HMS Conqueror was a British Churchill-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine which served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1990. She was the third submarine of her class, following the earlier Churchill and Courageous, all designed to face the Soviet threat at sea. She was built by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead.
Conqueror returning to the Clyde Submarine base (Faslane) flying the Jolly Roger after the Falklands War, 4 July 1982
HMS Warspite (left) and HMS Conqueror (centre) with HMS Valiant (at rear) at HMNB Devonport Navy Days, 26 August 2006.
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely operated vehicles and robots, as well as medium-sized or smaller vessels, such as the midget submarine and the wet sub. Submarines are referred to as boats rather than ships irrespective of their size.
US Virginia-class submarine underway in Groton, Connecticut, July 2004
Russian Akula-class submarine of the Northern Fleet, in 2008
An early submersible craft, built by Cornelis Drebbel, propelled by oars
1806 illustration by Robert Fulton showing a "plunging boat"