THIS week marks 137 years since the very first submarines were built at Barrow.

Before BAE or even Vickers, Barrow shipyard was pioneering submarines in the nineteenth century. The first of two 'Nordenfelts', commissioned by the Ottoman Empire, was launched on April 14, 1886 according to the Barrow Submariners Association. 

The submarines were named after the Swedish industrialist Thorsten Nordenfelt. The one that launched in 1886 was an improved version of an earlier submarine built in Stockholm in 1882. 

This earlier boat had been based on the Resurgam, one of the very first Victorian submarines. This had been designed by inventor George Garrett, who also helped in overseeing the development of the Nordenfelts. 

The Barrow Submariners Association said that the first Nordenfelt launched in 1886 was steam-driven, 100 feet long and displaced 160 tons.

The second Nordenfelt was built at Barrow in 1887 and was 125ft long, displaced 230 tons, and had a hull form more similar to a standard ship. 

The Mail: The Nordenfelt submarine schematic The Nordenfelt submarine schematic (Image: Barrow Submariners Association)

However, these early submarines still only had limited functionality.

The association said: "The Nordenfelts were not particularly successful. When operating near the surface they were fast and manageable but when completely submerged they lacked longitudinal stability."

The Mail: The Nordenfelt submarine under construction in Barrow The Nordenfelt submarine under construction in Barrow (Image: Public domain)

The Ottomans and the Russians were the first buyers of Barrow-built submarines.

Russia never got its submarine as it foundered on the Jutland (Danish) coast on the delivery voyage. 

The Turkish boat was named the Abdul Hamid. It was dismantled for delivery and re-assembled at Taskizak Naval Shipyard in Istanbul under the supervision of Garrett. 

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It launched from the Turkish shipyard on September 6, 1886.

In 1888 during a test it was likely the first submarine in history to fire a torpedo while submerged although some sources say this was from another boat called the Abdul Mecid. 

It finally joined the Ottoman Navy in a flag ceremony on 24 March 1888. However the boat was never used in anger as it was difficult to pilot and by 1909 it was reported unserviceable. Soon after Barrow's first submarine was scrapped. 

The British Royal Navy took a long time to come around to the idea of having its own submarines but HMS Holland 1 was finally launched in Barrow in 1901.