NAVYPEDIA

Photo

A11 1910s

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
A1 (ex-No 6)			Vickers, Barrow	2.1902	9.7.1902	7.1903	collision 18.3.1904
A2			Vickers, Barrow	11.1902	16.4.1903	6.1904	wrecked 1.1920
A3			Vickers, Barrow	11.1902	9.3.1903	7.1904	collision 2.2.1912
A4			Vickers, Barrow	2.1903	9.6.1903	7.1904	sold 1.1920
A5	I15		Vickers, Barrow	9.1903	3.3.1904	2.1905	sold 1.1920
A6	I16		Vickers, Barrow	9.1903	3.3.1904	3.1905	sold 1.1920
A7			Vickers, Barrow	9.1903	23.1.1905	4.1905	lost 16.1.1914
A8	I18		Vickers, Barrow	9.1903	23.1.1905	5.1905	stricken 7.1916
A9	I19		Vickers, Barrow	1903	8.2.1905	5.1905	BU 1920
A10	I10		Vickers, Barrow	1903	8.2.1905	6.1905	sold 4.1919
A11	I01		Vickers, Barrow	1903	8.3.1905	7.1905	BU 5.1920
A12	I02		Vickers, Barrow	1903	8.3.1905	9.1905	sold 1.1920
A13	I03		Vickers, Barrow	1903	18.4.1905	6.1908	BU 1920

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	A1 - 4: 165 / 180 A5 - 13: 180 / 207
Length, m	A1 - 4: 30.5 A5 - 13: 30.2
Breadth, m	A1 - 4: 3.51 A5 - 13: 3.89
Draught, m	3.05
No of shafts	1
Machinery	A1 - 12: 1 petrol engine / 1 electric motor A13: 1 diesel / 1 electric motor
Power, h. p.	A1 - 4: 450 / 80 A5 - 12: 550 / 150 A13: 400 / 150
Max speed, kts	A1 - 4: 11.5 / 7 A5 - 12: 12 / 8 A13: 11 / 8
Fuel, t	A1 - 12: petrol 7 A13: diesel oil 5
Endurance, nm(kts)	500(10) / 30(5)
Armament	A1: 1 - 450 TT (bow, 3) A2 - 13: 2 - 450 TT (bow, 4)
Complement	A1 - 4: 11 A5 - 13: 13
Diving depth operational, m	30

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

A sixth improved unit of the 'Holland' class was so altered at the design stage that she became the prototype for the next class, the first all-British submarines. A1 was little more than a lengthened Holland, but from A5 onwards they were enlarged and from A2 carried a second TT in a side-by-side configuration. Another innovation was a proper conning tower, to avoid being swamped when running on the surface. Like the 'Hollands' their main defect was the small reserve of buoyancy. Although still largely experimental the 'A' boats were successful, and the survivors saw active service in 1914, even if only in the training role. Protracted trials with A13's Hornsby-Ackroyd vertical heavy oil engine led to the adoption of the diesel in due course, and the basic concepts remained unaltered for several years.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

A1 was laid down before Holland No1 had completed her trials, and came into service in July 1903. Unfortunately she was the first submarine casualty, being rammed and sunk on 18 March 1904 by the liner Berwick Castle off the Nab. Raised on 18 April 1904 she was never recommissioned, and was sunk as a target. A2 was wrecked while on the Sale List. A3 was rammed and sunk by Hazard on 2 February 1912 but raised and used as a target. A4 was sunk in collision on 16 October 1905, and although raised was not recommissioned. A7 was lost in Whitesand Bay when she dived into the mud. A8 foundered and sank in Plymouth Sound on 8 June 1905 but was raised and repaired; stricken July 1916 and sold in January, 1920.