New Exhibition Shines Light On Navy's Polaris Nuclear Deterrent Submarines

Cover picture: a Polaris missile launch from HMS Revenge.

A new exhibition has opened to mark the 50th anniversary of the "silent and secret" role of the Royal Navy's Polaris nuclear deterrent submarines.

Visitors will have a chance to meet veteran submariners and learn about life on board the submarines which have provided the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

The exhibition at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire, is opening 50 years after the first operational patrol of the Navy's first Polaris submarine, HMS Resolution.

Professor Dominic Tweddle, director general of The National Museum of the Royal Navy which owns the submarine museum, said:

"As well as acknowledging the role of the deterrent within the Royal Navy, it is important that the exhibition reflects the current debate on the renewal of Trident missiles.

"We envisage that this will be told through several viewpoints, including concerns on the moral and ethical issues.

"The museum will not tell the visitor what to think, but will leave them to form their own opinion."

There were four submarines in the Resolution class - Resolution, Revenge, Repulse and Renown - and since 1996, four Vanguard-class submarines have carried the Trident missiles.

A museum spokeswoman said: "When a Royal Navy Resolution class Polaris submarine went to sea it was effectively at war.

"The submarine would remain submerged for the entire period of her three-month patrol.

"When on patrol the submarine had to remain completely undetected, be able to receive continuous message traffic from base and be constantly ready to fire its missiles at 15 minutes' notice."

The Silent & Secret exhibition opens on Friday 15 June.