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This website is brought to you in association with the Barrow-in-Furness Branch of the Submariners Association and is the premier UK internet resource for Submariners and anyone interested in Royal Navy Submarines.

Vickers and Barrow are names synonymous with the development of the submarine. Hundreds of submarines covering virtually every class have been built for the Royal Navy and foreign Navies. This site is dedicated to not only to those who have served on Her Majesty's Submarines but also to those employees past and present whose skills and efforts have given pride to the phrase 'Barrow built' and made the name Vickers known and respected throughout the world.

On This Day - December 31

1912 Nautilus (N 1) Launched
1934 Shark (N 54) Completed
1939 Undine (N 48) HMS Undine departed Blyth for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Heligoland Bight.
1940 Sea Dog (P 216) Laid Down
1940 Sibyl (P 217) Laid Down
1942 P311 (Tutankhamen) HMS P311, only unnamed T-class boat, was due to have been named Tutenkhamen. Fitted to carry human torpedoes (Chariots). Lost while engaged in Operation Principal, a chariot attack on Italian cruisers at La Maddalena.

Left Scotland in November 1942 with sister-boats Thunderbolt and Trooper after addition of human torpedo deck-mounted watertight containers direct for Malta. From there, sailed with Chariots for Operation Principle. Last signal on 31st December. Probably sunk by Italian mines in the approaches to Maddalena. Lost with all hands
1942 Unrivalled (P 45) HMS Unrivalled torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Maddalena south-east of Mehedia, Tunisia.
1942 Truculent (P 315) Completed
1942 Trump (P 333) Laid Down
1942 Ultor (P 53) Completed
1944 Shakespeare (P 221) HMS Shakespeare torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Unryu Maru east of Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
1944 Trenchant (P 331) HMS Trenchant sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
1959 Sealion (S 07) Launched
1974 HMCS Rainbow HMCS Rainbow paid off Esquimalt BC. Last Canadian Pacific Fleet submarine until 2003
Lastest Comments
05/12/2025 on page The History Of British Submarine Sonars
Alan Moore wrote:
The interim sonar prior to 2046 was 2061 not 2062. I worked on 2031z and 2061 between 1985 & 1987 at ARE Portland North. If I looked up from my desk I had a great view of a portion of Portland Harbour and lots of Weymouth Bay.
30/11/2025 on page Affray (P 421)
richard lacey wrote:
Not sure that a raised periscope and radar indicate a dived situation, as on my sub, they were always raised on the surface; otherwise, they could not be used
17/11/2025 on page P 222
Grace Absolom wrote:
Richard William Absolom is my grandfather. He was my dad\'s father. My dad was 3 years old when the P222 disappeared. We often talk about what might have happened.
10/11/2025 on page Thorn (N 11)
Stuart Newland wrote:
My uncle, John Leonard Newland went down on the Thorn. My dad was only about 6 when it happened but he still lays a poppy for him every year at the Royal Navy Memorial at Chatham where he is commemorated.
21/10/2025 on page Medway (F25) 1928 - 1942
L Bradley wrote:
My father Frederick Percival Collins was a leading torpedo man He served on HMS Medway and was in China 1931 I have family photos which are badly water /oil stained due I was told because they were in his wallet when his ship was torpedoed. No mention of this on his service records.