NMRN ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE MUSEUM SERVICE NARRATIVE REVIEWED BY THE COLLECTIONS RESEARCH AND LEARNING COMMITTEE OF THE TRUSTEES / 15 SEPTEMBER 2016 1 NMRN RNSM SERVICE NARRATIVE NARRATIVE thousands of tonnes of shipping; also how just the threat of added to increase the flexible use of submarines. We show 4 a submarine at sea can paralyse an entire fleet. We examine how these roles have taken submarines from the margins to Our narrative has four overlapping themes: the history of submarines in conflict and at particular points the heart of the Royal Navy, and we reflect on how, at times, of significant impact; the Baltic 1915-1917, the these roles allow submarines to be independent and, at People Mediterranean in 1941-1943, and the Falklands Conflict of others, that they require close co-operation with other naval 1982. We show the potential power that submarines have to forces. We tell the story of the people who have served in the Royal affect events on land; by the disruption of supplies, by the Navy’s submarines. We examine the qualities needed by threat of nuclear strike, and deployment of Tomahawk cruise Progress submariners – courage, determination and humour – and how missiles in conflicts in the Balkan and the Middle East. We these have developed within such a unique environment, as consider how developments in roles and the power of We describe the rapid pace of development of the Royal crews live and work within a cramped steel hull beneath the submarines have meant that submarine commanders have Navy’s submarines and the technologies that underpin them. sea. We trace the transition of submariners from 1901 when uniquely challenging decisions to make when on patrol, that We look at how this has taken place by examining the rest of the Navy disparagingly referred to them as the could have significant moral consequences. prototypes and innovation (some of which proved too ‘Trade’, to the revered heroes of two world wars, and finally dangerous to adopt) and show the contribution made by to the technical specialists of the 21st century who are Purpose ideas from outside the Royal Navy; in particular the Type 21 responsible for submarines with an awesome destructive German U-boats and the US Navy nuclear propulsion and power. We relate the dangers faced and the sacrifices made We describe how the stealth of the submarine has strategic weapons programmes. We chart the transformation by crews: in the high casualty rates of the First and Second revolutionised war at sea, and how crews working with a in scale from the Navy’s first submarine Holland 1 of 122 World Wars; in the technical and human challenges faced succession of new technologies have shaped different roles tonnes to the current Vanguard class of 15,900 tonnes. We since the Cold War by submariners who spend months at sea for submarines. We examine the use of the submarine as an link this to the creation of industrial facilities on shore on a without contact with their families, serving in a branch offensive weapon used to sink enemy warships and merchant national scale for building, operating and refitting the fleet. becoming less and less typical of modern life. We show how ships in both world wars, and in the post-war era when their We assess the operational impact of the change from boats the people in the relatively small Submarine Service have new role as hunter killer submarines for seeking and capable of submerging only for several hours to the nuclear made an impact out of proportion to their number. destroying enemy submarines was established. We look at submarines capable of remaining dived for months at a time; the use of the submarine for laying mines, landing Special with greatly increased underwater speeds capable of Power Forces and surveillance. We show how in response to the operating at extreme depths and even under the Arctic ice Soviet threat in the Cold War new roles developed; pack. We also look at how far the cramped, and unhygienic We examine the impact that submarines have had at sea and gathering intelligence against maritime forces, tracking living conditions of crews have changed from diesel boats on land, in peace and war. We show how a small – at times Soviet submarines and providing a continuous at-sea nuclear like HMS Alliance to the latest generation of nuclear even midget – submarine can sink a major surface ship or deterrence. Also how since 1990 yet further roles have been submarines. Royal Navy Submarine Museum ~ Service Narrative OURS IS THE STOR Y of the Royal Navy’s 2 1 The hazards of operating petrol driven submarines saw submariners lampooned as hapless and accident prone. Submarine Service, and its impact, from its beginning in 1901 to the present day. We tell this 2 As launched in 1945, HMS Alliance would be streamlined hidden story – of the constant risk and frequent for Cold War operations. sacrifice of crews, alongside the creation of one 3 ‘Sherwood Forest’, the middle level of the missile of the Navy’s most dedicated and perhaps least compartment of a ballistic nuclear submarine. understood branches – as a tangible memorial 4 Submariners display ‘Jolly Roger’ skull and cross bones to all submariners. battle flags, the symbols denote each successful action. 3 2 3 NMRN RNSM SERVICE NARRATIVE HISTORICAL NARRATIVE 11 3 hands, and five others were lost before 1914. Risks in war iron ore to Germany. Extraordinary bravery was honoured This historical narrative outlines in more detail our story were greater still with 52 submarines lost from all causes in by the award of five Victoria Crosses; we cannot know how 1 HMS Alliance is showered in poppies. The submarine the First World War. many other acts go unrecorded because there were seldom within different periods; we will bring it to life through our has provided a focal point for acts of remembrance. museum galleries, collections, historic submarines, special any survivors when submarines were lost. exhibitions, programmes, publications and partnerships. Key 2 Sweater produced by the crew of HMS Conqueror Power to telling the story will be our historic assets – our museum to mark their part in the Falklands Conflict of 1982. Purpose collections, submarines, buildings and affiliate organisations. Royal Navy submarines made a significant impact in the First 3 Last of the Royal Navy’s petrol driven submarines; World War, sinking 53 enemy warships and 274 other vessels. The role of submarines developed significantly through the C class crew’s at Fort Blockhouse (HMS Dolphin), In the North Sea submarines kept a close watch on the First World War. At the outset the role was expected to be The historical narrative is designed to be an active tool for 1912. internal use which will help inform the decisions we need Imperial German Navy’s forward base at Heligoland, where limited to coastal defence, but very quickly this expanded operating in shallow water German minefields and air into daring offensive operations. Submarines conducted to make to actually tell this story – from collecting strategy, 4 The Royal Navy’s submarine fleet at Fort Blockhouse to updates of permanent galleries, to more detailed site Gosport gathered for review by King Edward VII patrols took a heavy toll. In the Dardanelles Campaign independent attacks against enemy warships, merchant development plans. in 1908. submarines proved they could penetrate the heavily ships and surfaced submarines; they also carried out defended Dardanelles Straits where surface ships had failed. reconnaissance and minelaying. In the latter part of the war Once inside the Sea of Marmara they wreaked havoc on the steam-driven K class was introduced which was designed Turkish supply ships that were all but driven from the sea. In for a new role. With their high speed on the surface of over FIGURE 1 Narrative Sections the Baltic Sea, despite bitter conditions over winter, just five 20 knots, they were planned to support a fleet by operating submarines were able to restrict German naval forces whilst ahead, providing reconnaissance and attacking enemy forces sinking thousands of tons of Swedish merchant ships carrying encountered. 2 The following sections sets out the key events /developments 4 which have been identified as a focus within our four themes; the sections will also map the NMRN’s existing assets to these themes. 190 1 ~1918 ORIGINS People The first submariners were few in number – even during the rapidly expanded service of the First World War – and were recruited from the Fleet. They were regarded as being eccentric mavericks, outside the mainstream; the divisions of class and rank which existed in ships were unsustainable with such small crews living in such cramped conditions; officers had to become technically knowledgeable and proficient in operating ship systems unlike their surface counter-parts. Living conditions at sea were basic, unhygienic and even unhealthy with very limited supplies of water and dangerous toxic fumes – from the outset facilities in harbour were provided by depot ships, the first being HMS Dolphin in Gosport. Service in submarines was hazardous even in peacetime with risk from explosion, collision and accident, often with no hope of escape; in 1904 submarine A1 was lost with all 4 5 NMRN RNSM SERVICE NARRATIVE Progress 191 9 ~1945 COMING OF AGE 2 3 The size, speed, range, diving depth and threat of the Royal speed of ten knots. The D class also had a deck gun and People Navy’s submarines developed rapidly between 1901 and 1918 three torpedo tubes making it the Royal Navy’s first ocean – with the introduction of many different designs. The five going submarine. By 1914 the more heavily armed E class Submariners continued to face hazards and serious accidents Holland class submarines, displaced just 122 tonnes, had a had entered service in large numbers becoming the in the inter-war years.