HMS A1
HMS A1
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS A1 |
Builder | Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness |
Laid down | 19 February 1902 |
Launched | 9 July 1902 |
Completed | 27 July 1903 |
Fate | Lost, 1911 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | A-class submarine |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement |
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Length | 103.25 ft (31.47 m) |
Beam | 11.9 ft (3.6 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Complement | 11 (2 officers and 9 ratings) |
Armament | 2 × |
HMS A1 was the Royal Navy's first British-designed submarine, and their first to suffer fatal casualties.
She was the lead ship of the first British
Design and construction
She was an enlarged and improved Holland-class submarine–40 ft (12 m) longer than the Royal Navy's five "Holland"-type boats. Subsequent A-class boats were even larger and differed from her in several respects.[3]
Like all members of her class, she was built at
Before she left the yard she suffered from a hydrogen explosion.[6] Later while under tow to Portsmouth to join with the rest of the navy's submarines, seawater managed to reach her batteries, which gave off chlorine gas, forcing the evacuation of the vessel.[6]
Casualty, recovery, loss and rediscovery
She was accidentally sunk in the
She was raised on 18 April 1904 and repaired and re-entered service. Following a
References
- ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 1, p.1, "A-1".
- ^ The Advisory Committee for Historic Wreck Sites Annual Report for 2005
- ^ "1902 - 1920: A Class". rnsubs.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36816. London. 10 July 1902. p. 10.
- ^ "A1". rnsubs.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0-85052-987-5.
- ^ "The First British Sub Ever To Be Lost At Sea". rnsubs.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-90438-104-4.
- ^ Advisory Committee on Historic Wrecks Report for 1999-2000 Archived 2008-03-06 at the UK Government Web Archive
- ^ Statutory instrument 1998 no 2708 protecting wreck of HMS A1
- ^ Statutory instrument 2004 no 2395
External links
- The Spindle Hull Types - Holland, A, B and C Classes evolution and design of early Royal Navy submarines
- Wessex Archaeology multibeam sonar image of the wreck of HMS A1 surveyed in 2003 and later images from a dive
- "HMS/m A1" National Heritage List for England