USS Holland, a 64-ton experimental submarine, was built at Elizabethport, New Jersey, to the design of submarine pioneer John P. Holland. Her construction was a private venture of the John P. Holland Torpedo Boat Company, and represented an alternative to the joint Navy-Holland venture that produced the unsuccessful submarine Plunger of 1895. Launched in mid-May 1897 and completed early in the following year, Holland ran extensive trials during 1898-1899, undergoing constant modification as experience was gained with her.
As a very interested party, the Navy followed the new submarine's activities closely and, in April 1900, purchased her with funds provided under an 1896 authorization. Placed in commission as USS Holland in October 1900, she was towed from Newport, Rhode Island, to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. With the exception of some four months at Newport in mid-1901, she primarily operated in the Chesapeake Bay area on training and developmental duty for the rest of the decade, based initially at Annapolis and, after mid-1905, at Norfolk, Virginia.
Holland was always an experimental vessel, though she was the Navy's first reasonably satisfactory submarine and a great achievement in the development of undersea warfare. New submarines were soon produced that overcame many of her deficiencies, and by 1910 she was thoroughly obsolete. USS Holland was stricken from the Navy Register in November of that year and sold for scrapping in June 1913.
This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1).
For other images concerning this submarine, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 53468 Submarine Holland (later USS Holland) Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing her in port, circa 1898-1899. Courtesy of Erik Heyl. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 2710 Submarine Holland (later USS Holland) In port, probably after being refitted, circa 1899. Donation of George R. Bradley, 19 August 1935. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-703837 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) Underway, circa 1900, probably soon after she was accepted by the Navy. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 68240 USS Holland (Submarine # 1) Docked at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, during the early 1900s. Three monitors are in the background. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Cohen Collection, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 63088 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) Partially submerged off the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, in the summer of 1901. Note the submarine's 13-star "boat" flag, signal mast fitted amidships and commissioning pennant. A monitor is in the left background. Courtesy of the Clarence Grace Collection. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53457 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) At the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, in October 1901. In the background is the Russian battleship Retvizan, then nearing final completion after being constructed by the Cramp shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Note the light decking recently fitted to Holland. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 85841 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) At dock side during the early 1900s, with her nameplate visible just aft of the flagstaff. This nameplate was later in the Smithsonian Institution. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 94KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53469 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) In port alongside a barge, circa 1901. USS Columbia (Cruiser # 12) is partially visible in the background. Courtesy of Mr. W.H. Shehan, 1952. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 435 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53470 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) In port alongside a barge, circa 1901. Note the 13-star "boat" flag at her stern. Courtesy of Mr. W.H. Shehan, 1952. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 76KB; 435 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 99352 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) Tied up in port during the early 1900s. Note mooring line coiled on her deck, 13-star ensign flying aft and commissioning pennant flying from her midships mast. Courtesy of the Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, Connecticut, 1989. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 75KB; 520 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53456 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) Hauled out of the water for repairs, circa 1900. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 59 USS Holland (Submarine Torpedo Boat # 1) In drydock, circa 1900, probably soon after she entered Navy service. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 145KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
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For other images concerning this submarine, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 10 June 2004