Under Pressure

The Final Voyage of Submarine S-Five

By: A.J. Hill

Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray

Hanging on display in the United States Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., is a battered and scratched steel plate, two feet in diameter, edged with more than one hundred little semicircles. For more than 80 years, people have wondered how it came to be there and at the story it could tell.

Under Pressure: The Final Voyage of Submarine S-Five is that story. On Monday, August 30, 1920, the S-Five, the newest member of the U.S. Navy's fleet of submarines, departs Boston on her first cruise - to Baltimore for a recruiting appearance at the end of the week. Two days later, as part of a routine test of the submarine's ability to crash dive, her crew's failure to close a faulty valve sends 75 tons of seawater blasting in. Before the valve can be jury-rigged shut, the S-Five sits precariously on the ocean floor under 180 feet of water.

The salt in the seawater combines with the sulfuric acid in the sub's batteries to create a cloud of chlorine gas. They have little air, no water, and only the dimmest of light by which to plan their escape. By shifting the water in the sub toward the bow torpedo room, the crew is able to stand the 240-foot-long sub on its nose, bringing it close to vertical, and, using trigonometry, he calculates that at least part of the boat's stern is now above sea level. In a race against time the crew starts cutting a hole out of the highest point in the sub: the telephone-booth-size tiller room. With no acetylene torch, no power tools -- nothing but ratchet drills and hacksaws -- the crew must cut through nearly an inch of strengthened steel or die in the attempt.

An incredible drama, a story of heroism and of heroes, Under Pressure is that most remarkable of books, a true story far more dramatic than any fiction.

©2002 A. J. Hill (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Good read

Fascinating and amazing story of near death at sea. The lost of the S-5 and rescue is a great tale.

Riveting Tale -- Thumbs up if your a submarine fan

I had never head of the S-Five before this account. I am a long time submarine book fan. It started for me in eight grade when I read "Run Silent, Run Deep." Since then, I have always been drawn to stories about submarines. When I saw this book come out on pre-order, I eagerly awaited it. I was not disappointed.

The story is terrifying and uplifting all at the same time. Hill does an excellent job as author giving just enough material to keep you interested but not too much to overwhelm the interested. Murray does an excellent job in narration. You can easily listen to this at 1.5X or even 2X.

This book will appeal to historians. Although this is a true story I think it will also appeal to science fiction readers. I recommend this book. give it a read.

Fascinating glimpse into early submarine history

While I have a fascination with naval history, it mostly relates to surface vessels. I had never heard of the S5. This story brought home the dangers in those early years and the bravery of the crews

True life suspense

Kept me on the edge of my seat wondering if they would survive the ordeal and how. Everything was against them. Can’t believe it happened but it did. Great story!

Overall not bad but...

a 7+ hour book about a 36-hour ordeal is excessive. Especially when you know the outcome. The Audible description is also misleading. It implies they got out on their own. If you accept the premise that being able to signal through the hole they "drilled" then that claim is arguably "accurate".

And if you accept the premise that even with a hole large enough to signal through they were still at death's door when outside help finally got them out despite the "vent hole" and that only great good fortune brought two merchant ships to their aid and otherwise they never would have gotten out, that argument falls flat.

The book really is twice as long as it needed to be to be "action packed" and a "thriller".