HMS Nautilus was a Royal Navy submarine. She was the largest submarine built for the Royal Navy at the time.[1] She was also the first to be given a name.

History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Nautilus
Ordered1912
BuilderVickers
Laid downMarch 1913
Launched16 December 1914
RenamedHMS N1 in June, 1917
FateSold 9 June 1922 to Cashmore, Newport
General characteristics
Displacement1,441 tons surfaced/ 2,026 tons submerged
Length258 ft 6 in (78.79 m)
Beam17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Draught26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion2 shaft diesel, 2 electric motors 3,700 bhp 1,000 shp
Speed17 knots (31 km/h) surfaced/ 10 knots (19 km/h) submerged
Range5,300 nmi (9,820 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement42
ArmamentEight 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes (2 bow, 4 beam, 2 stern), 16 torpedoes, one 3 inch AA gun

Nautilus was designed in response to recommendations for an overseas submarine displacing 1,000 tons and capable of 20 knots (37 km/h). The resulting design changed from the saddle tanks common at the time to a double hull.

The order was given to Vickers in 1912 and her keel was laid down in March 1913. Although launched in 1914 it took until 1917 to complete the vessel. Nautilus spent most of her life with the 1st Submarine Flotilla at Portsmouth as a depot ship and later as a battery charging vessel. She was renamed N1 in June 1917.

Following decommissioning she was sold for scrap to John Cashmore Ltd on 9 June 1922 and broken up at their yard at Newport, Wales.

References

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  1. ^ "An era of Submarines". Evening Times-Republican. Marshalltown: Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com. 20 June 1914. p. 2.

Publications

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See also

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