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Author Anthony Trew's first novel 'Two Hours to Darkness' (1963) is the first novel I know of that features the idea of a SSBN commander suffering a mental breakdown and deciding to carry out a live fire test of the missiles under his control.
But what is truly interesting about the novel is this, the submarine at the center of the plot HMS Retaliate is not a British designed Polaris missile submarine, but one of six Ethan Allen class submarines sold to the Royal Navy and now serving as the Missile class.
The plotline of the novel is clearly inspired by the controversy surrounding the British adoption of Polaris and the American demand that they have final say over when the missiles are fired. I have long been curious to find out whether or not the Americans ever actually offered to sell complete Polaris systems (Missiles & Submarines) or whether it is entirely the product of the authors imagination.
But what is truly interesting about the novel is this, the submarine at the center of the plot HMS Retaliate is not a British designed Polaris missile submarine, but one of six Ethan Allen class submarines sold to the Royal Navy and now serving as the Missile class.
The plotline of the novel is clearly inspired by the controversy surrounding the British adoption of Polaris and the American demand that they have final say over when the missiles are fired. I have long been curious to find out whether or not the Americans ever actually offered to sell complete Polaris systems (Missiles & Submarines) or whether it is entirely the product of the authors imagination.