History of Submarine in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

Submarine is a 2010 coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Richard Ayoade, based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne. Set in Swansea, Wales, the story follows fifteen-year-old Oliver Tate, an eccentric and socially awkward teenager navigating the complexities of adolescence. Oliver has two primary goals: to lose his virginity to his classmate Jordana Bevan and to save his parents' crumbling marriage from the interference of a New Age guru, Graham Purvis. Utilizing a stylized, cinematic aesthetic and an intimate, witty voice-over narration, the film explores themes of first love, family dysfunction, and the transition into adulthood. It is widely praised for its quirky charm, strong performances, and the atmospheric original soundtrack composed by Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, capturing the specific melancholy and humor of teenage angst.

April 1900: Purchase of USS Holland

In April 1900, the United States Navy officially purchased the Holland VI submarine, marking the vessel's transition into the Navy's first commissioned submarine under the name USS Holland.

June 1900: Commissioning of the Narval

In June 1900, the French submarine Narval was officially commissioned, introducing a pioneering double-hull design that featured a pressure hull enclosed within an outer shell.

1901: Commencement of Holland-class submarine production

In 1901, the Royal Navy initiated the commissioning of five Holland-class submarines from Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness, operating under a licence obtained from the Holland Torpedo Boat Company.

April 1902: First Holland-class submarine sea trial

On 6 April 1902, following construction delays, the first Holland-class submarine was completed and prepared for its initial diving trial at sea, featuring an upgraded 180 horsepower petrol engine design.

1903: Conclusion of Holland-class commissioning period

By 1903, the Royal Navy finalized the multi-year commissioning project for the five Holland-class submarines originally ordered from Vickers in 1901.

1904: Introduction of the Aigrette

During 1904, the French submarine Aigrette was introduced, marking a significant technical advancement by replacing gasoline engines with diesel engines for surface propulsion.

1904: Initial Deployment of Submarines in Conflict

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, submarines were utilized for the first time in an operational military capacity.

1904: Launch of HSwMS Hajen

In 1904, the Swedish Navy launched its first submarine, HSwMS Hajen, which later received the designation Ub no 1. The vessel introduced innovative design changes compared to the USS Holland, including the integration of a periscope, a semidiesel hot-bulb engine fueled by kerosene, and a diesel-electric propulsion system that decoupled the engine from the propeller.

1904: Pivotal Era in Submarine Development Concludes

The year 1904 marked the conclusion of a transformative period in submarine history that began in 1863, during which navies finally achieved the technological readiness to put submarines into routine service through the development of suitable engines and standardized equipment like the periscope.

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January 1905: Creation of the First Operational Submarine Fleet

By 1 January 1905, the Russian military had stationed seven submarines in Vladivostok following a blockade at Port Arthur, marking the establishment of the world's first operational submarine fleet.

April 1905: First Submarine Confrontation

On 29 April 1905, the Russian submarine Som experienced the first combat engagement involving submarines when it was fired upon by Japanese torpedo boats before successfully withdrawing.

August 1914: First Submarine War Patrol

In August 1914, a German flotilla consisting of ten U-boats departed from their base in Heligoland to conduct the first historical submarine war patrol with the objective of attacking Royal Navy warships located in the North Sea.

1914: Submarine Fleet Milestone

By 1914, the production of submarines had reached a significant milestone with seventy-six vessels completed, showcasing the rapid expansion of this naval technology.

1914: Widespread submarine utilization begins

In 1914, submarines began to be utilized widely in military operations as World War I commenced, marking a significant shift in naval warfare tactics.

1918: Conclusion of World War I submarine usage

By 1918, the conclusion of World War I marked the end of the first major global conflict where submarines were employed extensively by various navies for combat and strategic operations.

1940: German Navy Tests Walter Turbine Propulsion

In 1940, the German Navy conducted tests of a hydrogen peroxide-based anaerobic propulsion system known as the Walter turbine, which was first installed on the experimental V-80 submarine and later utilized on U-791 and type XVII submarines.

December 1941: US Submarine Commission Status During the Attack on Hawaii

In December 1941, during the Japanese attack on Hawaii, the United States Navy had 111 submarines in commission as part of its total fleet involved in World War II.

July 1953: First Cruise Missile Launch from a Submarine

In July 1953, the USS Tunny, a modified World War II fleet boat, successfully conducted the first-ever launch of an SSM-N-8 Regulus cruise missile, which was equipped with a nuclear warhead.

1958: Completion of British Explorer-class Submarines

In 1958, the British Explorer-class submarines were completed, featuring further developments of the hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion system originally tested by the German Navy.

October 1959: Trieste Departs for Project Nekton

In October 1959, the deep-submergence vehicle Trieste departed from San Diego bound for Guam aboard the freighter Santa Maria to prepare for Project Nekton, a series of exploratory dives into the Mariana Trench.

1959: First Ballistic Missile Submarines Commissioned

In 1959, both the United States and the Soviet Union introduced their first ballistic missile submarines into service as a key component of their respective Cold War nuclear deterrent strategies.

1959: Opening of the Submarine Voyage at Disneyland

In 1959, the Submarine Voyage ride officially opened at Disneyland, offering guests a simulated underwater experience that operated on tracks while remaining open to the atmosphere rather than functioning as a true submarine.

January 1960: Trieste Reaches the Challenger Deep

On 23 January 1960, the vessel Trieste successfully touched the ocean floor of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, marking the first time any crewed or uncrewed vessel had reached the deepest point in Earth's oceans with explorers Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh.

1960: Expansion of Ballistic Missile Submarine Fleet

The deployment of ballistic missile submarines continued throughout 1960, cementing the role of the George Washington class and the Golf class within the Cold War nuclear deterrent strategies of the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

1964: Launch of the Auguste Piccard Tourist Submarine

The year 1964 marked the entry into service of the Auguste Piccard, recognized as the world's first tourist submarine, which debuted at the Expo64 event.

1967: Launch of the Sjöormen class lead submarine

In 1967, the Swedish Navy launched the lead vessel of the Sjöormen class, marking the first time an x-stern configuration was utilized in standard submarine operations.

1968: Loss of K-129

In 1968, the Soviet submarine K-129 was lost at sea, and the CIA later attempted to recover parts of the vessel from the ocean floor using the Howard Hughes-designed ship Glomar Explorer.

1970: Loss of K-8

The Soviet Union experienced the loss of their submarine K-8 in 1970 as part of the ongoing naval engagements of the Cold War era.

1971: Submarine Warfare during the Indo-Pakistani War

In 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War, the Pakistan Navy's Hangor submarine sank the Indian frigate INS Khukri, marking the first submarine sinking since World War II. Simultaneously, the Ghazi, a Tench-class submarine, was sunk by the Indian Navy, representing the first submarine combat loss since World War II.

1982: Sinking of the General Belgrano

During the 1982 Falklands War, the British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror successfully sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano. This strategic action in 1982 forced the Argentine surface fleet to retreat to port, demonstrating the significant tactical threat posed by submarines.

1986: Loss of K-219

During the Cold War, the Soviet submarine K-219 was lost in 1986, marking another significant naval casualty for the Soviet fleet.

1989: Loss of Komsomolets

In 1989, the Soviet submarine Komsomolets was lost; this vessel was notable for having set a depth record for military submarines by reaching 1,000 meters.

1995: Refined Depth Measurement of Challenger Deep

In 1995, new and more accurate scientific measurements determined that the depth of the Challenger Deep was 10,911 metres (35,797 ft), slightly shallower than the original 1960 readings.

1997: Global Expansion of Tourist Submarines

By 1997, the tourist submarine industry had grown significantly, with a total of 45 such vessels operating in various locations across the globe.

September 2011: Seizure of FARC narco-submarine

In September 2011, Colombian authorities successfully intercepted and seized a 16-meter-long narco-submarine belonging to FARC rebels. The vessel, valued at approximately $2 million, was designed to accommodate a crew of 5 and possessed the capability to transport a cargo of at least 7 tonnes of illegal drugs.

November 2018: Disclosure of the Transit Incident

In November 2018, the Israeli Navy officially disclosed a previously unacknowledged incident from 1982, where an Israeli submarine sank the Lebanese coaster Transit, resulting in 25 deaths among refugees on board.