National Submarine Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about National Submarine Day

National Submarine Day is observed on April 11 to commemorate the acquisition of the USS Holland, the first modern submarine to be commissioned. This day is significant to the submarine community because it commemorates the United States Navy’s acquisition of its first modern submarine, but life underwater is not particularly glamorous. Typically, mariners spend months at sea and return when food supplies run out. Submarines can be crowded with tedious daily duties, and some crew members may not always get along with everyone on board. It is not only adversaries and the sea that they must contend with.

The background of National Submarine Day

National Submarine Day commemorates the United States government’s acquisition of the Holland VI, but this was not the nation’s first submarine. The USS Alligator was the first documented United States-owned submarine. On August 10, 1832, Brutus Villeroi concluded construction of his submarine, possibly named the Nautilus, and demonstrated it off the coast of France.

At that time, the submarine was referred to as a “fish boat” measuring 10 feet 6 inches in length and 3 feet 7 inches in diameter at its widest point. The submersion of the fishing vessel to depths of twenty feet was an impressive sight. Villeroi designed the USS Alligator in 1861, which the United States sank on April 2, 1863, after losing a battle against a fierce tempest.

The United States government purchased the Holland VI, designed by Irish-American inventor John Phillip Holland and commissioned on October 12, 1900, for $150,000 on April 11, 1900. It was commanded by Lieutenant H.H. Caldwell and was regarded as the first modern submarine with a multitude of impressive features in a single vessel.

It was equipped with dual propulsion systems, a longitudinally fixed centre of gravity, separate main and auxiliary ballast systems, a hydrodynamically advanced design, and a contemporary weapon system. According to reports, the Holland VI was decommissioned on November 21, 1910, marking a significant breakthrough for the United States Navy.

In 1969, Senator Thomas J. Dodd introduced a bill that would have designated April 11 as National Submarine Day. At the time, President Richard Nixon was in office, but there was no trace of his proclamation. It may have passed the Senate and been introduced to the House of Representatives in 1970, but the precise date is unknown. Nonetheless, the United States Navy and other organisations commemorated the Holland VI and its contributions to modern warfare.

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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL SUBMARINE DAY

Submarines are also a form of sandwich consisting of a long roll of bread, meats, vegetables, and condiments.

Due to the limited habitability and privacy aboard a submarine, women were not permitted to serve on submarine personnel prior to 2010.

Many of John Holland’s concepts could not be incorporated into the submarine’s design at the time; they had to wait for the advent of nuclear power.

Cornelius Drebbel developed the first-known submarine in 1620.

Many consider Wolfgang Peterson’s German epic “Das Boot” to be the greatest submarine film ever produced.

NATIONAL SUBMARINE DAY DATES