Portsmouth Branch Oral History Archive

The Dit Box: Submarine Stories & Memories

From the depth of the Silent Service to the camaraderie of the Portsmouth Branch, share your tales of life beneath the waves.

edit_square Tell Your Story

mic Oral History Recording Booth

Prefer to tell your story out loud? We can help you record your dits via voice at our monthly branch breakfasts or socials. Perfect for capturing the authentic voice of the Silent Service.

All Stories Humour (2) Operations (3) Port Visits (1) Sea Stories (1)

Humour lock Members Only

The Mess Deck Prank of '82

It was a standard patrol in the North Atlantic. Morale was high, but boredom was creeping in. That's when Smudge decided it was time to re-introduce the Chief to the concept of a 'phantom bucket'...

John Smith

HMS Conqueror (1980 - 1985)

Read Dit arrow_forward

Humour lock

Get on depth

Why are you off depth Rmech?

The Phantom Plansman

HMS Opportune

Read arrow_forward

Operations

First Dive Memories

The klaxon sounded, a noise you never truly get used to. The deck angled sharply, and the sounds of the surface world faded into the hum of machinery. My first dive was a mix of terror and awe...

Alan Bates

HMS Resolution

Read arrow_forward

Port Visits

A Weekend in Halifax

After weeks submerged, pulling into Halifax, Nova Scotia was a welcome sight. The hospitality was legendary, though some details of that first night ashore remain remarkably blurry to this day...

David Hughes

HMS Tireless

Read arrow_forward

Operations