CHILDREN from Tavistock?s Mount House School were thrilled to leave their classroom to visit the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Tireless in Devonport naval base. Pupils had the rare chance to have a guided tour of the submarine as part of a study project into Royal Navy submarines and how they operate. Commanding officer, Commander Iain Breckenridge welcomed the ten pupils, aged five and six, teacher Nicky Gabb and classroom assistant Liz Morgan. He said the visitors were ?as important as any VIP?. Nicky Gabb, whose husband is in the Royal Navy, said: ?I knew this visit would appeal to the children. Submarines are mysterious and they were very intrigued. ?They saw a picture in a school book of HMS Tireless and wanted to know more. Now they have seen the reality they want to know where the windows are and how you see where you are going underwater ? very relevant questions.? The children took a tour of the control room and took turns to sit in the ?driving? seat, grab the steering wheel and wear headphones. They were shown around the galley by Leading Chef Derek Trotter. Further down, well below the surface of the water, they were shown the torpedo room from where they learned the missiles weighed one-and-a-half-tonnes and were 21ft long and that some members of the ship?s company even slept next to the torpedoes between shifts. The children completed their visit by enjoying refreshments in the wardroom, the officers? living and dining area. Pupil Tean Chroszewska said of her visit: ?I really like it here. It?s like my home. I want to live here.?