Holland 1 was the Royal Navy’s first submarine, commissioned in 1901.
Built by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, Holland 1 was based on the designs of Irish-American inventor John Philip Holland. It was a small experimental boat powered by a petrol engine on the surface and an electric motor underwater.
The Royal Navy ordered several Holland-class boats after testing Holland 1, creating the foundation of Britain’s submarine service. The vessel was not intended for long-range operations and had limited speed and endurance compared with later submarines.
Holland 1 was recovered from the seabed in 1982 after sinking while being towed in 1913. It was restored and is now displayed at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. Holland 1 is sometimes confused with USS Holland, an earlier American submarine that inspired the British design.