Nowhere can you get a sense of how British maritime innovation, engineering and design broke the mould than on our historic warships – HMS Gannet (1878), HMS Cavalier (1944) and HMS Ocelot (1962). From the moment you catch your first glimpse of these mighty vessels you’ll sense the vision, grit and hard work that created them and the courage, determination and endurance of the sailors who sailed them.
A visit to our three Historic Warships will allow you to discover what life was really like onboard. Walk the decks of a Victorian sloop, command the bridge of a Second World War Destroyer and peer through the periscope of Cold War submarine. Each are examples of warships built, repaired or refitted at the Dockyard. The dockside cranes bear witness to the heavy-duty work that was carried out here.
Be prepared for a memorable experience as you climb aboard.
For your safety, and in line with the latest COVID-19 government guidelines, things are a little bit different to normal and there are a few changes to how you’ll explore our 80-acre site. Please read our KNOW BEFORE YOU GO page for the latest information.
HMS Gannet was built on the River Medway at Sheerness in 1878. Designed to patrol the world’s oceans, she ‘flew the flag’ protecting British interests around the world, including the South Pacific, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Built in 1944, HMS Cavalier served in the Arctic, Western Approaches and British Pacific Fleet before finally paying off at Chatham in 1972.
Launched in 1962, HM Submarine Ocelot was one of 57 submarines built at Chatham between 1908 and 1966. She served during the Cold War in the Arctic, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.
Visit the HMS Cavalier Virtual Reality Experience
Welcome aboard ...
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is now open to visitors.
For your safety, and in line with the latest government guidelines, things will be different from your last visit and there will be a few changes to how you’ll explore our 80-acre site. Please take a moment to read our ‘KNOW BEFORE YOU GO‘ information.
If you have any queries that are not answered on this page, please contact us via info@chdt.org.uk
If you are trying to contact us via telephone, we are experiencing a high volume of calls and we ask for your patience during this time.