July 1945. Eighteen daring young British, Australian and New Zealand special forces from a top-secret underwater warfare unit prepare to undertake three simultaneous and incredibly risky missions against the Japanese.

Using four brilliantly conceived XE-craft midget submarines, the raiders will creep deep behind Japanese lines to sink two huge warships and sever two vitally important undersea communications cables.

Success will hasten ultimate victory over Japan; but if any of the men are captured they can expect a gruesome execution. Can the Sea Devils overcome Japanese defences, mechanical failures, oxygen poisoning and submarine disasters to fulfil their missions?

Mark Felton tells the story of a band of young men living on raw courage, nerves and adrenaline as they attempt to pull off what could be the last great raid of the Second World War. Suddenly a great dark mass of green and grey angular shadows filled the little periscope's lenses. There, as plain as day, dominating the Strait, sat the heavy cruiser Takao.

Fraser felt wired up, his senses heightened, and the knot of anxiety that had been plaguing him on and off since starting the mission had suddenly evaporated. He turned briefly to his crew: 'Stand by to commence attack.'