Copyright 1992
India and Pakistan have gone to war. The stakes raise when Pakistan detonates a nuclear bomb showing the world it is now a nuclear power. Carrier battle group 14 lead by the U.S.S. Jefferson is on station in the Arabian sea. They accidentally sink an Indian submarine. The Indians demand all foreign warships leave the area. America refuses and plans to attack the Indians to stop the war. They are joined by a Russian carrier group. The Russians want to show the world they are still a world power. The Indians launch an attack. Using mass waves of aircraft, they hope to penetrate the defenses and show the world their power.
The third book in the series takes the carrier to the Indian Ocean and a battle with India. India was a growing naval power at the time, so it makes sense to write a story of them battling the Indians. Combine this with the Pakistan-India rivalry and you have the genesis of the start of a conflict. The Russians are in this also and portrayed as allies. They want to prove the Commonwealth (anybody remember the Commonwealth?) is still relevant. Now the Soviet Union had just collapsed and there was an optimistic believe they would be partners with the U.S. We know where that went.
Anyway, the Russians don’t really work well with America and have their own agendas which complicates the battle. Plus, a new commander who is more concerned with his career also complicates things. This book is the first time that the carrier group faces an opponent that could seriously sink or damage them. The battle scenes feel realistic and exciting. Another enjoyable entry in the series.
THE BOOKS THAT TIME FORGOT. 