The Origins of Military Submarines: The Turtle and Beyond

One of the most intriguing questions in naval history is who precisely invented the military submarine. The subject is a complex one, with early proposals and attempts dating back as far as the medieval times. However, it is widely accepted that the concept of the submarine as a viable military weapon was solidified in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the invention of the Turtle by David Bushnell in the American War of Independence.

The Proposals and Early Attempts

The concept of a military submarine is as old as it is elusive. Leonardo da Vinci is often credited with the concept, though his designs were never more than rough sketches and not suitable for practical use. Similarly, early medieval illustrations and writings suggest that soldiers attempted to build primitive submarines for breaching fortifications, but none of these were successful in a meaningful combat context.

The Turtle: A Pioneering Submarine

David Bushnell, a professor of mathematics in the early 1770s, is credited with the creation of the Turtle submarine. This was a significant advancement and laid the foundations for practical submarine warfare. The Turtle was a barrel-shaped submarine, equipped with a hand-cranked propeller and a compressed air system. It also featured a hand-operated screw latch known as a 'spud' that could be pressed against the hull of a ship, allowing a gunpowder charge to be fired. This could potentially sink the ship or disable it.

The Limitations and Challenges

Though the design was groundbreaking, the Turtle faced significant challenges. Its first mission, to attack the British warship HMS Eagle in 1776, was unsuccessful. This was due to the difficulty in attaching the spud to the copper sheathing on the bottom of the Eagle. The Turtle demonstrated the feasibility of submarine warfare but faced practical limitations that would take decades to overcome.

The C.S.S. Hunley: A New Era

A scant 80 years after the failed mission of the Turtle, the C.S.S. Hunley took submarine warfare to a new level of sophistication. This Confederate submarine was the first to succeed in incapacitating and sinking an enemy ship in the American Civil War, albeit at some cost. On February 17, 1864, the Hunley sank the Union blockade ship USS Henrietta, but the Hunley itself also succumbed to undiscovered circumstances, claiming the lives of its crew.

Controversy and Speculation

The cause of the loss of the Hunley has been the subject of much speculation. Theories range from mechanical failure and water damage to a mine detonation or even an internal explosion. Despite extensive forensic examinations of the salvaged hull and crew remains, the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown. This has added to the intrigue and mystery of the Hunley's legacy.

The United States and Early Military Submarine Designs

While the Hunley deserves a mention, the United States has a significant claim to the early design and construction of military submarines. The first submarines of many nations, including the United Kingdom and Germany, were in fact designed and built in the United States during the late 19th century. Many of these early designs were produced by companies now known as General Dynamics Electric Boat or the defunct Lake Company.

Conclusion

David Bushnell's Turtle remains a crucial figure in the history of military submarine design. It introduced the world to the potentials of a submarine that could manoeuvre beneath the waves and attack from below. While the Turtle itself was unsuccessful, it marked the beginning of a new era in naval warfare, which has seen the continued evolution and application of submarine technology.