Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• 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

Improvements in submarine design

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• HMS X1

• ASDIC

HMS X1

In 1921, the Royal Navy commissioned HMS X1. The submarine carried a crew of 110 and was the largest boat built to date. Her heavy guns meant that she could fight destroyers, but her surface speed of only 18 knots made her useless as a fleet submarine. X1 was too large to carry out coastal patrols but was capable of a 12 000 mile range, making her best suited to being a long range commerce raider. Ultimately, the Navy deemed X1 unsuccessful, scrapping her in 1937.

Related External Links

• Royal Navy Submarine Museum