The Deadly Deep

The Definitive History of Submarine Warfare

By: Iain Ballantyne

Narrated by: Paul Ansdell

Length: 28 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

This fascinating and comprehensive account reveals how an initially ineffectual underwater boat - originally derided and loathed in equal measure - evolved into the most powerful and terrifying vessel ever invented - with enough destructive power to end all life on Earth. 

Iain Ballantyne considers the key episodes of submarine warfare and vividly describes the stories of brave individuals who have risked their lives under the sea, often with fatal consequences. His analysis of underwater conflict begins with Archimedes discovering the principle of buoyancy. This clandestine narrative then moves through the centuries and focuses on prolific characters with deadly motives, including David Bushnell, an American who devised the first combat submarine with the idea of attacking the British in 1775.

Today, nuclear-powered submarines are among the most complex, costly ships in existence. Armed with nuclear weapons, they have the ability to destroy millions of lives: They are the most powerful warships ever created. At the heart of this thrilling narrative lurks danger and power as we discover warfare's murkiest secrets.

©2018 Iain Ballantyne (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

American Effors Get Short Shift

Did not realize that this book was primarily based on the British Efforts in Submarine Operations. Would have skipped it if that had been recognized before I bought the book!

Narrator needs a pronunciation guide

Overall the book focusses heavily on the 2 world wars and pre ww1 history of the submarine. post ww2, there is very little discussed. Based on other books I've read on the subject the author could have had another 5 hours at least of content on the cold war. Generally skipped over US Submarine exploits during WW2, with the exception of some highlights, but missed significant accounts found in other books.

The narrator was brilliant for most of the book, however he kept pronouncing "Leyte Gulf" as "Late Gulf". It was horribly distracting. Pronounced the city of Mobile, Alabama like "Mobile Home".

The complete history of Great Britain’s submarines….

When only 15 or 20 minutes of an audiobook, thats over 25 hours long, is spent discussing the US submarines (and their accomplishments in the Pacific ) is clearly not the complete history of submarines.

Interesting stuff…. Not what I expected.

Compelling history, biography and technology.

I thought I knew the history of submarines and underwater warfare. This account is remarkable, both in length but also in depth and insight. You will walk away trying to invent a time machine, to return to those times when both men and boats were made of steel. The narrator is superb. I really cannot find a flaw, and personally like the length of the program, which is filled with detail. Felt like I was there, appreciating both submarine and anti-submarine warfare. Also, I had no idea WWI submarines were so advanced and had penetrated so many theaters.

Not For the Unlearned Reader

This book is an exacting, detailed account of submarine warfare written with great precision by the wonderful writer Iain Ballantyne. His writing is clear, concise, and his knowledge on this subject is of the highest expertise. So for someone who knows little to nothing about submarine warfare for the past 250 years, it is easy to get lost immediately in the vastness of the subject. And once lost you can never find a footing again.

Too, this book is basically three separate books in one, maybe four. That is how much time is spent on each specific time period, namely the First and second WW and the Cold War. Paul Ansdell is a perfect narrator for this book. But this is not for a casual reader or someone who thinks it might be fun to hear about submarines. Know the subject before diving in.

Excellent overview of submarine warfare

Very well written and quite interesting. it is British focused but still provides good information about other nation's submarine history. Most books I've read before about submarine history mostly covers the United States, Russia, and Germany, So it was actually a very nice to find out a lot more information about Great Britain's submarines.

Not the same old tales

The content is excellent with stories unfamiliar. The reader mispronounced many words, particularly place names.

great account of total history of submarines

not as exciting as I expected. but overall a great education on submarines and the history there of

A biased British perspective on submarine history, perhaps.

The Royal Navy owes this author a medal for the dangerous foray he made into stupidity with his generous portrayal of British submarine history. The author did an excellent job of portraying the British submarine and anti submarine forces as the world’s foremost…from beginning to end, ad nauseam. If you are looking for any meaningful history of submarines after 1900, I do not think you will find it here. The contributions of the Americans and Russians to submarines and submarine warfare are minimized to a point that it is truly difficult to take the author seriously.

I do not believe the name Rickover was even mentioned. How is it possible to write a history of submarine warfare and not mention the man who was responsible for the rise of nuclear powered submarines? As much writing was devoted to the Falkland conflict as was devoted to the entirety of the Cold War. This implies that, in the author’s view, the Falklands held more import in submarine warfare than 40 years of conflict between the two super powers. This, I have no doubt, is because the British were involved.

The absolutely devastating effect American submarines had on Japanese shipping during WW2 was mentioned as if it were a result of Japanese ineptitude, interrupted by occasional lucky boats and captains. The author glossed over the torpedo malfunctions and the associated drama which was, perhaps, the largest issue facing American submarines for the first two years of the war. The comparisons made between German submarine success in the Atlantic, i.e. British sacrifice and loss, versus American submarine success in the Pacific, defies logic and ignores the vastly different missions, equipment, and operating theaters.

This Anglo-centric history is not a reasonable or well researched history of all submarines. It is a biased and skewed opinion piece that overemphasizes the importance of past and present British submarine forces and strategy, while downplaying the technological and tactical contributions and advantages other nations have.

This book is a missed opportunity.

Well researched and written

This is a well researched and written book. But the performance is a little low key and dry. Submarine stories can be exciting and thrilling. But the narration causes those stories to be a bit dry and ho hum.