HOLLAND 1 Forerunner of the modern submarine

Holland 1 was the Royal Navy’s first submarine. It was a significant craft in the development of the submarine as a weapon of war. Designed by American John Phillip Holland, after whom it was named, it was launched in 1901. Originally, the Admiralty did not want to be involved but, with other countries developing submarines, they soon ordered five such craft.

Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd, at Barrow, built the five, originally numbered to , under licence. There were was the first of the class, and introduced three new technologies: the electric motor, the electric battery and the internal combustion engine.