Intelligent Whale | |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Role | Submarine |
| Laid down | 1863 |
| Built | 1 |
Intelligent Whale, an experimental hand-cranked submarine, was built on the design of Scovel Sturgis Merriam in 1863 by Augustus Price and Cornelius Scranton Bushnell. In 1864 the American Submarine Company was formed, taking over the interests of Bushnell and Price and there followed years of litigation over the ownership of the craft. When title was established by a court the submarine was sold on 29 October 1869 through a contract made by owner Oliver Halstead and Secretary of the Navy George M. Robeson to the United States Navy Department, with most of the price to be paid after successful trials. In September 1872 the first trial was held and was unsuccessful, whereupon the Department refused further payments and abandoned the project.
Source: Intelligent Whale on Wikipedia
| Intelligent Whale Submarine Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Bill Maloney |
| Localisation | Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard |
| Photos | 27 |
See also:
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 | United States |
| 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) |
| Length | 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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