Intelligent Whale

Intelligent Whale
Paese	Usa
Ruolo	sottomarino
Stabilite	1863
Costruito	1

Balena intelligente, un sottomarino sperimentale a manovella, fu costruito su progetto di Scovel Sturgis Merriam nel 1863 da Augustus Price e Cornelius Scranton Bushnell. Nel 1864 fu costituita l'American Submarine Company, che rilevò gli interessi di Bushnell e Price e seguirono anni di contenzioso sulla proprietà dell'imbarcazione. Quando il titolo fu stabilito da un tribunale, il sottomarino fu venduto il 29 ottobre 1869 attraverso un contratto stipulato dal proprietario Oliver Halstead e dal Segretario della Marina George M. Robeson al Dipartimento della Marina degli Stati Uniti, con la maggior parte del prezzo da pagare dopo prove di successo. Nel settembre 1872 si tenne il primo processo e non ebbe successo, dopodiché il Dipartimento rifiutò ulteriori pagamenti e abbandonò il progetto.

fonte: Balena intelligente su Wikipedia

Intelligent Whale Submarine Walk Around
Photographer	Bill Maloney
Localisation	Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard
Photos	27

Intelligent Whale Submarine 01

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Intelligent Whale Submarine 09

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General Characteristics and Role

The Intelligent Whale was an experimental, iron-hulled submarine developed on the design of Scovel S. Merriam, with construction starting in 1863 during the American Civil War. Its purpose was to carry out clandestine underwater missions, primarily placing explosive charges (mines) on enemy ships or clearing underwater obstacles. The vessel was unique in its reliance on entirely manual power and its method of armament delivery, which required a diver to exit the submerged craft. Although intended for the U.S. Navy, the project was plagued by ownership disputes, litigation, and ultimately failed its official trials.

Property	Typical Value (Intelligent Whale)
Ruolo	Experimental / Mine-Laying Submersible
National Origin	Stati Uniti
Designer	Scovel S. Merriam
Construction Began	1863
Acquired by U.S. Navy	October 1869 (Under contingent contract)
Hull Construction	Iron (approx. 1/2 inch boiler plate)
Lunghezza	8.74 m (28 ft 8 in)
Width (Beam)	2.1 m (7 ft)
Height (Depth)	2.7 m (9 ft)
Displacement	Estimated 1.8 – 2 tons (approx. 4,000 lbs)

Operation and Propulsion

Propulsion: Hand-cranked propeller, operated manually by four crewmen turning a large crank.
Maximum Speed: Approximately 4 knots (7.4 km/h).
Crew: 6 to 13 men (6 required for operation).
Submersion: Achieved by filling water ballast compartments; water was expelled using pumps and compressed air tanks (estimated 10 hours of submerged endurance).
Armament Delivery: Through a wooden hatch in the bottom of the hull, a diver would exit in a hard hat suit to place an external mine on a target vessel, then return.

Trials and Legacy

Early Tests: Unofficial tests in 1866 were successful, including a demonstration where a diver placed a charge under a scow and blew it up.
Official Trial: The critical trial for the Navy purchase took place in 1872 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The trial failed due to excessive leaks from the top hatch and the submarine becoming fouled under a dock.
Navy Abandonment: Following the unsuccessful 1872 test, the Navy refused final payment and abandoned the project, judging it a failure.
Historical Significance: Despite its lack of operational success, the Intelligent Whale is a rare surviving example of early submarine technology. It is credited by some as having inspired later successful submarine pioneer John Philip Holland.
Current Status: The Intelligent Whale is preserved and displayed at the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey in Sea Girt, New Jersey.

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