Royal Navy Submarine Museum facts for kids
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport is a cool place to learn all about submarines! It's a maritime museum, which means it focuses on things related to the sea and ships. Here, you can explore the amazing history of submarines from ancient times, like the age of Alexander the Great, all the way to today's powerful nuclear submarines. The museum especially highlights the story of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, showing off their very first submarine, Holland 1, and even talking about the huge Vanguard-class submarines. You'll find the museum near where the Royal Navy Submarine Service used to be based, at a place called HMS Dolphin.
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Discovering the Museum's Story
The museum actually started quite small in 1963. It was a collection called the Submarine Branch Collection, hidden away above a church inside HMS Dolphin. Not many people knew about it, and it was hard for the public to visit because of security rules.
But things changed! In 1967, the Ministry of Defence officially recognized it as a museum. The next year, the museum got its first full-time curator, who is like a manager for the collections.
The museum became a registered charity in 1970, which helped it grow a lot. In 1978, it moved outside HMS Dolphin, so everyone could visit easily. This was also when the Royal Navy gave the museum a real submarine, HMS Alliance! It cost £410,000 to lift this huge submarine out of the water and place it at the museum.
The new museum opened its doors in August 1981, with HMS Alliance as its main attraction. Over the years, more submarines and cool submarine items have been added. In 1983, a new display building opened, and visitors could even go inside HMS Alliance. Then, in 2001, a special climate-controlled building was opened to protect Holland 1.
Today, when you visit, you can take a tour inside HMS Alliance with a real submariner as your guide! You can also explore a fun science gallery with interactive exhibits. Don't miss stepping aboard Holland I, the Royal Navy's very first submarine, built way back in 1901. And of course, there are many other interesting exhibits to see around the museum.
Explore Amazing Submarines and Underwater Vehicles
At the museum, you can see these incredible submarines and other underwater vehicles up close:
- HMS Alliance: This is a large Amphion-class submarine that was used for hunting other submarines after World War II. It's now lifted out of the water on special supports.
- Holland 1: This is the very first submarine ever used by the Royal Navy!
- X24: This is a special X-craft midget submarine. It's the only one of its kind that served in the Second World War and is still in one piece today.
- Biber (No.105): A small German World War II midget submarine. It was actually fixed up to work again by some apprentices in 2003!
- LR3: A special deep-sea vehicle used for surveying the ocean and rescuing people.
- Maiale: An Italian human torpedo – yes, a torpedo that a person would ride!
- JIM suit: This is a special suit that allows a diver to go very deep underwater.
- Cutlet: An early ROV, which stands for Remotely Operated Vehicle. It's like a robot that can explore underwater.
- Turtle: This is a copy of the very first submarine ever used in a battle!
Discover Historic and Modern Galleries
The museum has galleries titled "From Pirate to Peacekeeper" that show how submarines have changed over time. Here's what you can find:
- A huge collection of different submarines and torpedoes.
- The periscopes from HMS Conqueror, a famous submarine from the Falklands War. You can look through them and see Portsmouth Harbour!
- Remembrance Corner: A quiet place to remember those who served in the Submarine Service.
- Submariners' medals: See medals, including the amazing Victoria Cross awarded to Edward Courtney Boyle.
- Fun activities for kids:
- Control Room trainer: A cool simulation where you can pretend to command a submarine!
Images for kids
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Full-size model of the Turtle submarine
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Part of one of the Museum's galleries
