Her Majesty's Otus

Her Majesty's Otus – Rügen's most famous submarine

A museum housed inside a real submarine from 1963 – you won't find that just anywhere. But on the island of Rügen you can, because that's where Her Majesty's Otus is moored. This British submarine was built as part of a series of 27 identical vessels constructed between 1959 and 1967. They earned the nickname "Silent Hunter" thanks to their whisper-quiet engines. These submarines were also capable of diving to great depths, as the walls of their pressure hulls were made from extra-thick steel. The Otus could dive to an impressive depth of 300 metres. She was deployed during the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982, among other missions. After 28 years of faithful service, the Otus was decommissioned.

From submarine to museum

After being taken out of active service, the Otus was relocated to Sassnitz on Rügen, where she would begin a new life as a floating museum. The boat was quickly converted into an exhibition space that gives visitors a vivid impression of life on board a submarine during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Through presentations and photographs, you can see and experience what daily life was really like for a submarine crew. The space is tight, the living conditions basic – you needed to be made of stern stuff to cope with life beneath the waves. This reality is brought to life through various on-board exhibitions. The tour also includes a look inside the engine room, and you can even peer through one of the still-functioning periscopes to take in the harbour of Rügen.

The Otus is open all year round

In 2004, three former crew members of the Otus paid a visit to their old vessel. "The hold still smells exactly like it used to," was their verdict. HM Otus is open to the public every day throughout the year, from 10:00 am. During the high season it closes at 7:00 pm, in the shoulder seasons at 6:00 pm, and in winter at 4:00 pm.