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All the United States Connecticut Essex 'Turtle' Submarine at Connecticut River Museum

'Turtle' Submarine at Connecticut River Museum

This museum holds a fully-functional replica of the "Turtle," the first American submarine ever built.

Essex, Connecticut

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lastpearl
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The fully functional replica of the Turtle Submarine in CT   JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD
The fully functional replica of the Turtle Submarine in CT   JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD
Drawing of the Turtle’s interior   Unknown
A 19th century diagram of the Turtle submarine   William Oliver Stevens
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
side view of replica   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
replic turtle with cutaway   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
interactive video screen image   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
interactive video screen next to replica   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
description of turtle   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
Museum’s turtle replica with cut away   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
inside view of the turtle replica–visitors can sit inside   lastpearl / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Little-known fact: the first submarine and underwater time bomb were created during the American Revolution–before electricity, and before Jules Verne.  

It was 100% human-operated (no engines just hand cranks and foot pedals) and used phosphorescent moss as the interior light source because a candle would use up too much of the available oxygen. Even though the "Turtle" failed to complete its few missions and its inventor always felt that he was a failure for it, he is often credited with being the Father of Submarine Warfare.   

The son of a Connecticut farmer, David Bushnell was a brilliant man who had to delay going to college until he was 31 years old. While he was studying at Yale, he proved that gunpowder could be exploded underwater and also created a timing device to allow for delayed detonation–the first underwater time bomb. 

His last year at Yale coincided with the beginnings of the American Revolution.  The university temporarily closed due to the impending crisis of war, but Bushnell knew he could use an underwater explosive to help his fellow patriots fight the superior British military power if only he could find a way to deliver it to the target.  He knew the machine had to be able to be completely submerged for at least a short amount of time to avoid detection and be maneuvered in the water. 

His design is simple and efficient: a small barrel-like vessel, almost like two turtle shells glued together with simple pedal powered propellers. It had to be able to deliver the underwater time bomb, attach it to the target ship's hull,  and then retreat before the bomb detonated, all before the pilot ran out of oxygen and had to surface.

The Connecticut River Museum has both a cut away display that you can sit in and feel what it was actually like to be inside the Turtle and a full scale replica that was hand made for the 1976 bicentennial. They tested the machine in a nearby harbor, and it is said to have worked beautifully.

To be effective, the vessel Bushnell envisioned had to submerge, be able to move forward and backward and rise again to the surface, all while supporting a human pilot or operator. And, it had to carry and deliver an underwater mine. He had to solve many problems—how to supply light and air for the craft, how to gauge direction and depth during operation—and he had to solve them quickly. - See more at: http://connecticuthistory.org/david-bushnell-and-his-revolutionary-submarine/#sthash.TGMOLMYX.dpuf To be effective, the vessel Bushnell envisioned had to submerge, be able to move forward and backward and rise again to the surface, all while supporting a human pilot or operator. And, it had to carry and deliver an underwater mine. He had to solve many problems—how to supply light and air for the craft, how to gauge direction and depth during operation—and he had to solve them quickly. - See more at: http://connecticuthistory.org/david-bushnell-and-his-revolutionary-submarine/#sthash.TGMOLMYX.dpuf

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Added By

lastpearl

Edited By

hrnick, urvijabanerji, e1savage, Calvin the Courageous

  • hrnick
  • urvijabanerji
  • e1savage
  • Calvin the Courageous

Published

May 10, 2016

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Sources
  • http://connecticuthistory.org/david-bushnell-and-his-revolutionary-submarine/
  • http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-first-submarine-attack-happened-during-the-revoluti-1600370823
  • http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08441.htm
'Turtle' Submarine at Connecticut River Museum
53-73 Main St
Essex, Connecticut, 06426
United States
41.351326, -72.386446
Visit Website
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Essex

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