The X- and XE-Class submarines were conceived during the Second World War: around 51ft (16m) long, they were designed to be towed by a 'mother' submarine and use their small size to complete stealth missions, such as attacking harbours and performing reconnaissance. Although they would not begin active service until 1942, the submarine crews achieved quite the record, racking up 167 honours between them, including four Victoria Crosses. Written by ex-submariner Keith Hall, X3 to X54 is a look at the entire life and evolution of the British midget submarine, from its early prototypes to its final journeys. With a wealth of imagery, including archive X-craft photographs as well as up-to-date views of the X51 (HMS Stickleback) from the Scottish Submarine Centre, this is the fascinating, yet little-known, story of Britain's midget submarines.

The X Class submarines were conceived during WW2, small craft of around 51ft (16m) long, designed to be towed by a 'mother' submarine with a passage crew on board. Their midget size meant they could attack with stealth, and return to their towing submarine. Beginning with a look back over the wartime craft, this new study from ex-submariner Keith Hall charts the evolution of the X class subs, from X3 through X and XE, and onto the 1950s short-lived and unique Stickleback class. Only four Stickleback submarines were ever produced, with grand plans to use them to carry a 15-kiloton nuclear naval mine codenamed Cudgel deep into Soviet harbours. Nearly all scrapped, just one remains, an X51 now residing in the Scottish Submarine Centre in Helensburgh. With a wealth of imagery including archive X craft photographs as well as up-to-date views of the X51 Stickleback from the Helensburgh Museum, this book tells the little-known story of Britain's midget class subs.