HMS Nautilus (1914)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Nautilus.

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

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Nautilus
Ordered	1912
Builder	Vickers
Laid down	March 1913
Launched	16 December 1914
Renamed	HMS N1 in June, 1917
Fate	Sold 9 June 1922 to Cashmore, Newport
General characteristics
Displacement	1,441 tons surfaced/ 2,026 tons submerged
Length	258 ft 6 in (78.79 m)
Beam	17 ft 9 in (5.41 m)
Draught	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft diesel, 2 electric motors 3,700 bhp 1,000 shp
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h) surfaced/ 10 knots (19 km/h) submerged
Range	5,300 nmi (9,820 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement	42
Armament	Eight 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.

Publications

• Preston, Antony (2001). The Royal Navy submarine service : a centennial history. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 978-0851778914.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.

See also

• List of submarines of the Royal Navy