Second World War Gallery

Midget Submarine superstructure, 1943

Also built in the Carriage and Wagon Works at Swindon were 50 of these midget submarine superstructures which were produced for the Admiralty. The superstructure was made of mahogany and then covered in outer curtains that protected the driver and his assistant from the flow of water when submerged. All joints had to be precision made in order to prevent any water penetration into the submarine, and the vessel was built to withstand water pressure of 90lb to the square inch, so allowing it to submerge to a considerable depth. The work on the midget submarines was top secret. Only the men directly involved in its design and construction knew about it and they were sworn to secrecy. The screens surrounding the submarine in this image are testament to the sensitive nature of much of the war work carried out at Swindon Works

Anti-Aircraft Gun, Swindon Works, 1940s

This anti-aircraft 6-pounder navel gun was manufactured for the Admiralty in W Shop at Swindon Works during World War II. It comes with a mounting that would have allowed it to be fixed to the ground, a building roof or a small ship and a shield to protect the gunner. Although this gun is small in size, most anti-aircraft guns required weeks of intensive training, particularly if you joined an anti-aircraft regiment. Although the anti-aircraft guns that were positioned on the Home Front coastal defences were not particularly effective they did shoot down a number of German V1 flying bombs (doodlebugs) during their time in operation

V Shop, 1943

Female worker drilling crown plate of boiler firebox. During World War 2 female staff were employed at Swindon Works to replace the men who had been enlisted

© STEAM Picture Library 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Boiler, Fire Box, Swindon, Ww 2