John Philip Holland, the man who developed the first true submarine accepted by the U.S. Navy.
He was born in Liscanor, County Clare, Ireland on 29 February 1840. As a youth, he considered the use of the submarine to further the cause of Irish Independence.
Holland came to the United States in 1873. In 1875 his first submarine designs were submitted for consideration by the US Navy, but turned down as unworkable.
Holland continued to improve his designs and worked on several experimental boats prior to his successful efforts with the privately built HOLAND, launched in 1898. This was the first submarine having power to run submerged for any considerably distance.
The US Navy purchased her after rigorous tests, and six more of her type were ordered.
Holland died on 12 August 1914 at Newark. U.S.A, after spending 57 of his 74 years working with submersibles.
The submarine HOLLAND was built by the Cresent Shipyard, Elizabeth, N.J. in 1898.
Nov 1896 laid down.
17 May 1897 launched.
Displacement 64 tons above water, 74 tons submerged. Dim 16.2 x 3.1 x 2.6/3.5m.
One Otto gasoline motor , 45 hp. Speed 8 knots. Submerged, one Electro motor 150 hp., speed 5 knots. Crew 7.
Armament 1 – 18 inch torpedo tube and 1 – 8 inch pneumatic gun on the bow. Carried 3 torpedoes.
Could dive to a depth of 25 meter. She had diving rudders fitted on either side of her single four-bladed propeller.
11 April 1900 trials.
12 Oct. 1900 commissioned at Newport, R.I. as SS-1, she was actually the Holland Class No VI.
Under command of Lt. Harry H. Caldwell.
She was the forerunner of all modern submarines.
She left under tow of the tug Leyden Newport on 16 October 1900, bound for Annapolis where she trained cadets of the Naval Academy as well as officers and enlisted men ordered there to receive training so vital in preparing for the operation of other submarines being built for the fleet.
HOLLAND proved valuable for experimental purposes in collecting data for submarines under construction or contemplation. Her 166 mile surface run from Annapolis to Norfolk from 8 to 10 January 1901 provided useful data on her performance underway over an extended period.
Except for the period 15 June to 1 October 1901, which was passed training cadets at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport R.I., HOLLAND remained at Annapolis until 17 July 1905 as a training submarine.
20 July 1905 she berthed by the Norfolk Navy yard for an overhaul. The battery was in a bad condition and had to be removed in August 1905. They were never re-installed.
24 June 1907 repair work on her was discontinued until further notice.
30 June 1907 her official log ends.
HOLLAND finished out her career at Norfolk. Her name was struck from the Navy registers of Ships on 21 November 1910. She was sold as scrap to Henry A. Hitner & Sons, Philadelphia for $ 1.066.50 on 18 June 1913. Her purchaser was required to put $5.000 bond as assurance that the submarine would be broken up and not used as a ship.
The HOLLAND was then towed to Annapolis, MD to their graveyard of ships behind Petty Island on 12 November 1913. Her engines were removed, and she was mostly forgotten.
20 June 1915 the HOLLAND was moved to Port Richmond and the following day, it was lifted out of the Delaware River and placed on a flatcar for delivery to the scrapyard.
Early 1916 the hull of the HOLLAND was moved to the Commercial Museum in Philadelphia, where it was displayed as part of the “Today and Tomorrow” Exposition.
After the exposition the plan was to scrap her, but an ex crewmember Walter A. Hall obtained special dispensation from the Navy for a 10-day stay of execution. He wrote to the New York Times for someone to save the HOLLAND.
Two men father and son Gibbons read it and bought the hull for $350, and the HOLLAND was then offered to the city which established the best claim to it.
The Museum of Peaceful Arts in New York became the owner of the HOLLAND, whit the condition that she first shall be exhibited for one year at the Bronx International Exhibition.
12 October 1916 on Columbus Day the HOLLAND, escorted from the grounds of the Commercial Museum by the Mayor of Philadelphia and city officials, the commandant of the Philadelphia Navy yard and 350 navy personnel.
25 May 1917 she arrived at New York. She was to be displaced during the New York International Exposition in the Bronx, but due to World War I the exposition was not opened until July 1918.
The Exposition was not a success, and by 1924 the Exposition become know as Starlight Park. The park was closed in 1930, but the HOLLAND remained on the grounds until at least 1932.
Sometime after the park closed the HOLLAND was bought for $100 by Louis Gerson of the Harlem Metal Corporation and cut up for scrap.
Grenada 1987 $1.50 sg1632, scott?. 1988 $1.50 sg 1752, scott1523
Source. Many web-sites.