Title
HMS D1 Royal Navy's First Diesel Powered Sub - launched 16th May 1908
Description
Royal Navy’s First Diesel Powered Sub Launched 105 Years Ago Today
On 16th May 1908 HMS D1, the first of the D Class Submarines of the Royal Navy was launched. The photo above, taken by Stephen Cribb, shows the D1 moored in Portsmouth harbour sometime between May 1908 and 1913. To the left in the background is HMS Mercury an old Iris Class Cruiser which became a submarine depot ship in 1906. In the foreground we can see the A Class HMS A5 passing D1 with some of her 11 man crew manning the sides.
The D Class of submarines was a major step forward in sub capability. Until that time the preceding classes were confined to coastal areas with little ability for longer range cruising. The earlier classes A through C were powered by electric motors and petrol engines. The new D class had an improved surface cruising range of up to 2500 nautical miles in comparison to the earlier A Class’, which was first launched in 1902, 350 nautical miles. This shows the leap in capability over just 6 years. The D Class also had improved armament and speed, fitted with 2 forward and 1 aft firing 18 inch torpedo tubes and was also the first class to be fitted with a 12-pdr deck gun for surface use. They were also the first subs to be equipped with a radio set, they were truly cutting edge boats.
The D1 was built in absolute secrecy so advanced was her design, with her being built out of sight and even launched with little fanfare and she was immediately screened from view after her launch. The D Class proved that subs could be viable long range assets when D1 sank a cruiser during exercises in 1910 and they proved their worth during World War One. They were a part of the submarine force which patrolled the north sea and the Heligoland Bight attacking German shipping. All of the sub classes built before 1914 played a part during the war with the A & B classes filling port and harbour defence and training roles and the more advanced C class attacking shipping in the Baltic. After the end of the war however technology had once again advanced and the D Class were succeeded by the later L Class. D1 was sunk as a target in 1918.
Source: https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/50588459895/historical-trivia-royal-navys-first-diesel
On 16th May 1908 HMS D1, the first of the D Class Submarines of the Royal Navy was launched. The photo above, taken by Stephen Cribb, shows the D1 moored in Portsmouth harbour sometime between May 1908 and 1913. To the left in the background is HMS Mercury an old Iris Class Cruiser which became a submarine depot ship in 1906. In the foreground we can see the A Class HMS A5 passing D1 with some of her 11 man crew manning the sides.
The D Class of submarines was a major step forward in sub capability. Until that time the preceding classes were confined to coastal areas with little ability for longer range cruising. The earlier classes A through C were powered by electric motors and petrol engines. The new D class had an improved surface cruising range of up to 2500 nautical miles in comparison to the earlier A Class’, which was first launched in 1902, 350 nautical miles. This shows the leap in capability over just 6 years. The D Class also had improved armament and speed, fitted with 2 forward and 1 aft firing 18 inch torpedo tubes and was also the first class to be fitted with a 12-pdr deck gun for surface use. They were also the first subs to be equipped with a radio set, they were truly cutting edge boats.
The D1 was built in absolute secrecy so advanced was her design, with her being built out of sight and even launched with little fanfare and she was immediately screened from view after her launch. The D Class proved that subs could be viable long range assets when D1 sank a cruiser during exercises in 1910 and they proved their worth during World War One. They were a part of the submarine force which patrolled the north sea and the Heligoland Bight attacking German shipping. All of the sub classes built before 1914 played a part during the war with the A & B classes filling port and harbour defence and training roles and the more advanced C class attacking shipping in the Baltic. After the end of the war however technology had once again advanced and the D Class were succeeded by the later L Class. D1 was sunk as a target in 1918.
Source: https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/50588459895/historical-trivia-royal-navys-first-diesel
Publisher
Morrab Library
Date
1908-05-16
Rights
Morrab Library
Format
Print
Identifier
M.2500
Coverage
Portsmouth