Confession Time

It’s confession time. To my horror, I note the last blog I posted, prior to this one, was dated August 2^nd 2013. The dog days of July and August caught up with me, at least as far as keeping up the blog is concerned.

My only defence is that the days have been very busy. My next book, working title “Sailor Down”, is due on the editor’s desk by September 1^st, meaning it's panic stations to get the story put to bed. The next deadline will be November 1^st, with an edited manuscript in to the publisher.

“Soldier of the Horse”, my first book, has also been receiving some attention. The audio book rights have been bought by Amazon, and production is under way with a professional narrator on the job.

In the meantime, potential topics for future items are piling up. Personal stories from submariners, the loss of an Indian navy Kilo class boat, World War I centennial observations...

Great things to come. Thanks for hanging in.

"Soldier of the Horse" is available as an ebook or hard copy from Amazon here. 

Critics of Canada's Submarines "Full of Holes"

It has become an article of faith for many that Canada's Victoria class submarines are lemons at best, and that the British sold us a bill of goods. That was exemplified by a recent article by Michael Byers and Stewart Webb that received wide dissemination in the popular press.
In a paper published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Paul T. Mitchell demolishes many if not all the points made by Byers and Webb. His excellent and though-provoking piece can be seen here.

One of the interesting points he makes is that many Royal Navy submarine officers were very upset when the British government sold the Upholders (Victorias) to Canada.

 HMCS Victoria is shown above in a nonwarlike moment.