Image Gallery
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Royal Naval Museum Collection
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Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historic Trust Collection
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Royal Navy Submarine Museum Collection
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Royal Marines Museum Collection
Archive Collection
Title: Hands to Bathe
Description: A photograph of crew members of the submarine, HMS Walrus, taking part in a Hands to Bathe in 1984. During Hands to Bathe, the crew of a vessel are allowed to swim in the surrounding sea. It is a traditional method in the Royal Navy of both having fun and exercising whilst away at sea, and it is an especially popular past-time with the often overheated crews of submarines. A swimmer of the watch would also stand by, dressed ready to leap in after anyone who gets into difficulty. In tropical areas, an armed sentry is positioned on the bridge to scare off sharks.
Creator: Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Accession Number: RNSM 63
