De Dutch shipyard Kon. Mij. De Schelde was around 1904-1906 building the first Dutch submarine Luctor et Emergo on her own costs and risks. The design the yard used was a American Holland-design. She was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy on 21 December 1906 as the Hr.Ms. O 1.(1) There is quite a lot of correspondence between the yard and the Holland firm preserved. Among this is a letter dated Paris 6 June1906 received by board member J. van Raalte. The writer wrote that the president Rice of the Electric Boat Company allowed the passing of the details dealing with the performance of the so-called Lake Boats In Russia. However the official report was strictly secret so only a summary could be supplied. The maximum speed of these boats while surfaced was 6,5 knots and while submerged maximum 4,5 knots. Diving needed 16,5 minutes. The torpedo trials failed completely. The torpedoes stuck in the tubes or broke into parts caused by the water resistance. While surfaced made dense fumes created by the engine it impossible for her crew to stay for a longer time below decks. When dived started the water to penetrate the hull on a depth of around 18 feet with such a force that it was needed to go back to the surface. The Russian commission commented on 17 points and refused the boats until they were satisfied. Of the seven Holland boats which were or already commissioned in Russian service of being built were at that moment five units accepted. A small table was included supplying the next details.
Official trials of the Lossos, speed 9,05 (surfaced)-7,235 (submerged), torpedo trials perfect, within 3 minutes from surfaced into submerged condition, during trials not one hitch.
Official trials of the Russian lake Boats, speed 6,50 (surfaced)-4,50 (submerged), torpedo trials absolute failed, within 16,5 minutes from surfaced into submerged condition, during trials no success.
Note
1. An article dealing with the interests of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Holland submarine will be published this year with as working title “Nederlandse Marine wel of niet geïnteresseerd in een eigen onderzeeesche torpedoboot in 1899?”
Source
Archive Kon. Mij. Schelde 1875-1970 (Gemeentearchief Vlissingen no. 514) inv.no. no. 802.
