Museum

Submarine Technology Overview PDF Print E-mail

Submarine Technology Overview

Come aboard and step into the exciting world of submarine technology.  Learn the transformation from crude containers designed to keep the water out to the nuclear powered steel underwater sharks of today!

Capture the leaps of technology including:

Image of the TurtleRevolutionary War

David Bushnell created the Turtle that delivered his new, improved underwater bomb against the British warships in New York Harbor with surprising effects in the American War of Independence.

 

Hunley Submarine PhotoCivil War

The human powered Confederate submarine Hunley sunk the Union warship Housatonic, one and a half miles at sea off Charleston harbor in February 1864. Lost for over a hundred thirty years, this submersible was discovered and raised in 2000 from her resting place in the sand where she sank after her attack.

World Wars One and Twobowfin-pearl-harbor

With the battle fleet on the bottom of Pearl Harbor, the modern high speed surface raider, the Fleet submarine, one exampe of which is the USS Bowfin, destroyed the bulk of Imperial Japanese shipping. Walk through the submarine in the steps of those heroes who scored the amazing victories as a small team while suffering devastating losses.

 

Ohio Class SubmarineCold War to Present

Capable of electronically picking your pocket or destroying an enemy's submarines, these sleek, neuclear powered sharks of steel are currently our front line of defense.

Understand the need for stealth and quiet as these submarines accomplish their missions around the sometimes hostile world while surviving deep underwater.

USS Ohio

USS Hawaii

 
 

Secrets of the Sub

The Very First Sub Ever

The First Submarine Ever

There were many countries around the world developing submarines in the 17th and 18th century both for wartime use and for commercial purposes. In the United States, we say the Turtle, developed by a Yale University professor, David Bushnell, was our first submarine. Designed to deliver an underwater mine with a timed fuse, it's original purpose was to break the blockade of the British Navy in New York harbor in 1776, during the War of Independence. Almost a hundred later the Confederate States Ship Hunley with a crew of nine men braved the waters of Charleston, South Carolina harbor to attack and sink the Union Ship USS Housitanic. The weapon used was a mine mounted on a spar jutting from the bow of the submarine. Again, the purpose was to break the blockade of a harbor but within 40 years, the United States started the submarine explosion with the Simon Lake, SS-1, in 1900 , designed as a scouting ship for America's emerging battle fleets. In less than 20 years, the first world war would see the island nation of Great Brritain brought to her knees by German commerce raiding submarines and submarines , large and small being developed by many nations.