This submarine, which was christened "Kobben" (The Seal) and later renamed A-1,surpassed all expectations and in 1911 a decision was made to build another three
submarines at the same shipyard. A fifth was also started, but it was confiscated by the German navy when the first world war broke out.
"Kobben" was launched on the 5th May 1909, and commissioned on 28 November 1909 following completion of diving tests in the Great Belt. It arrived in
Horten two weeks later and after a few days it went into full service with a crew of 12 men. "Kobben" remained in service until 1919.
It was broken up some years later, but its conning tower was preserved and is mounted as a memorial at the Navy officers' training school in Horten.
Technical data: Displacement 191 tons surface, 241 submerged. Length 39 metres x 3.9 metres. Diving depths, 50 metres. Machinery two diesel engines 615 HP, plus electro motors. Speed 12 knots surface, submerged with electric motors 8,9 knots.
Armament: Two torpedo tubes, 45 centimetres forward and one torpedo tube "on deck" astern. Range: 4050 nautical miles at 10 knots. "KOBBEN" got 4 "sisters" as time went by (A-2 to A-5).
After the first world war, the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) granted funds for new submarines, this time choosing the American Holland class which had the same diving depth as the A class but carried a larger crew (23 men). Between 1923 and 1930 six Norwegian submarines were built by the main Navy shipyard in cooperation with the Kaldnes and Thunes yards.
Norway took over three submarines from the British Navy during the second world war and a further three after the war. The Germans also left behind fifteen submarines. Four of these were repaired and incorporated into the Norwegian Navy. They had a crew of 47 men and a diving depth of 180 metres.
The history of Norwegian submarines really began in 1808, when a village genius and blacksmith, Mikkel Hallsteinson Lofthus from Hardanger, designed the first known Norwegian underwater boat. He submitted drawings to a society in Bergen that promoted useful products, but the boat was never built. There was too little interest and not enough money. However this was put right 101 years later.
Norway Philatelic and Log Book June 09
Norway 2009 SG?