when was the first submarine invented?

Answer 1

In 1861, French inventor Brutus De Villeroi convinced the Union Navy that he could build a submersible warship. On May 1, 1862 the 47-foot-long, oar-propelled Alligator became the first submersible warship of the U.S. Navy. Her first mission was to destroy a bridge and clear obstructions on Virginia's Appomatox and James Rivers, respectively. Unfortunately, neither river was deep enough to allow the Alligator to submerge and she was returned to the Washington Navy Yard. Her next challenge soon came: destroy the new Confederate ironclad, the Virginia II. However, test runs in the Potomac River proved the Alligator was underpowered, unwieldy, and unsafe. The plan was abandoned.

In 1863, after the Alligator's oar system was replaced with a screw propellor, the submarine was sent to help capture Charleston, South Carolina. While being towed south for the battle, the Alligator had to be cut loose during a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Her current whereabouts are unknown, but an effort (launched in 2003) by the Office of Naval Research and NOAA could one day reveal the Secrets of the Alligator.


The Navy's interest in using submarines continued during the Civil War, but it wasn't until the war ended that the Navy purchased the Intelligent Whale from the American Submarine Company. The 22-foot-long, hand-cranked submarine was bought from its inventor Oliver Halstead. She was sea tested in 1872, but because of repeated failures, the Navy refused to commission the vessel.


USS Holland (SS-1), the U.S. Navy's first commissioned submarine.
An American inventor, John P. Holland, built his first steam-powered submarine in 1875. The US Navy purchased his sixth submarine on April 11, 1900, for $160,000. The 53.3-foot-long, 63-ton submarine could travel to a depth of 75 feet. It was commissioned October 12, 1900, as the USS Holland (SS-1). On the surface, the Holland was propelled by a 45-horsepower engine and could go six knots. Below the surface, the submarine relied on electric storage batteries. Holland's submarine, which held six crew, carried three torpedoes and a topside gun.

Answer 2

The CS Hunley was invented in the Southern Revolution by the Confederacy, I believe in 1864. It was operated by two men pedaling to propel it forward. Tied to the back was a rope with an explosive charge on the end. The plan was to swim under a Union ship and surface on the other side, causing the explosive to make impact with the ship and sink it. There were complications on its first mission, however, and the submarine sank, claiming the lives of both crew members. Recently, the Smithsonian reclaimed the ship, and I believe they are still in the process of restoring it to put on display. Visit their site to see if you can glean any more info on this interesting little boat.

Answer 3

Turtle was the first American submarine, invented in Connecticut in 1775 by David Bushnell as a means of attaching explosive charges to ships in a harbor.

Answer 4

The first submarine reported in history was made by Aristotle, for his pupil Alexandre the Great, while trying to capture Sidon, in the Middle East!

Answer 5

The first Submarine was invented in 1773 by (AMERICAN) David Bushnell. This submarine was operated by a single man, who turned a propeller.

Answer 6

I believe the first submarine was made in 1862 and launched in 1864

Answer 7

During the American revolution the us had a submarine called the Turtle. the idea was to sneak up on a British ship, screw in an explosive charge, light the fuse and run. unfortunatly they were unable to attach the charge to the ship.

Answer 8

It was invented by a guy who owns the deli that's around the corner. I'd say he invented the steak and cheese sub sometime around...hmm...I don't know, probably 1945 or 46.

Answer 9

in 1572 by william borne but it never got built - the 1st built was in 1620 by some dutch guy

Answer 10

WW2