THE SUBMARINE MUSEUM

The maintenance of links with the past is an important feature of special forcs such as the Submarine Arm of the Navy, for this is what gives them pride and confidence of face the hazards and hardships of their demanding profession. This was realised by some farthinking officers in INS Virbahu, who set up a small collection of curious and mementos to remind visitors to Virbahu of the old days.

That collection has grown to an impressive accumulation of interesting artifacts that bring to mind the early days of the Submarine Arm. There are several hundred photographs, dating back to the days in HMS Dolphin, showing our first submariners undergoing their initiation into the fascinating underwater world.

Among the interesting exhibits are the ensigns and the submarine insignia of several Navies. There are panels which show the history of the development of the submarine as a platform of war. The array of exhibits also trace the growth of the Indian Navy’s own Submarine Arm, from its earliest days to the present modern force that it has become.

The submarine museum is a testimonial to the pride that all submariners are taught to cultivate in their past. While it is still on a modest scale, there is a constant effort towards improving it that augurs well for its future growth into a true sysbol of the submarine spirit.