “Supercarrier”, a book about the USS Enterprise, written at about the same time as this one.
November 3, 2022
Although seriously outdated regarding current submarine fleets around the world, this book offers a perspective taken during the "glory days" of submarine warfare - WWII and the Cold War. Clancy was a genuine fan of the subject, and his careful research lends a generous hand to the learning opportunities presented in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There is an extensive glossary and bibliography included that by themselves make the price of admission more than reasonable. If you are a student of military design and use of hardware, this is as good a place to start as any,
May 24, 2020
Comprehensive but Dated
A very readable and informative introduction to the state of submarine science and deployment in the final decade of the twentieth century, with a shorter and less detailed summary of the evolution of undersea craft leading up to that apex period. Although it is no fault of the book as written, the reader can’t help wishing the authors had released an updated edition before Clancy’s death in 2013.
A very readable and informative introduction to the state of submarine science and deployment in the final decade of the twentieth century, with a shorter and less detailed summary of the evolution of undersea craft leading up to that apex period. Although it is no fault of the book as written, the reader can’t help wishing the authors had released an updated edition before Clancy’s death in 2013.
November 20, 2021
If you have a fascination with submarines, as I do, this is a great book. It gives some submarine history, and then you get a lot of detail about the submarines of the US. If you like technical details, military strategy, and stories that you wonder how he knows, you will enjoy this book. He also gives decent detail on British subs, and then he gives an overview of the subs of the major nations around the world.
March 16, 2019
The first Tom Clancy book I have ever read!
I received this as a present when it was new (26 years ago?!) and I thought submarines were the "coolest". I still think subs are neat.
Seriously out of date (at least the edition I read was) but interesting. Would have preferred a more general history nowadays.
I received this as a present when it was new (26 years ago?!) and I thought submarines were the "coolest". I still think subs are neat.
Seriously out of date (at least the edition I read was) but interesting. Would have preferred a more general history nowadays.
April 27, 2019
Well-written easy read with good bits of information circa 1990s. Well worth couple hours if you are interested in learning a little more about submarine history and operations including examples of mission types and tactical employment. Other aspects of the text did not age as well because today a lot of open source information is available on the Internet.
August 16, 2017
One of my go to books when I need something to distract me. I have read and re read this so many times.
It is a great overview of the technology and people that crew our submarines and the deterrence they provide.
It is a great overview of the technology and people that crew our submarines and the deterrence they provide.
July 13, 2017
Tom Clancy, l'auteur favori de mes 12-14 ans :) J'avais le rêve de devenir un officier de marine, un rêve qui ne devait jamais être réalisé :)
July 29, 2017
Informative snapshot of submarine history circa early 1990s. Recommend for submarine, Navy, military, and Tom Clancy buffs.
September 16, 2017
Kind of old (2003) but very good
November 23, 2019
Reading this as research for a near-future fiction-writing project. It is a little dated, but still relevant, helpful and well-written.
June 13, 2020
Extremadamente bien documentado
December 2, 2020
An awesome book to read.
January 5, 2022
Dated, the edition I read is 20 years old and the world has changed. Still, this was an interesting overview of submarines and their capabilities, and how vital they are to war and war prevention.
March 1, 2022
Gives a lot of details about submarines.
May 29, 2023
Dated when I read it (~20 years after publication), but full of interesting information.
September 30, 2023
This is a good book. A bit dated at this point. Still a fun read if you like submarines. I wish I had read this back when Hunt For Red October came out.
July 5, 2025
more boring than I thought it was going to be
October 19, 2025
Interesting but limited i what is told (probably for security reasons). Also, out of date by 30+ years.
April 10, 2019
In "Submarine: A Guided Tour inside a Nuclear Warship", Tom Clancy tours a tactical attack submarine describing its many technical details, organization but also missions and other nation’s submarines.
Clancy wrote this book originally in 1993 with the objective to provide the reader with a clear and easily understandable description of the workings of a nuclear submarine in an accessible way. This book somewhat differs from the following books in the series as no lengthy interview is included, segments also describe a British submarine at length and some other submarines cursorily and the tactical missions of the weapon system are looked at in more detail.
The book starts out with a short introduction into the historical development of the submarine service which largely focusses on the technical development and is illustrated with photos and drawings of different weapon systems to point out the development. Then the author gets directly into the building of a nuclear submarine which includes actual construction but also training, tests and organization. The main part of the book is a description of USS Miami, in which different sections and equipment are described in much detail and with many drawings and photos, providing a livid experience for the reader and sometimes technical detail only interesting to military enthusiasts. To broaden the view and contrast the different approaches to submarine design the British submarine HMS Triumph is likewise portrayed in detail. Especially interesting is the description of the actually roles and missions the submarines might undertake, where their utility and ability is pointed out. The segment on other nation’s submarines is only a rather brief list of other designs, which provides a rough overview to the laymen but is not very informative. The glossary and bibliography support a deeper understanding of the topic.
Basically, this book continues to be an interesting source of reference as submarines of the Los Angeles class are still active, although USS Miami has by now been decommissioned. The updated information on the Seawolf and Virginia classes, which was included in later editions do not update the book completely but help ward off the irrelevance. Although the technological development has moved on as roles and missions might also have, the majority of the information provided is still relevant. Especially the author’s overenthusiastic descriptions and lack of any critical analysis of the things he writes about is more annoying than the age of the book.
This partially outdated book thus still offers a good introduction to the topic for readers without prior knowledge and is certainly interesting for military enthusiasts, but readers knowledgeable on the subject will resort to other works.
Clancy wrote this book originally in 1993 with the objective to provide the reader with a clear and easily understandable description of the workings of a nuclear submarine in an accessible way. This book somewhat differs from the following books in the series as no lengthy interview is included, segments also describe a British submarine at length and some other submarines cursorily and the tactical missions of the weapon system are looked at in more detail.
The book starts out with a short introduction into the historical development of the submarine service which largely focusses on the technical development and is illustrated with photos and drawings of different weapon systems to point out the development. Then the author gets directly into the building of a nuclear submarine which includes actual construction but also training, tests and organization. The main part of the book is a description of USS Miami, in which different sections and equipment are described in much detail and with many drawings and photos, providing a livid experience for the reader and sometimes technical detail only interesting to military enthusiasts. To broaden the view and contrast the different approaches to submarine design the British submarine HMS Triumph is likewise portrayed in detail. Especially interesting is the description of the actually roles and missions the submarines might undertake, where their utility and ability is pointed out. The segment on other nation’s submarines is only a rather brief list of other designs, which provides a rough overview to the laymen but is not very informative. The glossary and bibliography support a deeper understanding of the topic.
Basically, this book continues to be an interesting source of reference as submarines of the Los Angeles class are still active, although USS Miami has by now been decommissioned. The updated information on the Seawolf and Virginia classes, which was included in later editions do not update the book completely but help ward off the irrelevance. Although the technological development has moved on as roles and missions might also have, the majority of the information provided is still relevant. Especially the author’s overenthusiastic descriptions and lack of any critical analysis of the things he writes about is more annoying than the age of the book.
This partially outdated book thus still offers a good introduction to the topic for readers without prior knowledge and is certainly interesting for military enthusiasts, but readers knowledgeable on the subject will resort to other works.
February 1, 2015
One of the features I liked best about The Hunt for Red October was the detailed description of submarine technology. Now that Tom Clancy is famous and the darling of the military, he gets to tour all the ships and hardware that he wrote about and the military guys all have to suck up to him because he represents just one more method of increasing their public image. Anyway, Clancy published this non-fictional tour, if you will, of a modern nuclear-powered submarine).
Being somewhat enamored of technology myself I had to read it, and I must admit it's quite fascinating. We are good at creating awesome weapons of destruction -- shame we can't get high speed rail going with the same enthusiasm.
Contrary to the John Wayne crash dives in movies we were all raised on, a modern nuclear submarine requires 5-8 minutes of delicately balanced ballet to submerge, After all, a Los Angeles class submarine weighs about 7,000 tons, so maneuvering is "done with subtlety and a minimum of rapid action." Eliminating noise is the key. They must be as silent as possible to avoid making their presence known.
Underwater running is very smooth, just like walking on concrete. There is no sensation of movement. Of course, on the surface, especially during choppy weather, it's a whole new ball game; "it rolls rather drunkenly. " Living quarters are tight and the men must practice "hotbunking," the sharing of bunks, since there is not enough room for a separate bunk for each. The bunks themselves are identical in size to coffins, 6 x 3 x 2. The captain gets a huge space measuring about 8 X 10 feet. The crews are quite small, only about 130 men, but that still requires lots of food and water.
The distillation plant produces 10,000 gallons per day. Oxygen is produced by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is vented to the outside and the oxygen used for breathing. Living on a nuclear sub is "a combination of living in an oversized motor home and summer camp. Not much room, very little noise [summer camp?], very little news from home, and no privacy."
Clancy delves into the weaponry also. One interesting sidelight. The Exocet missile that destroyed the Sheffield during the Falkland Islands spat actually failed to detonate. It was the unburned fuel of the rocket engine that started a fire that ultimately destroyed the ship. The Tomahawk cruise missile the subs carry which were used extensively during Bush's attempt at reelection was actually Nobel Peace Prize winner Kissinger's successful desire to thwart the treaty obligations of SALT 1. These cruise missiles were a nuclear loophole.
Achieving silence is the most classified technology of the submarine service. The power plant generates 35,000 shaft horse power, yet "the noise radiated by the Miami is probably something less than the energy given off by a 20-watt light bulb. Everything is mounted on rubber. and special sensors are used to detect unusual vibrations from equipment. This has the added benefit of warning of equipment failure, as bearings begin to sound differently as they wear out.
Clancy dedicates about half the book to an examination of British submarines and their rolein NATO, which -is quite interesting. I recommend this book to all non-Luddites.
Being somewhat enamored of technology myself I had to read it, and I must admit it's quite fascinating. We are good at creating awesome weapons of destruction -- shame we can't get high speed rail going with the same enthusiasm.
Contrary to the John Wayne crash dives in movies we were all raised on, a modern nuclear submarine requires 5-8 minutes of delicately balanced ballet to submerge, After all, a Los Angeles class submarine weighs about 7,000 tons, so maneuvering is "done with subtlety and a minimum of rapid action." Eliminating noise is the key. They must be as silent as possible to avoid making their presence known.
Underwater running is very smooth, just like walking on concrete. There is no sensation of movement. Of course, on the surface, especially during choppy weather, it's a whole new ball game; "it rolls rather drunkenly. " Living quarters are tight and the men must practice "hotbunking," the sharing of bunks, since there is not enough room for a separate bunk for each. The bunks themselves are identical in size to coffins, 6 x 3 x 2. The captain gets a huge space measuring about 8 X 10 feet. The crews are quite small, only about 130 men, but that still requires lots of food and water.
The distillation plant produces 10,000 gallons per day. Oxygen is produced by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is vented to the outside and the oxygen used for breathing. Living on a nuclear sub is "a combination of living in an oversized motor home and summer camp. Not much room, very little noise [summer camp?], very little news from home, and no privacy."
Clancy delves into the weaponry also. One interesting sidelight. The Exocet missile that destroyed the Sheffield during the Falkland Islands spat actually failed to detonate. It was the unburned fuel of the rocket engine that started a fire that ultimately destroyed the ship. The Tomahawk cruise missile the subs carry which were used extensively during Bush's attempt at reelection was actually Nobel Peace Prize winner Kissinger's successful desire to thwart the treaty obligations of SALT 1. These cruise missiles were a nuclear loophole.
Achieving silence is the most classified technology of the submarine service. The power plant generates 35,000 shaft horse power, yet "the noise radiated by the Miami is probably something less than the energy given off by a 20-watt light bulb. Everything is mounted on rubber. and special sensors are used to detect unusual vibrations from equipment. This has the added benefit of warning of equipment failure, as bearings begin to sound differently as they wear out.
Clancy dedicates about half the book to an examination of British submarines and their rolein NATO, which -is quite interesting. I recommend this book to all non-Luddites.
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