HMS Holland 1

 

In 1901, HMS Holland 1 was ordered from John Philip Holland and built at Barrow-in-Furness. The keel was laid down February 4, 1901. In order to keep the boat’s construction secret, HMS Holland 1 was assembled in a building labeled "Yacht Shed". Her parts that had to be fabricated in the general yard were marked for "pontoon no 1". She was launched on 2 October 1901. She dived for the first time (in an enclosed basin) on 20 March 1902. Sea trials began in April 1902.

In September 1902, HMS Holland 1 arrived at Portsmouth with the other completed Holland boat and along with HMS Hazard (their floating submarine base) made up the "First Submarine Flotilla", commanded by Captain Reginald Bacon. Recognizing how dangerous the new submarines could be, he proceeded cautiously with training his small band of volunteer officers and men. There were accidents and disappointments, but just a few months later Captain Bacon reported that:

"Even these Little Boats would be a terror to any ship attempting to remain or pass near a harbour holding them".

On 3 March 1903 HMS Holland 1 suffered an explosion that caused four injuries.

On 24 October 1904, with the rest of the Holland fleet and three A-class boats, HMS Holland 1 sailed from Portsmouth to attack a Russian fleet that had mistakenly sunk a number of British fishing vessels in the North Sea in the Dogger Bank incident. The boats were recalled before any attack could take place.

The submarine was decommissioned and sold in 1913 to T W Ward (limited) for £410. By the time the submarine was sold she was considered so obsolete that she was sold with all fittings intact, and the only requirement put on the purchaser was that the torpedo tube be put out of action.

While being towed to the scrap yard HMS Holland 1 encountered very severe weather and sank about a mile and a half off Eddystone lighthouse. No one was on board the submarine at the time. Since the submarine had been seen to be sinking earlier in the journey, the crew of the tug were ready to release the tow rope, preventing any damage to the tug.

The wreck was located in 1981. In November 1982, HMS Holland 1 was raised. From 1983, after coating in anti-corrosion chemicals, she was displayed in the open air at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. However by 1993 it was apparent that the treatment had proved inadequate. A fiberglass tank was built around her.  HMS Holland 1 was immersed in sodium carbonate solution from 1995. After four years the corrosive chloride ions had been removed, and she was able to be displayed again after restoration work.