Most of a nuclear-powered submarine's crew are watch keepers whose working hours are taken up at regular watch-keeping positions and with the continuous training task. Off-duty time is not entirely free as everyone has some further task to perform, such as routine maintenance, paper-work or housekeeping and domestic chores.

 

To maintain peak efficiency, proper relaxation is very necessary, and entertainment during patrols is provided by a wide selection of modern films, a large popular paperback library, and by personal cassette recorders which catered for individual musical tastes.

 

Accommodation was of a high standard, despite obvious limitations in space. The mess, recreation and sleeping spaces have been made as pleasant and comfortable as possible within the confines of a submarine hull, and a modern, well-equipped galley, which maintains a high standard of catering, offers a choice of several hot or cold dishes at all meals.

 

Although capable of keeping up with a surface fleet, it is unlikely that the high-performance Fleet submarines will ever be seen in close formation with surface ships in normal exercises or in actual operations. With the fearsome title of 'Hunter-Killers', their task is to hunt down their prey alone - to reduce the risk of being attacked by friendly forces.

 

The nuclear-powered submarine represents a terrible threat to surface warships, for her speed enables her to close in, attack with a variety of weapons - such as guided torpedoes or even missiles - and then withdraw at high speed.

 

As Admiral Sir John Fisher wrote prophetically in 1904 - 'It's astounding to me how the very best amongst us fail to realise the vast impending revolution in naval warfare and naval strategy that the submarine will accomplish!'