Turtle

Turtle was the world's first submarine used in battle. It was invented in Connecticut in 1775 by American Patriot David Bushnell as a means of attaching explosive charges to ships in a harbor. Governor Trumbull recommended the invention to George Washington and although the commander in chief had doubts he provided funds and support for developing and testing the machine. The submarine (designed as a naval weapon) was meant to drill into a ship's... more

Turtle was the world's first submarine used in battle. It was invented in Connecticut in 1775 by American Patriot David Bushnell as a means of attaching explosive charges to ships in a harbor. Governor Trumbull recommended the invention to George Washington and although the commander in chief had doubts he provided funds and support for developing and testing the machine. The submarine (designed as a naval weapon) was meant to drill into a ship's hull and plant a keg containing 130 pounds (59 kg) of gunpowder, which would be detonated by a time fuse. Much testing was done by the inventor's brother, Ezra Bushnell, in the waters of the Connecticut River. Named for its shape, Turtle resembled a large clam as much as a turtle; it was about 8 feet long (according to original specs), 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, and about 3 feet (0.9 m) wide, consisting of two wooden shells covered with tar and reinforced with steel bands. It submerged by allowing water into a bilge tank at the bottom of the vessel... less