Silent Killers

Silent Killers examines the history and development of the submarine and its role in naval warfare, from the first experiments with submersible craft to the development of the modern nuclear submarine. The development of submarine technology is studied in detail, from wooden to iron to steel hulls, from hand-cranked to nuclear-powered propulsion, from candle light to electricity, from gunpowder "torpedoes" to nuclear missiles, as are the personalities involved-among them David Bushnell, Robert Fulton, Wilhelm Bauer, Lodner Phillips, and John Holland. Tales of dives, disastrous and successful, of engineering triumphs and tragedies, and of combat successes and failures are all included in this fascinating and compelling illustrated history.

From humble beginnings as small wooden craft such as Bushnell's Turtle during the American Revolutionary War, with the advert of World War II the submarine became one of the most feared weapons of modern conflict as German U-boats launched a campaign of unrestricted warfare on the seas. This fascinating evolution is covered in dramatic detail by renowned marine historian James Delgado.

Today the submarine continues to prowl the seas. With formidable underwater endurance they patrol the world unseen, ready to deliver nuclear strikes at a moment's notice. Throughout the course of the 20th century and now the 21st, submarines have changed to balance of world power, and will continue to do so for many years to come. This compelling history by one of the world's foremost experts is a timely reminder of the power of the so-called "silent killers."

James P. Delgado has led or participated in shipwreck expeditions around the world. His undersea exploration include RMS Titanic, the recent discovery of Carpathia (the ship that rescued Titanic's survivors), the notorious "ghost ship" Mary Celeste, USS Arizona, the sunken fleet of atomic-bombed warships at Bikini Atoll, and the 1846 wreck of the United States naval brig Somers, whose tragic story inspired Herman Melville's Billy Budd.

Dr. Delgado is the Executive Director of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the world's leading scientific organization dedicated to the study of shipwrecks and seafaring. He previously served as executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Vancouver. British Columbia, as the head of the US government's maritime preservation program, and as the maritime historian for the US National Park Service. The host, with Clive Cussler, of the National Geographic International Television Series The Sea Hunters.