HMS A1
Encyclopedia
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 A-class submarines (a second, much different A-class appeared towards the end of the Second World War
), and the only one to have a single bow torpedo
tube. She was actually sunk twice: first in 1904 when she became the first submarine casualty, with the loss of all hands; however, she was recovered, but sank again in 1911, this time when she was unmanned. The wreck was discovered in 1989 and is now a protected wreck
.
- 40 ft (12.2 m) longer than the Royal Navy's five "Holland"-type boats. The most notable improvement was the addition of a conning tower
. Subsequent A class boats were even larger and differed from her in several respects.
Like all members of her class, she was built at Vickers
, Barrow-in-Furness
. She was launched
on 9 July 1902.
Before she left the yard she suffered from a hydrogen explosion. 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.
She was accidentally sunk in the Solent
on 18 March 1904 whilst carrying out a practice attack on by being struck on the starboard side of the conning tower
by a mail steamer, SS Berwick Castle which was en route from Southampton
to Hamburg
. She sank in only 39 ft (11.9 m) of water, but the boat flooded and the entire crew was drowned. One consequence was that all subsequent Royal Navy submarines were equipped with a watertight hatch at the bottom of the conning tower.
She was raised on 18 April 1904 and repaired and re-entered service. Following a petrol explosion
in August 1910, she was converted to a testbed for the Admiralty
's Anti-Submarine Committee. She was lost a year later when running submerged but unmanned under automatic pilot
. Although the position of her sinking was known at the time, all efforts to locate her were fruitless. It was not until 1989 that the wreck was discovered by a local fisherman at Bracklesham Bay
, approximately 5 mi (8 km) away. It is thought that she was only partially flooded when she sank, and the resulting partial buoyancy meant that the wreck moved in the strong local currents. The wreck was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act on 26 November 1998 and redesignated to extend the area covered on 5 October 2004
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's first British-designed submarine, and their first to suffer fatal casualties.
She was the lead ship of the first British A-class submarines (a second, much different A-class appeared towards the end of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), and the only one to have a single bow torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
tube. She was actually sunk twice: first in 1904 when she became the first submarine casualty, with the loss of all hands; however, she was recovered, but sank again in 1911, this time when she was unmanned. The wreck was discovered in 1989 and is now a protected wreck
Protection of Wrecks Act 1973
The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated shipwrecks. Section 1 of the act provides for wrecks to be designated because of historical, archaeological or artistic value. Section 2 provides for designation of...
.
Design and construction
She was an enlarged and improved Holland class submarineHolland class submarine
The Holland-class were the first submarines built for the Royal Navy. They were built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. The first three were designed by John Philip Holland. The Hollands were built under licence from the Holland Torpedo Boat Company/Electric Boat Company during the years 1901 to 1903...
- 40 ft (12.2 m) longer than the Royal Navy's five "Holland"-type boats. The most notable improvement was the addition of a conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
. Subsequent A class boats were even larger and differed from her in several respects.
Like all members of her class, she was built at Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
, Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 9 July 1902.
Before she left the yard she suffered from a hydrogen explosion. 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.
Casualty, recovery, loss and rediscovery
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
on 18 March 1904 whilst carrying out a practice attack on by being struck on the starboard side of the conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
by a mail steamer, SS Berwick Castle which was en route from Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. She sank in only 39 ft (11.9 m) of water, but the boat flooded and the entire crew was drowned. One consequence was that all subsequent Royal Navy submarines were equipped with a watertight hatch at the bottom of the conning tower.
She was raised on 18 April 1904 and repaired and re-entered service. Following a petrol explosion
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
in August 1910, she was converted to a testbed for the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
's Anti-Submarine Committee. She was lost a year later when running submerged but unmanned under automatic pilot
Autopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
. Although the position of her sinking was known at the time, all efforts to locate her were fruitless. It was not until 1989 that the wreck was discovered by a local fisherman at Bracklesham Bay
Bracklesham Bay
Bracklesham Bay is a coastal bay on the west side of the Manhood Peninsula in West Sussex, England. The bay looks out onto the English Channel and the Isle of Wight is visible from the beach, as is the Nab Tower lighthouse and the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.The bay is sandy and backed with...
, approximately 5 mi (8 km) away. It is thought that she was only partially flooded when she sank, and the resulting partial buoyancy meant that the wreck moved in the strong local currents. The wreck was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act on 26 November 1998 and redesignated to extend the area covered on 5 October 2004
External links
- The Royal Navy Submarine Museum
- First loss article from Submariners Association, Barrow in Furness branch
- 1902-1910 A, B and C Class from Submariners Association, Barrow in Furness branch
- Wessex Archaeology multibeam sonar image of the wreck of HMS A1 surveyed in 2003 and later images from a dive
- 2001 Annual HWTMA public lecture given by John Bingeman
- In peril beneath the sea Hampshire and Dorset shipwrecks website
- A-class submarines on Battlecruisers.co.uk
- Photo of A1 in Portsmouth 1903, from MaritimeQuest website