- Paperback: 242 pages
- Publisher: PublishAmerica (23 Jan 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1424115914
- ISBN-13: 978-1424115914
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 494,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
The Royal Navy Submarine Service is by its very nature of
operations a secretive and mysterious organisation. The men who serve in
these underwater warships are a rule unto themselves and many wonder how
they cope with life in asteel tube beneath the waves. This book tells it
how it really is. The inherent insanity needed to spend weeks or months
cooped up in a steel tube, hundreds of feet beneath the hostile oceans of
the world spills over into the day to day release of tension when the crews
of these capital warships decide to let rip. Chas Cooke spent 13 years in
the submarine service and served in three of the main classes of submarine
in the Royal Navy inventory. From Diesel electric to Nuclear missile
carriers, Chas went to sea in them. The book tells of the bizarre behaviour
of the men with whom he served but also relates an underlying thread of the
hardships endured by the wives and families while their men are at sea. The
burden that such a life places upon family and marriage is hard to
contemplate but Chas intersperses this hilarious script with glimpses into
the harsher side of life in the Submarine Service. A must read book.
operations a secretive and mysterious organisation. The men who serve in
these underwater warships are a rule unto themselves and many wonder how
they cope with life in asteel tube beneath the waves. This book tells it
how it really is. The inherent insanity needed to spend weeks or months
cooped up in a steel tube, hundreds of feet beneath the hostile oceans of
the world spills over into the day to day release of tension when the crews
of these capital warships decide to let rip. Chas Cooke spent 13 years in
the submarine service and served in three of the main classes of submarine
in the Royal Navy inventory. From Diesel electric to Nuclear missile
carriers, Chas went to sea in them. The book tells of the bizarre behaviour
of the men with whom he served but also relates an underlying thread of the
hardships endured by the wives and families while their men are at sea. The
burden that such a life places upon family and marriage is hard to
contemplate but Chas intersperses this hilarious script with glimpses into
the harsher side of life in the Submarine Service. A must read book.
From the Author
I wrote this book as a tribute to two seperate groups of
people. Firstly to the men with whom I served who were the best and most
loyal friends I could have wished for, a group to whom the motto, One for
All and All for One really does apply. Secondly to the wives and families
of submariners worldwide, friend and, in the past, enemy, who endure
unimaginable hardship and loneliness while their husbands, sons, fathers
etc are away at sea. Unable to contact each other for months on end those
waiting at home have only themselves to look to in time of trouble and
wait, always unsure whether their loved ones will return.
people. Firstly to the men with whom I served who were the best and most
loyal friends I could have wished for, a group to whom the motto, One for
All and All for One really does apply. Secondly to the wives and families
of submariners worldwide, friend and, in the past, enemy, who endure
unimaginable hardship and loneliness while their husbands, sons, fathers
etc are away at sea. Unable to contact each other for months on end those
waiting at home have only themselves to look to in time of trouble and
wait, always unsure whether their loved ones will return.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
As a friend of the author you may think that I am being slightly biased about this book. Yes I have heard some of the stories before (Some more than once, some that many times that I feel like I was there!!!) but the book was genuinely funny. I don't read alot but couldn't put this down. If you're in the forces or have been you will appreciate the humour....not sure about the civilian population, they may not be ready for you yet Chas!
I hope you will write a follow up, only leave me out of it.
I hope you will write a follow up, only leave me out of it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Brilliant humour, good writing style. I laughed like a drain, however, there were some parts that made me squirm! Especially the story about the steward and the condom.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
If you've enjoyed Spike Milligan's books "Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall" et al, or "Don't Cry For Me Sergeant Major" by Jeremy Hands and Robert McGowan, then you're going to love this book too. If you haven't read them, then I suggest you buy all of them, as well as this one.
It is likely to be funnier for those of a military persuasion, and submariners in particular, because they will be able to identify with the humour, but that said, this book is definitely worth the read whatever your background. There are some truly priceless moments of humour that will have you crying with laughter (the scooters in Corfu) or just crying (the padlock incident).
You may find yourselves wondering if the stories are true, and I have no doubt that they are, having had a flavour of the real thing myself, or even if the protagonists are sane, which you could argue either way. However, the author tempers the often outrageous antics with some quite telling stories about his marriage and home life, and how the service affected them. These show a much more `human' side to the submariner's tale, and also a marriage that I'm sure will be able to withstand anything that life has to throw at it; although having read the book, I doubt there is much left that could surpass what it has dealt with already. Even these stories are written in a light and humorous manner that will leave you smiling, and never wanting to purchase a "grade B" turkey!
Many service personnel have written books about their experiences, and the band wagon and bookshelves could be considered to be overflowing. Having read many of them, I would like to suggest that this offering is a little different to the rest. It is a warts and all account of one submariner's life in the services, and although it will often leave you cringing, I don't think you'll manage to read it without laughing out loud. There is above all no attempt to glorify anything or anyone, with the exception maybe of the author's wife. If there were medals for wifery, I would suggest that she, and many other submariners' wives, should be awarded a bucket load each.
The unique blend of British military humour and an easy writing style make it too good to put down.
Get this book.
It is likely to be funnier for those of a military persuasion, and submariners in particular, because they will be able to identify with the humour, but that said, this book is definitely worth the read whatever your background. There are some truly priceless moments of humour that will have you crying with laughter (the scooters in Corfu) or just crying (the padlock incident).
You may find yourselves wondering if the stories are true, and I have no doubt that they are, having had a flavour of the real thing myself, or even if the protagonists are sane, which you could argue either way. However, the author tempers the often outrageous antics with some quite telling stories about his marriage and home life, and how the service affected them. These show a much more `human' side to the submariner's tale, and also a marriage that I'm sure will be able to withstand anything that life has to throw at it; although having read the book, I doubt there is much left that could surpass what it has dealt with already. Even these stories are written in a light and humorous manner that will leave you smiling, and never wanting to purchase a "grade B" turkey!
Many service personnel have written books about their experiences, and the band wagon and bookshelves could be considered to be overflowing. Having read many of them, I would like to suggest that this offering is a little different to the rest. It is a warts and all account of one submariner's life in the services, and although it will often leave you cringing, I don't think you'll manage to read it without laughing out loud. There is above all no attempt to glorify anything or anyone, with the exception maybe of the author's wife. If there were medals for wifery, I would suggest that she, and many other submariners' wives, should be awarded a bucket load each.
The unique blend of British military humour and an easy writing style make it too good to put down.
Get this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An outstanding very funny read
I am ex-army and thought that we had the rights to any funny antics or happenings however on reading this book I was blown away and have not laughed so much in many years, why this... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dale
Why should Britain Tremble?
It's all true I tell you! Take it from someone who was in the same boat
at the same time - doing the same daft stuff. Britain had no need to
tremble or quiver.... Read more
at the same time - doing the same daft stuff. Britain had no need to
tremble or quiver.... Read more
Published 20 months ago by GYZY
The Truth, The whole Truth etc etc
Being an ex submariner myself I can fully identify with the author and the escapades he wrote about. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by Jim McCrum
Britian Doesn't need to tremble
This is a thoroughly good book that tells the tales of the ordinary crew members of our submarines. Chas has included insights and comment into a very secret world. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2009 by Mr. Ronald Baird
great read
the imagery was very good made your eyes water in a fiew places but when men live in those conditions things are bound to hapen,great read finished the book in under a week... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Andrew Miles
Ex Submariner
As an ex submariner serving on nuclear submarines at the same time as Chas, I really enjoyed the way that all aspects of a submariners life were put together. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2007 by Paul S. Johnson
Submariners do it deeper!
Buy this and the DVD of the seventies TV series 'Sailor' and you will know why we should be proud of the RN! Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2007 by Patrick Mckay
Why should Britain Tremble - a submariners tale.
Without a doubt one of the funniest naval humour books I have ever read.
Equal to Send Down a Dove, and the Falklands Dont Cry for me Sargean Major. Read more
Equal to Send Down a Dove, and the Falklands Dont Cry for me Sargean Major. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2007 by M. Briscoe
Highly recommend it.
This book was recommended to me by a work mate who is an ex serviceman. Was not sure if it would be my cup of tea as i have no military background, but on reading it, was very... Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2006 by S. Randall
Mascott
A very good read. I was a serviceman (Not navy) in 1951 and reading this book brought back memories. Officers and NCOs in whatever service arer similar in type through
Published on 22 Nov 2006 by tottiemo
Listmania!
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