Turtle (submersible)

Turtle (submersible), the first American submarine, was invented by David Bushnell in 1775, with the help of Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Doolittle. The Turtle (submersible) was a hand-powered vessel designed to attach explosives to the hull of British warships, such as the HMS Eagle, during the Siege of Boston. The Turtle (submersible) played a significant role in the development of submarine warfare, influencing the work of later inventors, including Robert Fulton and Simon Lake.

Introduction

The Turtle (submersible) was a pioneering vessel that paved the way for the development of modern submarines, such as the USS Alligator and the USS Hunley. The idea of a submersible vessel was first conceived by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, but it wasn't until the American Revolution that the first practical design was developed, with the help of George Washington and the Continental Congress. The Turtle (submersible) was designed to counter the British Navy's dominance of the seas, particularly in the New York Harbor and the Hudson River. The vessel was also influenced by the work of Blaise Pascal and Christiaan Huygens, who had experimented with diving bells and submerged vessels.

Design_and_Development

The Turtle (submersible) was designed and built by David Bushnell, with the assistance of Isaac Doolittle and Benjamin Franklin, who provided valuable insights and suggestions, including the use of lead and wood in the vessel's construction. The vessel was made of oak and measured about 7 feet (2.1 meters) in length, with a diameter of about 3 feet (0.9 meters), similar to the USS Nautilus. The Turtle (submersible) was powered by a hand-cranked screw, which was turned by the operator, Ezra Lee, who was also a Continental Army soldier. The vessel was equipped with a diving plane and a ballast tank, which allowed it to dive and surface, using principles developed by Archimedes and Galileo Galilei. The Turtle (submersible) was also armed with a keg of gunpowder, which was designed to be attached to the hull of a British warship, such as the HMS Asia.

Operational_History

The Turtle (submersible) was launched on September 7, 1776, during the Siege of New York, with the goal of attacking the HMS Eagle, a British warship that was anchored in the New York Harbor. The vessel was operated by Ezra Lee, who attempted to attach the explosives to the hull of the HMS Eagle, but the mission was unsuccessful due to the copper hull of the ship, which was designed by Samuel Bentham and John Wilkinson. The Turtle (submersible) was later recovered and repaired, but it was never used again in combat, despite plans to use it in the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton. The vessel's operational history was influenced by the work of Horatio Nelson and the French Navy, which had developed similar submarine designs, including the Nautilus.

Specifications

The Turtle (submersible) had a length of about 7 feet (2.1 meters) and a diameter of about 3 feet (0.9 meters), with a displacement of about 1 ton, similar to the USS Turtle. The vessel was powered by a hand-cranked screw, which was turned by the operator, and had a top speed of about 3 miles per hour (4.8 kilometers per hour), using principles developed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Robert Stephenson. The Turtle (submersible) was equipped with a diving plane and a ballast tank, which allowed it to dive and surface, and was armed with a keg of gunpowder, which was designed to be attached to the hull of a British warship, such as the HMS Victory. The vessel's design was influenced by the work of William Symington and the Clyde River, which had developed similar submarine designs.

Legacy

The Turtle (submersible) played a significant role in the development of submarine warfare, influencing the work of later inventors, including Robert Fulton and Simon Lake, who developed the USS Nautilus and the USS Triton. The vessel's design and operational history were also studied by Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Navy, which developed similar submarine designs, including the Nautilus. The Turtle (submersible) is now on display at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut, where it is recognized as a pioneering vessel in the development of submarine warfare, alongside the USS Holland and the USS Gato. The vessel's legacy continues to inspire new generations of engineers and inventors, including those at MIT and Stanford University, who are developing new submarine designs, such as the USS Virginia and the USS Texas. Category:Submarines