The World’s Greatest Submarines: An Illustrated History

In 1776, American Patriots attempted to destroy the British flagship Eagle using a man-operated semi-submersible, the Turtle, in New York harbour. The attack failed, but the idea stuck. Almost 90 years later, the CSS Hunley successfully rammed into the Federal sloop USS Housatonic with a spar torpedo. The Housatonic became the first ship in naval history to be sunk by a submarine. The World's Greatest Submarines features the most significant submarines built, from the German U-9 - which sank three British cruisers on 22 September 1914 - through the huge Japanese I-400 class to the great nuclear-powered submarines of the Cold War, such as the USS Los Angeles and Soviet Oscar class. Also included are the 'undersea cruiser' Surcouf; the highly successful Type VII U-boats of World War II; and the latest attack and ballistic missile submarines, such as HMS Astute, USS Virginia, the Chinese Type 094 and the Russian Yasen class. Each entry includes a brief description of the submarine's development and history, a color profile or cutaway, key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, The World's Greatest Submarines is an accessible guide for those interested in naval history.

David Ross specialises in maritime and railway history and has written and contributed to numerous books on these subjects. His most recent books are Ships Visual Encyclopedia, The Essential Naval Identification Guide: Submarines 1914-Present, Great Warships and The World’s Greatest Battleships.