Overview of the Collection

The collection begins with drawings and sketches of the very first submersibles - the weird and wacky inventions of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and concludes with the most modern British submarines - those of the Astute-class. 

Although there are a few gaps in the collection we hold photographs of nearly all Royal Navy submarines and many of their crews. These range from official photographs to those taken by individuals during wartime patrols - at work and play.