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Building Holland I
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At
the beginning of the 20th Century. The giant battleships of the
Royal Navy played a vital role in defending "the Empire". British admirals
laughed at the idea that a submarine could be a serious threat to their "grand
fleet".
Nevertheless they kept an eye on developments in other
countries. Then in 1900 the "wait and see" policy finally came to
an end. The Admiralty struck a deal with the American Electric Boat
Company to build five Holland design submarines under license at
the Vickers Maxim shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness at a cost of £35,000
each. Electric Boat supplied drawings and components for an improved
design that was bigger and more powerful than the US Navy's first
submarine the Holland Type 6. They also agreed to send some experienced
submariners to train the first British crew. Eight months later
Britain's first submarine was pushed out of Yacht Shed No. 1 and
down the slip way.
" It is understood that no ceremony will take place
at the forthcoming launch of the first British submarine at Barrow-
in- Furness. The Admiralty regards these boats as wholly in the
nature of an experiment and like all other experiments carried out
from time to time this one will be carried out with every privacy"
"The launch of Holland I was carried out
in secrecy but Holland 2 was given a proper launching ceremony, February
1902".
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