Barrow has played a vital role in global ship and submarine construction for around 150 years. Ottoman submarine "Abdül Hamid" was built in the town in 1886 and became the first submarine in the world to fire a live torpedo underwater, while oil tanker "British Admiral" became the first British vessel to exceed 100,000 tonnes when launched in 1965. The vast majority of all current and former Royal Navy submarines were constructed in Barrow as well as numerous Royal Navy Fleet Flagships.