Holland – Pioneering Submarine Innovation

This is a presentation that I made this weekend at the Bremerton Base of United States Submarine Veterans to celebrate the success of John P. Holland and his innovative submarine, the Holland VI, which put on a demonstration for the ages on March 17, 1898…

On March 17, 1898, Holland surprised the nation’s media and the Navy by putting his newest creation, the Holland VI through it’s paces off of Staten Island. He purposely demonstrated every ability of his new boat and then repeated the demonstration several times over the next week. It so impressed Theodore Roosevelt that he write to the SECNAV requesting to be personally allowed to negotiate for the purchase of the submarine!

While it would not arrive in time for the Spanish-American war, the Navy would , in fact, but the boat and name her the USS Holland on April 11, 1900. But it was the demonstration on March 17, 1898 that made the sale!