Danger's Hour

by James Francis

Crippled following a collision with another sub, the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Tulsa is left stranded on the ocean floor, with its crew trapped, oxygen running out, power systems failing, and Commander Geoff Richter struggling to save his crew. Original.

Genres: Thriller

434 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Susan Kayar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a riveting submarine escape story told by someone who has practical experience with every technical aspect of his scenario. Dr. Francis was an officer in the UK Royal Navy for decades, where he specialized in submarine rescue and diving medicine. He is thus able to vividly present to the reader all the capabilities and deficiencies of the systems in place in Europe and the US for dealing with a disabled sub, as this technology stood around the year 2000. Fortunately for the submarine community, a number of the deficiencies described in Danger's Hour have since been remedied. This is not coincidental; Dr. Francis himself, along with a team of others, has contributed a brilliant invention for chemically removing exhaled carbon dioxide from the air inside a disabled sub, with the chemical reaction yielding much-needed heat. This invention has been adopted by submarine services of many nations. What makes his story timeless is his rich character portrayals. He gets into the minds of the men responsible for the accident leading to the sinking of the sub, and the political and personal ramifications of any course of action they take. He does not hesitate to show just how terrifyingly bad conditions are, and deteriorating, in the disabled sub, and what psychological toll this takes on the trapped men. He shows the dilemmas faced by the people responsible for launching a rescue, and how they must choose between pressing ahead with a rescue at all costs, versus restraining their actions in favor of their own safety and the practicalities imposed by weather and other forces beyond their control. Dr. Francis also reaches into the minds and hearts of family members ashore, desperately awaiting news of life or death. This is no book for sissies. It is never gratuitously gruesome, but unflinchingly accurate in its portrayal of a dangerous and realistic situation. The tale is told by a man with a good heart and a lot of empathy.

Susan R. Kayar, author of Operation SECOND STARFISH, a Tale of Submarine Rescue, Science, and Friendship

[Keith Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look out Christie here I come

[Thorsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein leidlich guter Military-Thriller der die Schrecken eines U-Boot-Unfalls gut aufzeigt.
Aber er zeigt auch auf wie gerettet werden kann wenn es zum "Worst Case" kommt.