72 Hours: The First-Hand Account of a Royal Navy Mission to Save the Crew of a Trapped Russian Submarine

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It should have been the one of the best moments of his career. Instead four men died a violent death beneath the waves.

Lieutenant Commander Ian Riches was at the final stage of one of the most punishing selection processes in the force: the submarine command – or ‘Perisher’ – course. Four weeks of exercises at sea were the culmination; a trial by fire designed to push candidates past their breaking point. At stake was the ultimate honour: the right to command a submarine.

Riches was about to take control of the 85-metre-long Trafalgar-class submarine for his next test. Two of the six candidates had already been failed and removed from the boat, but he was confident. Success was so close he could smell it.

The nuclear submarine was already running silent, pursued by a Naval frigate somewhere above her. Her corridors were filled with intense, hushed activity as the vessel slipped through the deep. Riches threaded through the passageways, the sound of his footfalls ringing loud in his ears as it echoed among dense pipework that lined both walls and ceiling. This was one of the most advanced weapons in the world, the front line of defence for Her Majesty’s Government, and Riches knew every valve, gauge and dial.

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