Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

1900s: The beginnings of the Submarine Service

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Acceptance of submarines

• Holland I

• British designed submarines

• 'Overseas' submarines

Acceptance of submarines

The Electric Boat Company of Delaware designed the Royal Navy's first submarines. This company bought the patents in 1899 from the bankrupt submarine designer, John Holland, an Irishman who had emigrated to America. The Navy commissioned five submarines, built to the design of Electric Boat's own prototype vessel and named ‘Holland' boats after their inventor. The Admiralty contracted the shipbuilders Vickers, Son and Maxim Ltd to supply the Navy with these submarines.

The Navy conducted various trials which proved the viability of submarines, in particular as a means of local coastal defence. The Navy eventually, however reluctantly, accepted submarines into the service. In particular, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir John Fisher, was a strong supporter of these new vessels. From that point until the outbreak of World War One, submarines developed at a remarkable pace.

'A Boats' by W L Wyllie (RNSM)

Related External Links

• Royal Navy Submarine Museum - Holland 1

• Submarine Heritage - Holland 1

• Wikipedia - HMS A8