HUDDERSFIELD'S crucial role in the battle beneath the waves during the Second World War continues to be remembered.

The bravery of those who sailed in miniature submarines known as X-Craft, will never be forgotten.

And those who secretly helped to build some of them at the Broadbent engineering works in Huddersfield will also be remembered.

The tiny vessels took part in a number of daring raids.

Famously, some of the `midget subs' were used to attack the German battleship Tirpitz in Norway on September 22, 1943.

They sailed up Altenfjord and planted mines on the mighty ship's hull.

To help perpetuate the memory of these ingenious vessels and the courage of those who sailed in them the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire, has a new addition.

The ribbon which was tied to the champagne bottle to launch the Huddersfield-built X-20 Exemplar is now part of the museum's collection.

The submarine was launched by Marjorie Warwick in October, 1943.

Alexandra Geary, of the museum, said: "It is wonderful to have this article. X-20 herself had a very interesting career. She was one of the first vessels to be off the coast of Normandy on D-Day.

"She was used as a navigation beacon, to guide the incoming forces to the shores.

"She also took part in the beach reconnaissance beforehand."

The museum has a submarine of the same class as the one constructed in Huddersfield on display.

X-24 is the only surviving midget submarine in the country.

Construction of the X-craft in Huddersfield was a closely guarded secret.

Once X-20 was completed it was slowly moved out of Broadbents' works, disguised as a very large motorboat. This was achieved by placing a framework and tarpaulin over it.

It was then towed by tractor and accompanied by police and armed naval officers to Hillhouse railway sidings . There it was loaded on a train and taken to the Clyde.

Marjorie Warwick, of Crosland Moor, was involved in carrying out all the secret correspondence and was invited to name the vessel at the launching ceremony.

THE centrepiece of the museum, HMS Alliance, was commissioned in 1947 after the war had ended.

Visitors can tour the Alliance, guided by an ex-submariner.

The museum traces the history of submarine development, from the times of Alexander the Great to the present day, and the history of the British Submarine Service, from the Holland 1 to the nuclear- powered Vanguard class.

The museum has a large collection of submarines and torpedoes, as well as art, medals and badges, uniforms, plaques and submarine bells.

At the start of the Second World War Britain had 58 submarines available, but by the end of the fighting deployed around 270.

Phone the museum on 023 9252 9217.