An article will be published in Canal Boat (December Issue) followed up by a different style article in Towpath Talk (in the New Year) relating to the history of the Royal Navy Canal Fleet of warship outline narrowboats that were on the cut between 1972 and 1977.
9 months research led by Andrew Wood (Editor of the Boat Museum Society magazine Report) assisted by myself has found that three of the boats are still in existence in private ownership and one, the submarine Renown, is believed to still be in existence possibly in the London area. Much information and many photographs have been found via other canal historical researchers and from letters in Navy News and Royal Naval Association circular. These letters produced responses from crew members some of whom still had scrap books of press cuttings and reminiscences. Other information has come from the builder of the boats but there is still some information that at this time remains unfound - the research will be ongoing until this information can be found but at the moment leads to the information required are drying up. If anyone has seen a narrowboat in the London area that could be the submarine (it has a fairly distinctive shaped bow - very rounded and wider at the bow than most boats) leads to its existence would be appreciated. Or in fact if anyone has any information extra to that has allready been posted to to these mailings it would be appreciated. Regards Terry Waldron
