Fictional Warships - Novels

[Graham1973]

An unexpected find on the Internet Archive...

Edward Grant (Pseud?), The Ultimate Weapon, 1976

United States

USS Devilfish
Prototype SSN
Propulsion: Twin Screw. Each screw is mounted in an external pod and rather than being mechanically linked to the ships engines they are electromagnetically linked.
Speed (Submerged): 80knots(+), surfaced speed is unspecified.
Crew: 60 (75 in times of war.)
Crush Depth: 3miles (4828.032meters)
Hull: Entirely composed of fiberglass, hull thickness, 4in (102mm) (Note: This is presumably the maximum thickness...)
Hull form: "...Devilfish's four inch thick fiberglass hull had great streamlined wings flaring out to either side of the central cigar, which made her look like a giant manta ray..."
Armament: "Four heavy missile-launching tubes were mounted aiming outward on either side of her sail. They could carry either cruise missiles to strike at enemy warships and merchant vessels or homing antiaircraft missiles..."
2 x 21inch TT (Location not specified). Torpedo magazines are in the submarines wings and hold 50 torpedoes in total. The tubes are fitted with an autoloader mechanism and use chemically generated steam pressure to launch the torpedoes.
Description: "All that showed of Devilfish above water was her high, thin sail, part of her rudder and the upper portion of her cigar shaped central hull. When she was in the water her great wings were completely submerged and it was impossible to distinguish her from a standard submarine."
Also carried aboard is an unnamed minisub and an experimental device called the Mk II Food Processor (The 'Mk.I' was the initial prototype.). This is a machine that can take all organic waste products produced on the submarine and convert it into food.
Only member of class
No other details provided
Note: Not directly under the Navy's chain of command, but assigned to the Office of Special Submarine Operations (OSSO).

Russia (Soviet Union)

Thunderbolt/Molniya
Submarine (SSN), class not specified.
Crew: 90
Speed: 45knots+
No other details provided
Note: As I was reading the story I was getting the impression that this submarine was intended to be a Soviet Alfa (Pr. 705) Class Submarine, based off what was known/speculated about the class in the West at the time. But there are no specifics provided in the novel to confirm this speculation.

W-211
Submarine, class not specified
No other details provided

Plot summary: A prototype submarine is fitted with a new system one that promises to free US submarines from the last major constraint to true submarine operations outside the need to re-arm. Of course the Russians want that technology too...

Note: The novel is copyright Lyle Kenyon Engle, a 'book packager' who specialized in coming up with ideas for action series. The most well known of these is the 'Nick Carter' series that ripped off 'James Bond'. It is quite likely the authors name credited is a pseudonym for one of the authors working for Engle and that this novel was intended as the first in an action series inspired by the Irwin Allen TV series 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' that did not come off.

 

[Graham1973]

R. Cameron Cooke, Rise To Victory, 2006

United States

USS Providence (SSN-719)
Los Angeles Class Submarine
Real Ship, details as in service

Australia

HMAS Stuart (FFH 153)
Anzac Class Frigate
Real ship, details as in service
Note: Author refers to the ship as a 'destroyer'.

Indonesia

KRI Malahayati (361)
Fatahillah Class Corvette
Real ship, details as in service.

KRI Nuhu
Kapitan Pattimura (Former East German Parchim (Pr.133.1)) Class Corvettes
Details as per the real ships.

KRI Hatta
Type 214 Submarine
Details as per the real ships

Plot summary: A US submarine is sent to rescue an American citizen from an unstable area of Indonesia.

Note: As with the authors 2016 novel 'Dive Beneath The Sun', which has been covered earlier in this thread, the novel features a high proportion of real units being used in fictional ways.

 

[Graham1973]

Continuing the exploration of pulp magazines...

Laurence Donovan, Murder's So Sorry, published in American Eagle Magazine, December 1941

United States

USS Stralan
River Gunboat
Details probably identical to the USS Panay (PR-5)

For the Aircraft Mavens

Japan

Unnamed
Exact copy of the Dornier Do.24 Flying Boat.

Plot summary: The Japanese said the bombing was a mistake, but there's no way the American's are going to let that stand without some kind of response.

 

[Graham1973]

From a 1950s comic book, part one...

Anon., 40 Fathoms of Silence, published in Navy Task Force, June 1955

United States

USS Warhead (SS-413)
'Fleet Submarine', class not specified, possibly a member of the Balao Class.
No other details provided
Note: Pennant number clashes with that of the Balao Class USS Spot (SS-413).

USS Fang (SS-611)
'Fleet Submarine', class not specified, possibly a member of the Tench Class.
No other details provided
Note: Pennant number clashes with that of the USS John Marshall (SSBN-611) an Ethan Allen Class Submarine which commissioned in 1962.

Plot summary: You never forget your first command...

 

[Graham1973]

From a 1950s comic book, part two...

Anon., Red Pigeons, published in Navy Task Force, Oct 1955

United States

USS Ventura
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided.
Note: Described as the "..pride of the United States Navy..."


Plot summary: During the Korean War a US carrier uses an unexpected weapon to deal with a North Korean air attack.

 

[uk 75]

The People’s Space Odyssey: 2010: The Year We Make Contact | Centauri Dreams

Back in 1982 at the height of the Cold War Arthur C Clarke published the first of three sequels to his novel/film "2001 a Space Odyssey".
The US/Soviet mission takes place against the backdrop of a Cuba style confrontation between the US and Soviet fleets off Honduras.
In a wonderful bit of retro futurism Clarke writes that a US nuclear destroyer launches two Falcon missiles at a Soviet ship. By 1982 the US had stopped building nuclear powered escorts and none would be in service by 2010. Ironically the Harpoon missiles that were available in 1982 would still be there in 2010.
In a nice touch for Nerds like me the movie version briefly flashes up a typical TIME magazine cover of the US and Russian leaders. I leave it to you to guess the identity of the two chaps who posed for it.

 

[Dilandu]

In a wonderful bit of retro futurism Clarke writes that a US nuclear destroyer launches two Falcon missiles at a Soviet ship. By 1982 the US had stopped building nuclear powered escorts and none would be in service by 2010. Ironically the Harpoon missiles that were available in 1982 would still be there in 2010.

Soviet destroyer with EIGHT HUNDRED crew is also something... rather unusual.

 

[Graham1973]

Another find in an old comic book...

D. J. Arneson, Sink The Carrier Gettysburg!, Published in Undersea Agent, Issue 1, 1966

United States

USS Gettysburg (CV-171)
Kitty Hawk Class Carrier
Details as per the real ships
Note: Name does not fit the class and would later be that of Ticonderoga Class Cruiser USS Gettsyburg (CG-64), the pennant number is totally outside the current range for US carriers. A big thanks to Hood for help with identifying this one.

USS Arotica
Submarine (SSBN), class not specified.
No other details provided
Note: Only visible as a silhouette, it's clearly an SSBN rather than a SSN.

Non-State

United Nations Department of Experiment and Research Systems Established at Atlantis (UNDERSEA)

Departments function is "...the peaceful research of the problems of how man is to live under the ocean when the land areas become too populous to hold him."

Atlantis Base
Underwater city built atop the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis
Located somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic.
No other specific details provided.

Non-ship but interesting

United Nations Department of Experiment and Research Systems Established at Atlantis (UNDERSEA)

Unnamed
Pressure suit.
Made of a one molecule thick fabric that can extract oxygen directly from sea water. Sewn in to the fabric are 'pressure rings' that can withstand over "...3000 pounds per square inch..." of pressure. Power is provided by a seawater based fuel cell.

Plot summary: A seemingly insane order reveals a grave threat...

Note: This short lived comic (6 issues) went through a lot of changes, starting off as a 'Western Powers' verses 'Yellow Peril' scenario in issue one, by issue two, not only had this threat been removed, but the series hero had gained superpowers. The major standout was the artwork in the last three issues by Gil Kane who used a style very similar to that of Frank Kirby.

 

[Graham1973]

An interesting find in a 1940 comic book...

Anon. ZX-5 Spies In Action, published in Jumbo Comics, Issue 20, 1940

United States

Unnamed
Prototype Torpedo
Radio controlled (Range: 50 miles) "By this new device, it can be controlled for 50 miles."
Diameter: 21 inch (In the strip it's fired from a destroyer type surface launcher mounted on a pier or jetty.)
300pd TNT warhead.
No other details provided
Here is a description of the control scheme: "It's radio controlled by a secret thermostatic device which controls the vertical rudders!"
It was created at the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island, for what it's worth the impact detonator worked in the comic strip!

USS Montana
Battleship, class not specified.
Main Battery: Appears to be 4 x twin turrets rather than triples.
Displacement: 60,000 tons.
No other details.

Plot summary: Agents of an unspecified European power (e.g. Germany...) try to sabotage the testing of a revolutionary new torpedo.

 

[Graham1973]

Continuing my 'deep dive' into the comics published by defunct US publisher Fiction House, who have a very annoying habit of leaving interesting ships unnamed, as in the example below...

Cliff Dubois, Clipper Kirk: Hell's Cargo, published in Wings Comics, May 1944

Germany

Unnamed
Aircraft Carrier
Displacement: 50,000 tons.
Appears to be carrying navalised FW-200s and BF-109s, from which it might be possible to estimate the length/width of the flight deck.
Other stats are in the attached images, I am assuming the "...16 inch armor..." line refers to the armored flight deck... AA is described as being like "...rice at a wedding..." The 10 twin turrets arranged around the flight deck are the 14inch guns referred to in the caption.
note: I wish the author had named this one...

Plot summary: Someones 'most secret' project decides to crash someone else's 'most secret meeting' (Note the gents in the last frame of picture three.)...

Note: Post-war the character 'Clipper Kirk' was reworked as a 'Batman-like' superhero named 'The Phantom Falcon'.

 

[Graham1973]

Another find in the 'Clipper Kirk' series...

Cliff Dubois, Clipper Kirk, published in Wings Comics, Nov 1944

United States

USS Jackson
'Destroyer', class not specified
No other details provided.

Plot summary: A desperate race to get a Doctor to a destroyer to save her captain...

Note: Post-war the character 'Clipper Kirk' was reworked as a 'Batman-like' superhero named 'The Phantom Falcon'.

 

[Graham1973]

Last of the 'Fiction House' series of posts for today...

A. E. Carruthers, Capt. Suicide Smith and the Air Commandos, published in Wings Comics, April 1944

Germany

Schwarzkopf
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided.

Plot summary: The bombers failed, can the Air Commando's succeed...

 

[Graham1973]

Continuing the series of posts of fictional warships found in the pages of Fiction House's 'Wings Comics' series (1940 - 1954)...

Anon., Mile High Gauntlet, published in Wings Comics, November 1942

Germany

Baron Von Richthofen
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
Airgroup: Apparently entirely composed of BF-190Ts (E.g. The navalized variant planned for the Graf Zeppelin.), exact number not specified.
Other armament: 'Pom-pom guns' (e.g 37mm and 20mm AA), exact numbers not specified
No other details provided
Note: The artist appears to have been inspired by the USS Langley (CV-1/AV-3) when they were drawing this ship. This would suggest she is a converted collier (or oiler), as there do not appear to be catapults the length of the flight deck has to be long enough for a BF-109T to take off without catapult assistance. This in turn should give a clue as to the total length of the ship.

Plot summary: Germany attempts to shut off the trans-Atlantic 'Air Bridge'...

 

[Graham1973]

Probably the last of the Fiction House posts based on 'Wings Comics' for a while, it's not that there are no fictional warships, just that a very high portion of them are unnamed...

Ace Atkins, Skull Squad: Robot Death Over Manhattan, published in Wings Comics, January 1945

Germany

U-511
U-Boat, type not specified
Armament: 3 x launchers (V-1 Cruise Missiles), two launchers are aft of the conning tower, one is forward. Gun armament, 3 x twin turrets (Cannon, size not specified, but cannot be smaller than 88mm), 1 x twin AA mount on conning tower.
No other details provided.
Note: Pennant number is that of a Type IXC U-Boat.

Plot summary: A trio of decorated pilots is sent to New York on a morale raising mission, just in time for the Germans latest attempt to knock the US out of the war to kick off...

 

[Graham1973]

I was wrong to call an end to the search of 'Wings Comics' for interesting fictional warships...

Anon. Skull Squad, published in Wings Comics, June 1941

Germany

Schoenhaus
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
Armament: 4 x 4 8inch guns (Two twin turrets fwd), other armament unspecified, but probably typical German types.
Airgroup: BF-109T (Unspecified number), at least one AR-196 Amphibian (Artwork depicts a US Grumman J2F 'Duck' in German Markings, so an editorial decision has been made.)
No other details provided.
Note: The artist seems to have been inspired by the Lexington Class Carriers when creating this one. The artwork in this strip is particularly wayward with the ships superstructure moving from port to starboard each time the ship is depicted. Again editorial discretion has been used, and the standard location (Starboard side of the flight deck) has been assumed. Due to the poor quality of the artwork it is quite possible the ship is a German 'clone' of the Lexington Class Carriers, the images are just too poor to be 100% certain.

Plot summary: The Germans make every effort to prevent the transfer of Fortress I aircraft (Boeing B-17s) to the United Kingdom.

 

[Tzoli]

It's 1:1 Lexington just seems to be shorter by a few 10 meters

 

[Tzoli]

The artist were quite lazy as it seems as all those "german" carriers were ripoffs of others:
Illustrious, Langley, Lexington

 

[Dilandu]

The artist were quite lazy as it seems as all those "german" carriers were ripoffs of others:
Illustrious, Langley, Lexington

Well, he hardly knew a lot about real German carrier program. Puzzling why he didn't use Japanese carriers as prototypes (after all, it would be more fitting for Germany to use designs from Axis members...)

 

[Graham1973]

The artist were quite lazy as it seems as all those "german" carriers were ripoffs of others:
Illustrious, Langley, Lexington

I'd caught them using USS Lexington in her pre-modern version for US carriers as well...

 

[Dilandu]

Note: The artist appears to have been inspired by the USS Langley (CV-1/AV-3) when they were drawing this ship.

Actually, I think, he might have been inspired by German catapult ships:

 

[Dilandu]

U-511
U-Boat, type not specified
Armament: 3 x launchers (V-1 Cruise Missiles)

The launcher's design are not exactly practical, but the whole concept is surprisingly well-detailed.

 

[Graham1973]

To launch off the new year, some good old pulpy fun, that doesn't come from a 1940s comic book.

Clive Cussler, Sahara, 1992

United States (NUMA)

Calliope
Covert survey vessel
Crew: 3
Length: 18m (59.05ft)
Draft: 1.5m (4.9ft)
Engines: 3 x V-12 Diesels of unspecified horsepower
Speed: 70knots (Max)
Armament: Rapier Missiles (Concealed mount), small arms including 1 grenade launcher.
Other equipment: Fully equipped miniaturized marine analysis laboratory.
Note: Disguised as a sports yacht.

Plot summary: Evidence is found that chemicals leaking into the ocean off the West African coast are causing a massive 'Red Tide' that threatens to de-oxygenate the worlds oceans in less than a year. The source of the chemicals has to be found and fast...

Note: In 2005 this novel became only the second of Cussler's works to make it to the big screen. The film featured Matthew McConaughey as Dirk Pitt and was quite enjoyable, but didn't do well enough at the box office to warrant a sequel.

 

[Graham1973]

Returning to World War II, as envisaged by the writers at Fiction House Comics...

Rick Ayres, Clipper Kirk: Sea Eagle, published in Wings Comics, November 1940

United Kingdom

HMS Valiant
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided
Described in dialog as an "...old plane carrier..." suggesting that she dates from the 1920s.
Note: Illustrations are not clear or consistent enough to guess which class if any the artist was trying to depict. The same carrier appears again in stories in issues 5 & 6. The name clashes with that of a Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship.

Germany

Various Unnamed Warships

For the Aircraft Mavens (From Issue 5)

Dornier Do-19
Heavy Bomber
Real Aircraft (Fictionally operational)
Note: The Do-19 was a real heavy bomber proposal. Only three prototypes had been built when General Wever, the driving force for German heavy bomber development was killed in a plane crash. His successors canceled the heavy bomber program and focused on building up the Luftwaffe as a tactical airforce. Two of the prototypes were scrapped while the third was turned into a transport aircraft.

At the time of cancellation the Do-19 was under-powered for its size and carried a bomb load smaller than that of the He-111 (1600kg vs 2000kg). While I know that the Germans promoted the He-112 fighter as an operational aircraft during the early years of WWII, I do not know if they did the same with their two heavy bomber prototypes the Ju-89 and Do-19.

Plot Summary

 

[Graham1973]

Continuing my survey of named warships in early issues of Wings Comics...

Rick Ayres, Clipper Kirk, published in Wings Comics, December 1940

United Kingdom

HMS Trafalgar
Nelson Class Battleship
Details as per the real ships
Note: Class assignment based on the main battery being described as 16inch guns. Only the Nelson Class carried that armament. The one 'distant' image of the ship is not clear enough to be 100% certain that is what the artist had in mind.

Italy

Various Unnamed Warships.

Plot summary: Temporarily re-assigned the series Hero helps the RN find and do some damage to the Italian navy.

 

[Graham1973]

Rick Ayres, Clipper Kirk, published in Wings Comics, March 1941

United Kingdom

HMS Vengeance
Courageous Class Aircraft Carrier
Details as per the real ships.
Note: Thanks to Dilandu for their suggestion.

No other details provided.

Germany

Various Unnamed Warships

Plot summary: In war the new recruits have to shape up fast...

 

[Dilandu]

HMS Vengeance
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified

The bow is not enclosed; looks like "Courageous"-class (however it could also be the escort one)

 

[Graham1973]

After a long hunt I've found a Fiction House 'Lexington Clone' in US Service that is named...

William Brooks, The Phantom Falcons, published in Rangers Comics, October 1943

United States

USS Alamo (CV-?)
Lexington Class Aircraft Carrier
Details as per the real ships prior to the 1942 modernization.
Note: Artwork makes it quite clear the ship is in the pre-1942 configuration with a 4 x 2 8inch main battery. Apparently fitted with radar.

Japan

Unnamed
Submarine
Simply referred to in the text as a 'U-Boat'.

Plot summary: The Phantom Falcons stumble across evidence of a Japanese plan to sink an American Aircraft carrier and must act quickly to foil it.

Note: The series name 'Phantom Falcons' first appeared in another Fiction House anthology comic 'Wings Comics' (Between Issues 1 & 17, Sept 1940 to Jan 1942.) for a British team (Five members, all male.) who flew an experimental private venture fighter aircraft in the European theater. Following Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II, the name was transferred to Rangers Comics (Between Issues 6 & 21, Aug 1942 to Feb 1945.) for a US team of freelance pilots (Five members, including one woman...) who flew in the Pacific Theater. (Initially with a mix of three P-39 'Aircobra' fighters and one Bolton-Paul 'Defiant'.) Post-war the name 'Phantom Falcon' was used for the Batman-like superhero character that the lead of the former 'Clipper Kirk' series became.

Rangers Comics itself was launched in October 1941 as 'Rangers of Freedom' an anthology comic book who's main feature story was a 1948 set comic which pitted a quartet of unpowered superheroes (3 guys, 1 girl) against the non-Terrestrial villain SuperBrain and his earthly minions including one Adolf Schickelgruber...

This strip only lasted until the fourth issue which came out in April of 1942. The next issue changed the title strip to cover the exploits of US servicemen trapped in Malaya after the entry of Japan into World War II. When the eighth issue, came out in December 1942, the title of the comic changed to 'Rangers Comics' a title it retained until it ended publication in 1953.

 

[Graham1973]

Returning to Australia's most prolific author of Naval fiction for the first time since 2019...

J. E. MacDonnell, The Worst Enemy, 1971

Australia

HMAS Wind Rode (G46)
J, K & N Class Destroyer?
Details as per the real ships
Note: Also appears in several other of the authors many novels.

HMAS Whelp
J, K & N Class Destroyer?
Details as per the real ships

HMAS Witch
J, K & N Class Destroyer?
Details as per the real ships

Japan

Various Unnamed Warships

Plot summary: For the commander of the RANs 5th Destroyer Flotilla, a spot of well deserved leave proves anything but restful.

Note: J. E. MacDonnell was a prolific Australian writer of action fiction for newsstand paperbacks. Some of the novels by him covered in this thread include, 'Gimme the boats!' (1953), 'The Frogman' (1958), 'Night Encounter' (1958), 'The Surgeon' (1959), 'The Secret Weapon' (1959), 'Subsmash' (1960), 'The Coxswain' (1960), 'Sainsbury VC' (1962), 'U-Boat' (1962), 'Not Under Command' (1963), 'Killer Group' (1964), 'The Snake Boats' (1967), 'Approved to Scrap' (1968), 'The Hammer of God' (1968), 'Petty Officer Brady' (1968), 'Hunter-Killer' (1968), 'The Last Stand' (1970), 'The Kill', (1974), 'Breaking Point' (1979) & 'The Glory Hunter' (c. 1980s) . He also wrote a series of 'James Bond' style superspy thrillers featuring an agent named Mark Hood, novels in this series that have appeared in the thread are 'Come Die With Me' (1965) and 'Operation Octopus' (1968).

 

[Graham1973]

Returning briefly to the comic books...

Gordon Wayne, Prey of the Petrel, published in Wings Comics, November 1941

United Kingdom

HMS Tenacious
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided

Unnamed
Several Destroyers and Cruisers

Germany

Several Unnamed Warships

Plot summary: The Germans are blocking the way to Russian Ports. While a blockade is keeping the U-boats out of the sea lanes, it's proven impossible to lure them into an ambush, what to do?

Note: In it's earliest incarnation 'Wings Comics' issues contained at least one prose story.

 

[Graham1973]

J. E. MacDonnell, The Jaws of Hell, 1965

Australia

HMAS Albany
County Class Cruiser
Details as per the real ships

New Zealand

HMNZS Gambia
Fiji Class Cruiser
Real ship, details as in service

Japan

Three Unnamed Cruisers

Plot summary: A new ship only has a short time to shape up in the crucible of war, is the captain up to the job?

Note: While the author does not give a specific year, when the story takes place can be constrained. The author refers to the HMAS Canberra in the past tense indicating the story takes place after the First Battle of Savo Island (8/9 August 1942) at which that ship was sunk. The presence of HMS Gambia in the story means that it cannot take place any sooner than her arrival in the Eastern Theater and joining the British Pacific Fleet. Therefore the story is taking place some time roughly between late 1943 and early 1945.

Note: J. E. MacDonnell was a prolific Australian writer of action fiction for newsstand paperbacks. Some of the novels by him covered in this thread include, 'Gimme the boats!' (1953), 'The Frogman' (1958), 'Night Encounter' (1958), 'The Surgeon' (1959), 'The Secret Weapon' (1959), 'Subsmash' (1960), 'The Coxswain' (1960), 'Sainsbury VC' (1962), 'U-Boat' (1962), 'Not Under Command' (1963), 'Killer Group' (1964), 'The Snake Boats' (1967), 'Approved to Scrap' (1968), 'The Hammer of God' (1968), 'Petty Officer Brady' (1968), 'Hunter-Killer' (1968), 'The Last Stand' (1970), 'The Kill', (1974), 'Breaking Point' (1979), 'Jim Brady, Able Seaman' (1985) & 'The Glory Hunter' (c. 1980s) . He also wrote a series of 'James Bond' style superspy thrillers featuring an agent named Mark Hood, novels in this series that have appeared in the thread are 'Come Die With Me' (1965) and 'Operation Octopus' (1968).

 

[Graham1973]

Keith Douglass (Pseud), Carrier: Arctic Fire, 1997

United States

USS Coronado (AGF-11)
Austin Class APD
Real ship, details as in service

USS Thomas Jefferson (CVN-74)
Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier
Details as per the real ships.
Note: Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers of the same name have appeared in the novels 'Nimitz Class' (1997) by Patrick Robinson and 'Night Trap' (1999), 'Top Hook' (2002), 'Hostile Contact' (2003), 'Force Protection' (2004) and 'Damage Control' (2006) by Gordon Kent (Pseud.). The Pennant number clashes with that of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74).

Russia

K-31
Kilo (Pr. 877) Class Submarine
Details as per the real ships.
Fitted with Anti-Air Missiles (No name or specifics provided.) and CODEYE Radar (No specifics provided) in addition to the standard class armament.

Unnamed
Oscar (Pr. 949 or 949A) Class Submarine
Details as per the real ships
Note: Subclass unspecified

Plot Summary: Renegade Russian military personnel try to 'fight their own war' in the Aleutian Islands.

Note: This is the 9th in a series of 'gung ho' action tales centered around the USS Thomas Jefferson (CVN-74) and her crew published in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Some novels in the series have been made available as eBooks, others are only available through the internet archive at present. To date I have covered the following novels, 'Flame-Out' (1992), 'Nuke Zone' (1998) 'Typhoon Season' (2000), 'Enemies' (2000) & 'Joint Operations' (2000). In addition one volume in the companion 'SEAL Team Seven' series, 'Battleground ' (1998) has been featured in the thread.

 

[Graham1973]

Daniel Winters, Death Flies East, published in Dare Devil Aces, November 1942

United States

USS Hawk
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided.

Japan

Mitatogi
'Aircraft Carrier', class not specified
No other details provided.
The ship depicted in the illustration that opens the story suggests a converted battleship like Kaga or Akagi.

Plot summary: A pilot is sent to rescue someone only to find that it's someone they blame for the death of a friend.

 

[Graham1973]

Irving A. Greenfield, Torpedo Tomb (Depth Force: 5), 1986

United States

USS Shark
Submarine, class not specified
Displacement: 25,000 tons
Length: 352ft (107.3m)
Beam: 45ft (13.7m)
Rated Maximum Operating depth: 3000ft
Engines: Nuclear (Uses High, rather than low pressure steam)
Speed: 60knots (Max, not specified if submerged or surfaced speed.)
Crew: 40
Armament: Unspecified Surface to Air & Surface to Surface Missiles, 4 x ICBMs with MIRV warheads (Most likely Tridents), 8 x TT (4 bow and 4 stern), 2 x 6 inch guns, 2 x 20mm guns mounted in the sail.
Electronics: The submarine is highly automated allowing many standard crew positions to be eliminated. The computer provides three dimensional projections of the submarines surrounds through two systems. The Grid Display Table (GDT) provides a precise map of the submarines surroundings and also allows a sonar 'snapshot' of everything within a 5000yard (4.6km) sphere of the submarine to be taken. The UnderWater Image Screen (UWIS) is a visual imager that displays a synthetic image of the submarines exterior based on the input from the submarines sensors. Also fitted is an Aircraft Target Indicator (ATI) capable of tracking 50 airborne targets simultaneously and determining their threat priority.
Hull: Three layer construction, outer layer is steel, middle layer is a glass like form of silicone and the inner layer is aluminum.
Also carries two "...undersea recon craft...". These are described as "...delta wing shaped and driven by an electric motor... fifteen knots under water and four at the surface. They were equipped with sufficient air supply... two men for six hours and they were armed with four mini torpedoes, each of which had an effective operating range of four thousand yards."
Note: Conning tower is retracted into the hull underwater to allow for the high speed. The submarine is not attached to the United States Navy but is operating under the auspices of the CIA.

USS Turtle (ST-1)
Submarine, class not specified
Displacement: 22,000tons (Surfaced), 50,000tons (Submerged)
Length: 360ft (109.7m)
Beam: 48ft (14.6m)
Rated Maximum Operating Depth: 1000ft
Engines: Unspecified at this point. Twin Screws
Speed: 25/30kts (Surface cruise/Flank), 35/40kts (Submerged cruise/Flank)
Crew: 65 crew + 200 troops (Described as an 'assault team'.)
Armament: 4x TT (All aft), 2 x Quad SSM batteries (Retractable), 2 x Quad ASW batteries and 1 x Quad SAM Battery, 8 x Four barrel 37mm 'Machine guns' and 2 x Turrets fitted with guns that can fire "...anything from a three inch to a five inch shell. This is made possible changing the diameter of the rifles bore and breech opening. Each rifle can fire twenty rounds per minute."
Hull: Three layers, the middle layer is made of a pressure sensitive plastic that is liquid at the surface and becomes solid at 400ft.
Note: Lower hull is fitted with tractor treads to allow the submarine to pull itself onto a suitable beach. The submarine also carries "...four armored vehicles that are capable of being used at a maximum depth of thirty feet. They are armed with ninety millimeter recoilless rifles, four anti-tank missiles, four ground to air missiles and machine guns. There is also a pressurized bay in the bow that will permit the vehicles to exit and reenter with the Turtle submerged in thirty feet of water.' At one point in the story the ship is referred to as 'Sea Turtle One' and 'ST-1', but is simply referred to as 'Turtle' at all other points.

MV Tecumseh
Submarine Support Ship (Modified Oil Tanker)
No specifics as to dimensions, but large enough to house a dock for the USS Shark inside the hull.
Engines: Nuclear (Stated to be identical to the power plant used on the Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers, the ship has been designed to simulate use of a conventional power plant.)
Note: Nominally owned by the Thomas W. Williams Company (Stated to be a shell company owned by the CIA.), the crew of the USS Shark are listed as crew members, but there is also a cover crew on board. During the briefing it's stated the idea for this ship was taken from an "...old James Bond film." This is the film 'From Russia with Love', whose novelization I've covered earlier in the thread.

USCGC Trade Wind
Coast Guard Cutter, class not specified
No other details provided.

USCGC Wild River
Coast Guard Cutter, class not specified
No other details provided.

USCGC Deep Sea
Coast Guard Cutter, class not specified
No other details provided.

Russia

Tallinn
Kara (Pr.1134B) Class Cruiser
Real ship, details as in service.

Krivak
Krivak (Pr.1135) Class Frigate
Details as per the real ships.
Note: Krivak was the NATO reporting name for the class, the Russian class name was Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) no member of the Krivak Class used either name.

Q-21
Submarine (SSN), class not specified
Speed: 40 knots (Submerged)
Crew: 42
Armament: 5 x IRBMs (Three fwd of conning tower, two aft), 1 x 130mm gun (FWD), 2 x ZSU-23 AA guns (One on conning tower, one aft of conning tower), 6 x TT (4 bow, 2 stern)
Can handle all types of torpedos currently in service with the Russian navy, also carries torpedoes that are sonar (5km range)/television (500m) guided.
Captain has unofficialy named the ship "...More Dekar'..." which the author translates as 'Sea Savage', according to Google Translate the correct Russian would be "...Morskoy Dikar'..."
No other details provided.
Note: Apparently the submarine is sunk in the previous novel ('Depth Force: Battle Stations', 1985) and the Russians are already working on an improved replacement.

Plot summary: With the USS Shark needing repairs following their last mission the crew are temporarily reassigned to a new submarine.

Note: This is the fifth in a series that ran between 1984 and 1992, sporting impressive covers that should have been used for the fiction of Richard P. Henrick, the plots by veteran author Irving A. Greenfield are more foccused on intercharacter relationships than straight up action. It's been speculated that the reason for the series success was the decision to end each story on a cliff hanger that was resolved at the start of the next novel in the series.

 

[Dilandu]

according to Google Translate the correct Russian would be "...Morskoy Dikar'..."

Yep, albeit I must point out that this name is completely out of tradition.

 

[Graham1973]

according to Google Translate the correct Russian would be "...Morskoy Dikar'..."

Yep, albeit I must point out that this name is completely out of tradition.

From the three novels in this series I've found and read, the author didn't care much for getting things to at least 'sound right'.

 

[Graham1973]

Douglas Savage, Incident in Mona Passage, 1994

United States

USS Sam Houston (SSN-609 (ex-SSBN-609))
Ethan Allen Class Submarine
Real ship, details as in service
Note: Has been fictionally modified to serve as an underwater biological weapons laboratory codenamed 'Dugway Wet'. The laboratories are housed in the former ballistic missile compartment. Enhanced automation has reduced the crew to 55. To increase underwater stealth the hull has been sheathed in anechoic tiles.

USS Hayler (DD-997)
Spruance Class Destroyer
Real ship, details as in service.

Cuba

El Tiburon
Foxtrot (Pr.641) Class Submarine
Details as per the real ships

April 17
Koni (Pr.1149) Class
Details as per the real ships
Note: Would be a fictional fourth member of the class in Cuban service.

Plot summary: Something has gone wrong aboard a submarine modified to serve as a biological weapons laboratory. An investigator is sent to the submarine to determine just what happened.

Note: This is not a good novel, the story ends with one major plot thread not only unresolved, but seemingly forgotten by the author.

 

[chimeric oncogene]

The artist were quite lazy as it seems as all those "german" carriers were ripoffs of others:
Illustrious, Langley, Lexington

Well, he hardly knew a lot about real German carrier program. Puzzling why he didn't use Japanese carriers as prototypes (after all, it would be more fitting for Germany to use designs from Axis members...)

Did they even have photos of Japanese carriers back then? As I recall, they didn't even have photos of Yamato.

 

[Dilandu]

Did they even have photos of Japanese carriers back then?

Inter-war ones, like "Amagi", "Kaga" and "Ryujo" - clearly.

 

[chimeric oncogene]

Inter-war ones, like "Amagi", "Kaga" and "Ryujo" - clearly.

Sorry, I was under the impression the Japanese classified everything Soviet-style - as in not many official photos of ships.
Weren't pictures of Japanese ships hard to come by after the Japanese shredded everything in the surrender?

 

[Arjen]

My facsimile reprint of the 1931 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships has several pages with photos of Japanese aircraft carriers. In all, 54 pages on the Imperial Japanese Navy, with photos of battleships, cruisers, carriers, destroyers, submarines. Many of the images from the late 20s. So yes, lazy artists.