*British, Post WW2, HM Submarines Superb and Turbulent – Two Original Photographs & One Postcard*
Two Original Photographs & One Postcard of Post WW2 Submarines Superb and Turbulent. These photographs originally formed part of the Lou Britton British Submarine Collection, which was acquired by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport in 2007.
Approximate Dimensions:
Picture 1: 17.8cm x 12.8cm
Picture 2: (written postcard from Royal Navy Submarine Museum) 16.6cm x 11.6cm
Picture 3: 20.2cm x 20.3cm (On the reverse handwritten – HMS Superb – first submarine enters SRC (R Dock) March 1981″. Stamped; “Photographic Department H.M. Naval Base Plymouth.”)
HMS Turbulent
HMS Turbulent was a Trafalgar-class submarine and the second vessel of her class. Commissioned in 1984, she was the fifth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and was decommissioned in July 2012. Built by Vickers Shipbuilding in Barrow-in-Furness, Turbulent was based at HMNB Devonport and now awaits dismantling after being stripped of equipment.
Initially designed for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War, Turbulent shifted focus post-Cold War to intelligence gathering, commando operations, and firing Tomahawk missiles in the 2003 Iraq War. In 1997, she underwent modernization and her first nuclear refuelling. During the 2003 Iraq War, Turbulent launched thirty Tomahawk missiles and became the first Royal Navy vessel to return home from the conflict, flying the Jolly Roger.
In 2011, Turbulent participated in the Libya intervention, spending 268 days on deployment. After a brief stop in Fujairah, the submarine suffered a catastrophic air-conditioning failure, causing 26 casualties due to extreme heat. The incident was later revealed in 2014. She was scheduled for decommissioning in 2011 but was deployed to the Falklands in 2012 amidst tensions with Argentina, before officially decommissioning in July 2012.
HMS Superb
HMS Superb was a nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Swiftsure class in the Royal Navy. Launched on 30 November 1974 and commissioned on 13 November 1976, Superb was decommissioned on 26 September 2008 after sustaining damage in the Red Sea in May 2008.
Notably, Superb was the first British submarine to visit the Arctic Ocean and sail under the polar ice caps. During the Falklands War, press speculated she was heading to the South Atlantic, though she did not participate in the conflict. She also supported Operation Veritas in the Indian Ocean during the War in Afghanistan in 2001.
In May 2008, Superb collided with an underwater pinnacle in the Red Sea, damaging her sonar. She returned to the UK after temporary repairs but was decommissioned early in September 2008. Two years later, the commanding officer and two others were reprimanded for failing to notice the danger prior to the collision.
HMS Superb and Turbulent in the North Pole 1988
In 1988, HMS Superb and HMS Turbulent undertook a joint Arctic mission, with Superb becoming the first British submarine to reach the North Pole. The operation, part of Cold War activities, involved breaking through the ice and conducting exercises in harsh Arctic waters. It showcased the Royal Navy’s strategic reach, intelligence-gathering capabilities, and advanced submarine technology. The mission highlighted the versatility of both submarines and remained secret for some time, solidifying their reputations within the Royal Navy.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEXCB_9116195026
