Did you know that the first “submarine” dates back to the Revolutionary War? On this date in 1776, the Turtle became the first underwater attack ship. David Bushnell was the designer of this “submarine.” His invention could only accommodate one person, and Ezra Lee piloted it. He was submerged in it, and he was able to sneak up on 64-gun HMS Eagle. He worked to anchor a time bomb to the hull of that ship, and was able to see the British without them seeing him. He was almost done with his task, but his tools did not penetrate the layer like they should have. He quickly retreated, and the bomb exploded early without damage to the ship or the “sub.”
The Turtle continued to attempt to blow up the enemy’s ship, but each time it failed due to the lack of the operator’s skill. Only the inventor had the necessary skill, but he was not physically capable of doing it due to health issues. During the Battle of Fort Lee, the Turtle was officially lost. In spite of this, General Washington gave Bushnell a commission as an army engineer. His underwater explosives destroyed many a British ship.
For more information:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/worlds-first-submarine-attack
http://famousdaily.com/history/revolutionary-war-submarine-turtle.html
