Compression chambers arrive at museum
Early on the overcast and blustery morning of 2 November 2011 the first of the museums external exhibits arrived. Two compression chambers previously used by the Royal Navy to test the limits of the human body deep underwater during and after World War II were carefully lifted into place at the South side of No.2. Battery.
The riveted 100 m chamber was used to train so-called “charioteers”, Royal Navy divers who used modified torpedos to attach underwater explosives to enemy ships.
The other chamber, rated to a depth of 690 m, was used to conduct world record breaking dives exploring the depth limits to which it was possible to dive.
More photographs of the move and lifting operation can be seen in the Photo Gallery.
A video of the lifting operation may be seen by clicking the following link: BBC video of move