To support the work of the Museum's Archive Departments, a group of Volunteers was formed in September 1991.

The group was designated the Archive Working Party and today has 8 members, each of whom has a specialized area of research interest as well as contributing to the overall objectives of the Document and Photographic archives.

The group meets formally 3 times a year under the chairmanship of one of the founding members. The meetings are also attended by the Director of the Museum, the Deputy Director, the Keeper of Archives and the Business Services Manager. Other members of staff may be invited to attend for specific topics.

The purpose of such meetings is twofold i.e. to brief the Working Party on developments both current and future concerning the Museum and, secondly, to update the meeting on the progress of specific projects being undertaken by Working Party members.

Each member has a depth of specialist knowledge concerning the history of the Submarine Service from its inception in 1901 to 1914, World War I, the interwar years, World War II, post-war non-nuclear designs and German U Boat operations in both World Wars. The Director, having commanded both "Hunter-killer" and Ballistic Missile submarines, provides the expert knowledge in this particular area.

The Museum deals with queries and requests for information from correspondents at home and overseas, from Members of Parliament, family historians, authors, researchers, Broadcasters and academics. Where appropriate, advice is sought from the Working Party members and they undertake research to assist authors, families etc.

Current projects being researched by the Working Party members include Courts of Enquiry, Courts Martial, Casualty records, World War II U Boat operations, Submarine Officers' service biographies, Reserve Officers in Submarines in World War I, Baltic operations 1914-19, histories of particular RN submarines and Submarine ratings' records.

Contributions are made to publications at home and abroad and speaking engagements undertaken "on request" although the latter is not part of the function for which the Working Party was set up.

The Chairman of the Working Party is responsible to the Director of the Museum for the activities of the group, with the day-to-day operations being carried out at the request of the Keepers of the Photographic and Document archives

The current Working Party members are:-