Secrets of the Conqueror: The Untold Story of Britain's Most Famous Submarine by Stuart Prebble

by Stuart Prebble

HMS Conqueror is Britain's most famous submarine. It is the only sub since World War Two to have sunk an enemy ship. Conqueror's sinking of the Argentine cruiser Belgrano made inevitable an all-out war over the future of the Falkland Islands, and sparked off one of the most controversial episodes of twentieth century politics. The controversy was fuelled by a war-diary kept by an officer on board HMS Conqueror, and as a young TV producer in the 1980s Stuart Prebble scooped the world by locating the diary's author and getting his story on the record. But in the course of uncovering his Falklands story, Stuart Prebble also learned a military secret which could have come straight out of a Cold War thriller. It involved the Top Secret activities of the Conqueror in the months before and after the Falklands War. Prebble has waited for thirty years to tell his story. It is a story of incredible courage and derring-do, of men who put their lives on the line and were never allowed to tell what they had done. This story, buried under layers of official secrecy for three decades, is one of Britain's great military success stories and can now finally be told.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History, History

Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Neil Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering how much hype there was about this ..."the untold story" etc there was actually not that much that was new to me in this book, certainly nothing much relating to the Conqueror's actions in the Falkland. The story of Operation Barmaid, in which the Conqueror nicked a underwater towed sonar array from a Polish spy ship in Soviet waters, is something else altogether. It is a bit scant on facts but that is perhaps the way with top secret operations even thirty years after the event. Cant say I like the writing style, too much like journalism but then he is or was a journalist.

[William Dobell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I had read a few reviews before purchasing this book; as it was, I was very much looking forward to reading about the fascinating story you might expect to find within such a book. I was sadly mistaken.
The first third is admittedly interesting, although (by necessity) light on actual detail. Further, the author’s clear lack of experience or understanding of Military operations, let alone Submarine Warfare, result in even this section of the book being largely quite dry. (read: A journalist filling in the extensive blanks in the story)

Almost the entire remainder of the book is a tedious, heavily biased anti-government rant, with no real substance or revelations, it descends into an almost fanatical criticism of the Thatcher government. The real story of the Top Secret cold war "Operation Barmaid " only begun in the final few pages, and due to the missions still-classified nature, is again light on detail.

My criticism is less “lack of juicy details” – and more the fact the author is using the (truly remarkable!) events of HMS Conqueror as a selling point, when the real thrust of his ramblings focus on the political fall-out, with the narrative only loosely held together only by reference to an unremarkable crewmember. Overall a big disappointment; if you want a book about submarines, look elsewhere!

[Luc Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a Navy, History, Cold-War, Submarine geek you will enjoy this. Otherwise, not so sure..!

[Josh Ehrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the info is good. But it is clear the author brings his political bias against Thatcher into his telling of the story.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insight, placing the action within the context of the Cold War and the controversy that lasted well beyond the actual conflict in which HMS Conqueror sank the cruiser General Belgano.

[Ian Pearse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Alistair Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good review describing submarine life in conflict period

[Holly Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a really interesting read about a fascinating time in history

[James Mcdonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contains a few interesting stories: Operation Barmaid, Conqueror's service in the Falklands, the disappearance/loss/theft of the log book, and the involvement of Lt Sethia in all three, but as a few others here have pointed out, the book jumps about between them, without any sort of coherent narrative.

Also rather annoying is that for all the blurb and the author's suggestions of some vast government cover-up and conspiracy, the most likely explanation ends up just being a balls up by the crew of the submarine itself.

It also contains claim the Mrs Thatcher personally ordered the Belgrano sunk in order to stop the peace proposal that was about to be put forward. I've seen this repeated in so many places, but have never heard even a hint of what the proposal actually said, or why it would have to be accepted by one side or the other. The Argentinians weren't going to just pack up and go home, and the British weren't going to just let them stay. Including this doesn't add anything to the book.

The descriptions of Operation Barmaid itself are good, but I'm not sure their worth buying the book for.

[David P · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot in this book to like, a full explanation of the Belgrano sinking and the politics surrounding it, plus the hitherto unknown (to me, at least) story of Operation Barmaid. He also succeeds in telling the overall story, as well as giving some good insights into the people involved.

However, it seems to go into too much detail in places, and not enough in others. The actual action of sinking the Belgrano is rattled off a bit too quickly for my liking, though perhaps there are reasons why more detail was not possible. Whilst the style is quite readable, he fails to turn the various sections into a readable, continuous narrative, and it does feel like it jumps around too much.

Overall though, for those interested in the Falklands and/or the Cold War, i'd say this is pretty essential reading. Beware though, it will make you even more cynical about how the government really operates!

[Gavin Dobson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was looking forward to revelations about derring-do on the high seas (or below seas)but came away with another tedious journalistic vendetta against Mrs Thatcher bla de bla. Whatever anyone might think about the Belgrano, the bottom line is that if Argentina had patiently worked through diplomatic channels in the first place, by now they'd probably all happily be speaking Spanish in Port Stanley. But the dictators invaded and deservedly got whupped. War is dirty, so get over it.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fairly uneven and jumbled. Disappointing for the reader interested in the actual operations of the sub. The book is probably strongest ... and to this reader rather longdrawn bordering on the boring in the discussion of he cover up, trial and machinations post the Falklands War. There is material for a major newspaper article in that angle, not a book.

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Split Personality

This book can't make up its mind what it is. It is neither a story about two very significant operations in the life of HMS Conqueror, nor is it a detailing of a conspiracy to cover up the “facts”. In trying to do both, it fails to do either very well. The writing style doesn't help, as it is like a book written in the sixties.

[Bill Tsui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike other history books, this book gives a first person view of how one submarine made History to Britain. The author of this book interviewed that sailor but wrote it as if he was the sailor himself. Personally, I think that this is a great book. Many people should read it.

[Norbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting

I expected a book about Conqueror's history, while the book is more than an half about government lies about the Belgrano.

[Rob Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing, but added a few additional wrinkles that kept me (just) reading to the end.

[Peter Jowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check reviews on Sibmariners' Forum!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read it! I wouldn't want to spoil a single page for you. 5 stars and then some.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story which makes sense of a big controversy brought teenage years

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is quite a lot of bias in this book. It didn't agree with my recollection of the politics of the time