Tuesday 12 April 2016

The Submarine Museum at Gosport

I have wanted to visit the Submarine Museum at Gosport for a long time and when I realised I was passing very close nearby on my holiday I couldn't miss the opportunity. For anyone interested in our maritime history - and in particular submarine warfare - this museum is an absolute must. The site contains a second world war submarine that served through the Cold War, the first submarine that served in the Navy Royal Navy and a midget submarine from WWII.

HMS Alliance

Inside the Bow Torpedo Room

The Bow Torpedo Tubes

One of the 'Driving Seats' in the main control centre of the sub

The Engine Room

The subs Engine Order Telegraph

View Down the length of the sub

The Bow of the Alliance

The HMS Holland 1 was the first submarine commissioned by the Royal Navy

Despite being lost at sea in 1913 and not raised until 1982 the ship is in remarkable condition

The interior and the subs single torpedo tube

Guess who is enjoying his day out?

The Bow of the Holland One

Midget Submarine X24 - The X class was a World War II midget submarine class built for the Navy during 1943–44

View from above showing two hatches

The aft propeller and rudder assembly of the X24

Interior view - The X Class subs had a crew complement of 4

The Jolly Rodger flag of the HMS Conqueror - This was the Churchill-class nuclear-powered submarine that sunk the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano in 1982
We only had a couple of hours here as we were travelling on to Sussex this day and couldn't stay longer. Having said that there was more to see and we could easily have stayed a couple of hours more had we been able to. Definitely worth another visit at some point in the future. 

10 comments:

  1. Great photos Lee. I have been to this museum and really enjoyed it, I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. We went with my dad, who served on A class subs in the 50s. A family friend won a DSO in the Xcraft raid on the Tirpitz.

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  2. Not built for the size of us mate!
    I remember as a Kid seeing inside subs at the Naval dockyard at Chatham. Not so very much room in them as I would like.

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    1. I thought that but the guide showing us around was 6'2" and served in subs for most of his Navy career. Aside from a huge crescent shaped scar across the top of his head (misjudged the height of a hatchway in rough weather. Ouch!!) his only complaint was the short size of the bunks. His solution was to sleep on top of one of the Aft Torpedoes! Sweet dreams indeed!!

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  3. Lee - I am ashamed! I live ten minutes walk away and I've never been there!

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  4. Pendragon.. I'm not much further and I haven't been either! Going to remedy that this summer for sure... Good report Lee... :-)

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  5. Is a great place to visit. A guided tour is worth it. When we had one the guide had served on the same class so really bought it to life.

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  6. Very interesting, thanks, Lee!

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  7. How very interesting. A great place to visit by the looks. Thanks for sharing. cheers

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  8. Another museum that would be great to visit. If only I lived a bit closer...

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