cale: 1:24. A full hull model of a Royal Navy Holland Type (No.1) submarine (1901). The model is decked, equipped and rigged. A presentation plaque is inscribed ‘No.280 British Admiralty submarine boat no.1 Holland type Length 63'-4" Diameter 11'-9" Displacement 120 tons Petrol engine B H P 160 Built by Messrs Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd Naval Construction Works Barrow-in-Furness 1901’ and ‘Rear Admiral H S MacKenzie DSO DSC Flag officer submarines. For the Submarine Museum at Fort Blockhouse by Vickers Ltd on 29 Nov 1962 Exact replica of the original model’.

Although the First Sea Lord was not convinced that the submarine posed a serious threat, it was the rise in numbers of submarines in other navies, such as France and the United States that caused the Royal Navy to order five to be built. Holland No. 1 was built and undergoing sea trials by April 1902, becoming operational a year later. It was crewed by eight personnel and carried three 18-inch torpedoes which were fired underwater through a tube in the bow.

It was subsequently used for training and based at Fort Blockhouse until sold in 1913. It later foundered whilst on tow from Portsmouth and the wreck was subsequently rediscovered in 1981. The hull was recovered and has since been fully restored and is currently on display at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, Hampshire.