Book Review: Deep Sound Channel

Reviewed By: David Ball

Deep Sound Channel     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Joe Buff
Class/Genre:   Military   Mystery   Submarines   Thriller
Bantam, 2000, 354 pp.

In 2011, a coup occurs in South Africa and the new Government begins sinking U.S. and British Merchant ships. When NATO responds, Germany holds out and then attacks Poland with Nukes and overruns France. War rages in the South Atlantic.

USS Challenger is a new type of submarine, with a ceramic hull, which makes it stealthy and lets it go a LOT deeper than conventional nuclear subs. Challenger is brought in for a covert mission to emplace a SEAL team and a female South African freedom fighter ashore to attack a biological warfare facility.

This book gives us a good look at what naval warfare might be like when low yield tactical nuclear warheads are routinely used. It’s a good adventure and the characters are well developed. It’s also interesting to see what the technology might be like. I especially loved the vehicles the SEAL team uses to get ashore.

If you like submarine stories, I’d recommend taking a look at this book. It provides a real insight into the complications tactical nukes make in submarine warfare.

David Ball

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, David Ball