Best Submarines Books of 2025

"Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania" by Erik Larson is a captivating read that tells the story of the sinking of the Lusitania during WWI. Larson masterfully switches between the perspectives of the hunter and the hunted, providing a larger portrait of America during the Progressive Era. The book is filled with glamour, suspense, and a cast of evocative characters, making it thoroughly engrossing. Overall, "Dead Wake" is an important and gripping historical account that sheds light on one of the great disasters of history.

Peg Leg Pete and His Little Green Submarine is an exciting children's adventure book that takes readers on a thrilling underwater journey while emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation of the seas. The story follows young Pete and his friends as they explore the ocean in a fantastic green submarine, encountering sharks, fish, lagoons, and treasure. However, the threat of trash polluting the ocean puts their adventure at risk, and it's up to Pete and his team to save the day. This book is a great way to introduce children to the wonders of the ocean and teach them about the importance of protecting our environment. Highly recommended for young readers interested in submarines and marine life.

Elizabeth’s Navy: Seventy Years of the Postwar Royal Navy is a highly illustrated history of the Royal Navy during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Maritime history author Paul Brown takes readers through each decade, outlining the key events and developments, and charting the changes to the Navy's size, structure, and capabilities. The book is fully illustrated with over 260 colour and black and white images, providing a stunning visual record of the ships and operations. Overall, Dr Brown's clear passion and in-depth expertise make for a thoroughly enjoyable read, and the book is a visual treat for naval military history enthusiasts.

The book "The Capture of U-505" by Mark Lardas is a detailed account of Captain Gallery's risky plan to capture an enemy U-boat during World War II. The author uses contemporary sources to explore why Gallery thought the reward was worth the risk of almost endangering the war against the U-boats. The book features contemporary photographs, specially commissioned artwork, and 3D maps, making it a fascinating exploration of one of the most controversial and dangerous raids in naval military history. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in naval history and military strategy.

The Taking of K-129 is a thrilling account of how the CIA, the US Navy, and Howard Hughes teamed up to steal a nuclear-armed Soviet submarine that had sunk to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean during the Cold War. The book details the six-year-long top-secret mission that cost almost a billion dollars and became the most daring covert operation in CIA history. The author's writing style is engaging and informative, making it a must-read for anyone interested in naval military history. Overall, this book is a fascinating and unique account of a daring Cold War operation that is sure to captivate readers.

A highly illustrated history of the US Navy's nuclear submarine program, from the postwar years to the 2020 Columbia-class SSBNs.. James C. Goodall covers the origins, design and development of the US Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. This program was developed under the command of Hiram G. Rickover, the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” who oversaw the commissioning of the very first nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1952. This was a truly revolutionary design. Until the advent of nuclear power, the world's submarine fleets traveled on the surface at night to charge their batteries, and only dove below the surface when enemy ships or planes were spotted. With the development of the USS Nautilus, the US Navy now had the ability to stay submerged for not just hours or days, but to hide out of harm's way for weeks or months at a time. This highly illustrated book covers all of the 220+ submarine hulls built and delivered to the US Navy from the USS Nautilus through to the Navy's newest class of submarine, the Columbia class SSBNs. The story of the Nuclear Navy from its origins up to the present day is told through more than 1,300 images from official and archive sources, as well as the author's own personal collection, some of which have never been published before.

Midway Submerged is the first book that provides a comprehensive examination of the submarine operations during the Battle of Midway in May-June 1942. While most books overlook submarines at Midway, this book explains how the Japanese misused their submarines due to a flawed tactical plan. Through in-depth archival research, the author examines the intended role of submarines in both navies and assesses their actual accomplishments, successes, and failures. The book concludes that submarines played a more important role in the outcome of the battle than previously understood. This book is a must-read for naval military history enthusiasts.

Sailors to the End is a meticulously documented history of the deadly fire on the USS Forrestal that took the lives of 134 men during the Vietnam War. The book sheds light on the tragedy that has been blamed on the sailors themselves for thirty-five years, showing that they were truly the victims and heroes. Gregory A. Freeman's writing style is engaging and informative, making this naval military history book a must-read. This book is a unique and compelling account of the courageous sailors who fought the fire on the USS Forrestal.

The book "Why the USS Thresher (SSN 593) Was Lost" by Nimble Books provides a detailed analysis of the events leading to the loss of the US nuclear submarine THRESHER (SSN-593) in 1963. The author explains how standard compensation procedures were not followed, leading to the submarine being heavy and unable to deballast. The book also discusses the possible contribution of the reactor scram and loss of propulsion. The author presents multiple lines of evidence to support the conclusion that there was no flooding prior to the collapse of the pressure-hull at great depth. This book is a must-read for naval military history enthusiasts who want to understand the technicalities behind this tragic event.

Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Carriers of the Last 100 Years is a fascinating book that features 52 of the most significant flat tops and amphibious assault ships built since the 1920s. The book provides a brief description of each ship's development and history, key features, specifications, and a color profile view or cutaway. The author, David Ross, specializes in maritime, engineering, and railway history, and this expertise is evident throughout the book. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in naval military history books. The book is published by Amber, making it a reliable source of information for those who want to know more about the world's greatest carriers.