The Subterranean was a fictional tunnel boring machine utilised by Pharaoh Fearo, an operative of the criminal organisation, S.C.U.M.. The vessel first appeared episode 4 ("Shifting Sands") of the 1991 spin-off animated television series, James Bond Jr. and was subsequently adapted for John Vincent's accompanying novelisation, Sandblast!
History[]
First introduced alongside its owner in "Shifting Sands", the Subterranean was an underground warship owned by Pharaoh Fearo. The vessel had an approximate length of 26.4 metres[1], with its internal space spread over several decks, with a control room and substantial space dedicated to crude oil storage. It had an unpainted steel hull, marked on both port and starboard sides with a stylised Eye of Horus. Tipped with an enormous diamond drill, the craft was designed to burrow under the Egyptian sands and drain the oil fields; allowing SCUM to dominate the world's economy. It was armed with a complement of sand-torpedoes, which were launched from the bow of the ship.
After taking James Bond Jr. captive, Fearo attempted to drown him and Egyptology student, Cleo Daway, with crude oil. However, they escaped by eating through the pipeline with acid; flooding the Subterranean with oil and forcing it to the surface. Bond enlisted the help of a local sheikh and eventually commandeered the vessel, using it to save his friends from being buried alive.
Gadgets[]
|
Torpedo tubes — At least one forward-firing sand-torpedo tube was located on the starboard side of the Subterranean, to the right of its egress hatch. The firing mechanisms were situated in the craft's Egyptian-themed control room. |
Gallery[]
.png "The Subterranean, James Bonds Jr (3).png (268 KB)")
.png "The Subterranean, James Bonds Jr (4).png (255 KB)")