The present research was aimed at comparing performance of metallic and polymer composite shells of a typical underwater vessel of length and inner diameter of 1650 mm and 350 mm respectively, based on the critical buckling pressure for operating depth of 1000 m using ANSYS. High strength steel, aluminium alloy, titanium alloy, glass / epoxy and carbon / epoxy materials were examined. The results indicated weight savings of 46 % in carbon/epoxy and 31 % in glass / epoxy when compared with high strength steel, based on the thickness of the shell for sustaining 10 MPa buckling pressure.