HMS M1 was a unique product of post–World War I naval thinking, designed at a time when submarines were still evolving rapidly and doctrine had yet to catch up with technology. Unlike conventional submarines armed primarily with torpedoes, M1 was built around a single massive 12-inch battleship gun mounted forward of the conning tower. The concept was to allow the submarine to surface briefly, fire a devastating shell at close range, and submerge again before an enemy could respond.
Commissioned in 1920, HMS M1 represented an attempt to give submarines the firepower to engage surface targets without expending valuable torpedoes. In practice, the idea proved deeply flawed. Accurate targeting was difficult, reloads were slow, and the operational risks were high. The Royal Navy eventually abandoned the gun-submarine concept in favor of more conventional designs.
HMS M1 was lost in 1925 after a collision in the English Channel, likely caused by the gun barrel being exposed while submerged, leading to catastrophic flooding. Her loss marked the end of large-caliber gun submarines in British service.
This 1/350 scale model captures the distinctive profile of HMS M1, including the long hull and prominent gun mounting that set her apart from any other submarine of the era. Finished in acrylics with subtle oil weathering, the model is displayed on a hand-cut hardwood base consistent with the rest of the submarine series. As with all builds in this collection, the display includes the national flag of origin, a 1/350 scale human figure for size comparison, and a QR code linking to further historical information.
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