Holland

Design, Construction, and Naming Notes

Holland was built at Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, NJ. between 1896 and 1897. Launched on May 17, 1897, three years of effort remained by her designer John Holland and his Holland Torpedo Boat Company before she would be accepted into the Navy. Commissioned on October 12, 1900 she was the United States Navy's first official submarine. She served as a pathfinder for the next ten years, training a whole new type of sailor and developing tactics and strategy. She was laid up and decommissioned on November 21, 1910 and thus was not affected by the Navy's change in naming convention for submarines that went into effect on November 17, 1911 and the change in designation systems that was put into place on July 17, 1920. Thus, Holland was known throughout her service life as USS Holland (Submarine No. 1). She never carried the designation SS-1 at any point in her career, although some historians will retroactively apply it for continuity purposes. PigBoats.COM will adhere to the official Navy policy that was in effect during the boat's service career.

Holland (Submarine No. 1)

Interior of the Holland looking aft while under construction at Lewis Nixon's Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, New Jersey. This view if from roughly the center of the boat looking aft into the engineering spaces. The reduction gear can be seen, but the engine has not yet been installed. At the top is a large opening where hull plating is still to be installed. The hull frames are covered with a large canvas tarp.

U.S. Navy Photo

Holland on the building ways at Crescent Shipyard just before her launch on May 17, 1897. On the right a ring style shroud can be seen around her propeller. It was removed before she started sea trials. This also shows the original configuration of her propeller and rudder. The rudders quickly proved to be too small and were later enlarged, then later moved aft of the propeller. Above and just forward of the upper rudder is a small circular opening for her aft firing Zalinsky pneumatic "dynamite" gun (more about that later). Workmen are clearing the ways for launch and a large object is being lowered down the access hatch at top.

U.S. Navy Photo

The christening of the submarine boat Holland by Mrs. Lewis Nixon May 17, 1897 at her husband's Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, NJ. John Holland can be seen to the right of Mrs. Nixon in his bowler hat and wing collar. To the right in the group of workmen the man in the suit and hat with the wing collar looks to be Mr. Matthews, a Holland Torpedo Boat Company investor.

U.S. Navy Photo

Holland on her launch day, May 17, 1897 at the Crescent Shipyard. She is still partially on the launch cradle. At this point the hull is just starting to become buoyant. Holland was still a work in progress at this point. Over three years of tests and modifications were still to come before the Navy would accept and commission her into service.

The Holland launch from the Lewis Nixon Crescent Shipyard in Elizabethport, New Jersey May 17, 1897 amid much fanfare, bells ringing and ships whistles blowing and she slides into Arthur Kill waters. She is flying a 45 star flag donated by Lewis Nixon. Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico had not been admitted to the Union yet and Alaska and Hawaii were still 60 years away from admission.
U.S. Navy Photo

After making her first dive on St Patrick's Day, March 17, 1898, the Holland made a dive for a Navy Department observer, Lt. Nathan Sargent, on Sunday March 27, 1898 in Staten Island Sound and then retired to the Raritan docks. Here the Holland tested her forward dynamite gun for the Navy. The gun was aimed at Tottenville on Staten Island and the gun charged with only 600 pounds of compressed air instead of the 1000 pounds Holland had wanted and fired. The three foot long, fifty pound wood dummy-projectile, (circled), sailed 300 yards into the channel.

U.S. Navy Photo

The Holland shortly after her first trials was being written up in the newspapers giving her particulars as to her operation. She is seen here moored to docks in Perth Amboy, NJ for the press to see.
Library of Congress

Holland at dock side at Perth Amboy, New Jersey after her inital trials on March 17, 1898. As a result of those first trials wooden fairings were added fore and aft of the conning tower to help the water flow around that object. These can be seen here. The muzzle door to the Dynamite gun is open. Photo circa late March 1898.
US Navy Photo

The April 20, 1898 Trials

Photo taken on April 20, 1898. Left to Right are:

Walter Thompson, superintendent of the Raritan Dry Dock
Charles A. Morris, superintending engineer of the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company
John P. Holland, inventor of the submarine
Mr Matthews an investor in the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company
All there to whitness the first real trial run of the subamrine boat Holland VI on Raritan Bay before a Navy Board of Inspection. US Navy Photo

Charles A. Morris
Morris Family Photo

The tug George P. Roe approaching the submarine boat Holland for the tow to the diving area for trials before the Navy Board.
US Navy Photo

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