Nimitz Class

By: Patrick Robinson

Narrated by: George Guidall

It's as big as the Empire State Building, a massive floating fortress at the throbbing heart of a US Navy carrier battle group. Its supersonic aircraft can level entire cities at a stroke. Its surveillance gear can track every target within thousands of square miles - in the air, on the surface, and under the sea. Its crew of 6,000 works night and day to keep this awesome military machine at peak performance. It's a Nimitz-class nuclear carrier, the most powerful weapons system on the planet. Nothing can touch it.

So when the first stunned messages say only that the Thomas Jefferson has disappeared, the navy reacts with disbelief. But as her battered escorts report in, the truth becomes inescapable: a Nimitz-class carrier has been claimed by nuclear catastrophe - the mightiest military unit on earth, vaporized without warning by an accidental detonation of unimaginable power. No other explanation is possible.

But as navy maverick Bill Baldridge begins to investigate the disaster that claimed his idolized brother's life, another chilling alternative begins to emerge from the high-tech web of fleeting sonar contacts and elusive radar blips. It points to a rogue submarine commanded by a world-class undersea warrior with the steely nerve and cunning of a master spy. Suddenly it's up to Bill Baldridge to track down this shadowy nuclear terrorist who has already turned America's ultimate weapon into the biggest sitting duck in history - and who still has another nuclear-tipped torpedo in his tubes. He's already proved he has the icy ruthlessness to incinerate 6,000 sailors without a qualm. What will he do for an encore?

In this audio the modern military springs to life, from the Pentagon's tense conferences to the screaming flight deck of a giant carrier to the silent conning tower of an attack sub on full alert. But as Bill Baldridge races against time to pursue the nation's most deadly enemy, we are forced to ask ourselves serious real-life questions: Have defense budget cuts jeopardized our national security? Are we prepared to defend ourselves against naval terrorists? How safe are we?

Nimitz Class is a world-class technothriller with a plot as riveting as The Hunt for Red October - and an explosive twist out of tomorrow's headlines.

Today it's a novel. Tomorrow it might be the news.

©1997 Patrick Robinson (P)1997 Recorded Books, LLC

Interesting premise but it has problems.

I can suspend the knowledge that this story is now historically outdated, but I have a great deal of difficulty accepting the basic premise that an entire carrier group with today’s equipment and training can't protect a billion-dollar nuclear aircraft carrier from one old diesel-electric submarine, no matter how good the captain and crew. I also found it difficult to accept that an entire submarine and crew could be “bought” so easily to attempt such an impossible mission without anyone else knowing.

There were certain portions of the story that didn’t really add much to its total value such as the lengthy character development of the carrier command team early on and the detailed farm and prairie sections. At times, I thought the whole story was really designed to focus on whether or not a crew could get a submarine through the Bosporus below the surface. Would a president really make his responses to such a tragic terrorist act solely contingent on this? Seems improbable to me.

Also, WAY too much politics for my taste, and the narrator just didn’t feel right for the story.

Fun book, great narrator.

George Guidell does a fantastic job reading this fun book by Patrick Robinson. I can't imagine anyone else voicing Admiral Morgan.

Great story about navel war ships

I was in the navy and enjoyed going back if just in my mind. The story was very believable with the facts and blended with fiction.
Anyone that was on a submarine will feel right at home.
Very great story.

PR at this best

These books from the turn of the century are so much better than the later books by PR. This one is. Clancy - esqe submarine caper with the gruff Arnold Morgan. There's a part of this book that makes no sense and is just there to get the Scottish admiral something to do (transit the Bosphorus)

Excellent Naval Mystery/Adventure Novel

"Nimitz Class" tells the story of something that could have happened, indeed still could happen theoretically. The plot, about a successful attack on a U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier and it's aftermath, is well thought out. The details of naval procedure are amazing, making me think that author Patrick Robinson must have served as a fleet officer on either a carrier or submarine. either that, or his research was incredibly thorough.

The novel is not all plot, however. What makes it a superior example of it's genre is the character development. Robinson fills the book with several well rounded characters. He falls short in one area. His main character does not display any real growth as a result of his experiences.

Narrator George Guidall brings the right time of military authority and factual presentation to the book. Overall, if you like military novels, and in particular if you are interested in the details of naval procedure and of the culture of the sailors and fliers of the U.S. Navy, this is an excellent read.

Excellent

Perfect in every respect. This will be considered a classic in league with "The Hunt For Red October", and "Run Silent Run Deep".

Great listen

I enjoyed this audible book very much. I would highly recommend this book well worth your time.

Excellent and as timely today as twenty years ago

The lessons for America's public regarding use of the Navy are as valid in 2020 as they were at the turn of the century. The big carrier groups are vulnerable and at considerable risk. The world is much more dangerous today than is portrayed in this book from the turn of the century. Still a great story and very interesting.

bit quick to the climax of major events

the major events and final ending were quick. lacked description. loved the story line. looking forward to the next events in Admiral Morgan's life

Complex and riveting

Neither my husband nor I are naval people. We thoroughly enjoyed this complex, detailed account of a fictional scenario. The minutia of sea bearing vessels was a bit overwhelming at times, however, it did not distract from the riveting story.