Intelligent Whale

Intelligent Whale
Land	Usa
Role	Onderzeeër
Vastgesteld	1863
Gebouwd	1

Intelligente walvis, een experimentele onderzeeër met de handbediende, werd gebouwd naar het ontwerp van Scovel Sturgis Merriam in 1863 door Augustus Price en Cornelius Scranton Bushnell. In 1864 werd de American Submarine Company opgericht, die de belangen van Bushnell en Price overnam en er volgden jaren van rechtszaken over het eigendom van het vaartuig. Toen de eigendom door een rechtbank werd vastgesteld, werd de onderzeeër op 29 oktober 1869 verkocht door middel van een contract tussen eigenaar Oliver Halstead en minister van Marine George M. Robeson aan het Amerikaanse ministerie van Marine, waarbij het grootste deel van de prijs moest worden betaald na succesvolle proeven. In september 1872 werd de eerste proef gehouden en deze was niet succesvol, waarna het ministerie verdere betalingen weigerde en het project staakte.

Bron: Intelligente walvis op 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 08

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)
Role	Experimental / Mine-Laying Submersible
National Origin	Verenigde Staten
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)
Lengte	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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