I have spent a lot of time harvesting information about the early days of submarining both here and abroad.
Over the past few years, I have tried to take a deeper look at the Holland submarine and its impact on the US Navy. A few of those articles are here:
https://theleansubmariner.com/2020/04/09/the-creation-of-a-disordered-mind-hollands-submarine-boat/
Recently I signed up for an account with the National Archives, and it has been really amazing to see are footage and articles about everything from American to Russian submarines in operation. Once you learn how to search and navigate the archives, you can find incredible images, documents and films.
But finding a motion picture reel of the Holland from 1904 was absolutely amazing.
Along with the film (linked below) is a description of what you will see in the short set of sequences.
The quality of the film is rated as “Good”. When you think about the age it was shot, it is remarkable that the scenes are so clear.
Shot List
- MS USS HOLLAND tied up at a pier; some of the crew is aboard, loading a torpedo aboard; it goes down into the hull of the HOLLAND.
- LS The HOLLAND, running at periscope, fires a torpedo;
- PAN to follow the torpedo, running just below the surface;
- PAN back to the periscope.LS Then the sub rises and runs along at conning tower depth; it dives again; rises again and dives again (action called porpoising).
- MS USS HOLLAND with the decks awash; land is in BG.
- MS Sub running along at periscope depth.
- MLS Periscope of the sub; it then disappears below surface.
- MS Sub is porpoising again.
- MS Sub on surface; men climb out of conning tower and walk on deck; then they start back down into the conning tower.
- MS HOLLAND as it runs along the surface; men on deck.
- MS Sub tied up at the pier; men walking around on deck.
QUALITY: QUALITY GOOD (CONSIDERING AGE OF FILM)
Dates: This item was produced or created in 1904.
The creator compiled or maintained the parent series, Moving Images Relating to Military Activities, between ca. 1947–1980.
Edit Status
Audiovisual record(s) in this item have not been edited.
General Notes
Note: Shot at 12 frames per second
Access: Unrestricted
Use: Undetermined
I guess the only thing that is still on my bucket list is having a moving picture of the inside of the boat.
But two things come to mind as I ponder that wish. First, the interior of the boat would be very cramped and second the lighting would probably be problematic.
So, I guess I will just have to live with the schematic diagrams and just imagine the smell of gasoline as the engine cranks out the RPMs.
theleansubmariner 
Mr. Mac, this is Great. Thanks for all the hard work you do for us Submariners and for sharing with us! Trin Rios ETC (SS)/LCDR USN RET.
Thanks, my friend. We have such a rich history, and I am hoping the work will extend far into the future
John (The Toad) Schwerha IC1 SS, USS Queenfish AGSS-393 and USS Thomas Jefferson SSBN-618
You didn’t tell us Charlie Chaplin was part of the crew. (joke, as one of the gentlemen in the first portion had a resemblance to him, down to the way he walked.). This was great to see and realize how far we’ve come. Can’t imagine 7 men in that vessel along with the “fish”. And the attention to SAFETY was amazing too. Thanks for the trip.
Thanks for this great compilation. Every time we think us smoke boaters had it difficult, we have to remember those that came before us. Wow