In 1776, American Patriots attempted to destroy the British flagship Eagle using a man-operated semi-submersible, the Turtle, in New York harbour. The attack failed, but the idea stuck. Almost 90 years later, the CSS Hunley successfully rammed into the Federal sloop USS Housatonic with a spar torpedo.

The Housatonic became the first ship in naval history to be sunk by a submarine. Submarines features the most significant submarines built, from the German U-9 – which sank three British cruisers on 22 September 1914 – through the huge Japanese I-400 class to the great nuclear-powered submarines of the Cold War, such as the USS Los Angeles and Soviet Oscar class. Also included are the ‘undersea cruiser’ Surcouf; the highly successful Type VII U-boats of World War II; and the latest attack and ballistic missile submarines, such as HMS Astute, USS Virginia, the Chinese Type 094 and the Russian Yasen class.

Each entry includes a brief description of the submarine’s development and history, a colour profile or cutaway, key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, Submarines is an accessible guide for those interested in naval history.