These submarines were the first submarines to be commissioned by the Royal Navy, all five having entered service by 1903.
Due to the number of submarines in service, the Royal Navy in 1900 realised the need to have submarines.
The Electric Boat company entered negations with the Royal navy to build 8 Holland type submarines. It was agreed that these would be built under license by Vickers at barrow and work began in 1900 a total of 5 submarines were built.
Displacement: On surface 113 tons, submerged 122 tons, Speed. surface 7.5 knots submerged 6 knots. Range 500 nautical miles at 7 knots on the surface. Armament: one 18-inch bow torpedo tube and carried three torpedo's Crew: 8
Pictured here is Holland No.1 - Used for training purposes at Fort Blockhouse. Sold for scrap in October 1913. It was while being towed to Portsmouth that she foundered and was lost, only to be rediscovered in April 1981. She was restored at Gosport Submarine Museum.
