100 years of the submarine service
British submarines
We rarely see or hear them, but more than 600 British submarines have patrolled and protected the waters of the world over the last 100 years - and won 14 Victoria Crosses in the process. Now Royal Mail paid its tribute to Britain's most silent service - The Royal Navy's Submarine Service - when it issued submarines stamps on 10 April 2001.British submariners
British submariners have made vital contributions to the successful outcome of World Wars I and II, the long and tense years of the Cold War as well as more recent conflicts.
However, the achievements of the Service have been won at great cost to human life; over 5,000 died in the service of their country during peace and war.
Four boats on stamps
The Submarines issue features four boats which signify key developments in the service's history and were designed by Dick Davis, who designed Lighthouses stamps in 1998.Mark Thomson, Managing Director, Royal Mail stamps and collectibles, said: "Our aim is to celebrate the most significant developments in the history of this unique service, and at the same time capture the immense power, heroism and endurance of submarines."
Dick Davis's starting point for this issue was to explore the extensive archive material available at the Royal Naval Submarine Museum at Gosport from where he sourced four photographs, two colour, two monochrome, to act as the basis for the stamp designs.
Stamp by stamp
The Vanguard (2nd Class) is the most recently developed class of submarine in service. As a peacekeeping 'Sentinal' (RN expression) it stays deeply submerged for long periods and carries ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.The Swiftsure (Ist Class) is a typical cold war period submarine, patrolling the waters of the world.
The Unity Class (45p) was a small (191 ft) but highly successful design introduced in 1939 and employed mainly in the Mediterranean during World War II. It achieved amazing distinction during this time, cruising at periscope depth for long periods, hence the periscope view graphic featuring an enemy ship.
Until it sank with no survivors, one of the Class, Upholder, sank or damaged over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping.
The photograph on the 65p stamp was taken on the Solent and the graphic is a reproduction of John Holland's original drawing for the boat. The Holland Class boat was, from a naval point of view, the first wholly successful submarine in history. In 1901, the British Navy adopted and developed the design of John Holland, and the Royal Navy Submarine Service was born.
The Holland Class boat was 63ft long and powered on the surface by an internal combustion engine. This was coupled to an electric generator which recharged the batteries which powered the electric motor for submerged running.
More information Postage Stamps
Stamps Great BritainPostage Stamps 2001
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