I’ve never been on one when it was submerged. But I’ve toured submarines. Like when they are on display with some massive battleship, somewhere. Those are some tight quarters. While I am not claustrophobic, I like my living space to be wide, big, and open. Being on a submarine for any amount of time might make me cranky.
All of this came to mind this morning because I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read that the first submarine was publicly tested in London on the Thames for King James I, in the year 1624. (Today is the anniversary of the date.) I would have never imagined a working submarine would have been devised so early. But it is true.
The world’s first working prototype was built in the 17th century by Cornelius Drebbel. He was a Dutch polymath and inventor. For those of you who don’t know, (and I didn’t) a polymath is not necessarily a person who knows subtraction, division, geometry, and calculus. No. It is “a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.” A Renaissance Person. So we can assume this Dutch Drebbel was one smart cookie. (This would be another great Girl Scout cookie name, by the way: The Dutch Drebbel.)
Anyway, back to submarines.
We don’t know much about it, because none of Drebbel’s plans or engineering drawings have survived. So historians can only guess about how his “diving boat” actually operated. It was probably a modified rowboat the was coated with greased leather. And that upside-down rowboat was manned by a team of oarsman. Then it was used to dive down 15 feet below the surface of the River Thames. King James looked on, as did thousands of whooping and cheering Londoners.
There is a lot of speculation about how it worked, bladders and wooden ballast tanks, or a sloping bow with a weight system. But my thought is that it wasn’t quite up to speed, at least not enough to serve any functional purpose. The reason I suggest this, is that we don’t hear of another submarine trial until “The Turtle” in 1775, during the American Revolution. I would guess that there were many other attempts during that 150-year span, but none must have been significant. The Turtle, by the way, failed during its mission in the New York Harbor. The one-man show was designed by David Bushnell and resembled a big underwater ball. The soldier, one Ezra Lee, was supposed to peddle the thing up alongside a British ship, and attach a time bomb of 150 pounds of gunpowder. He couldn’t get it attached and had to explode the device in open water. Despite the failure, George Washington still called it a work of genius.
Today, the United States has 68 submarines, actively swimming around the big blue. Other countries with bunches? North Korea, 83. China, 74. Russian, 62. Iran is the next closest with 34. These numbers seem to vary from website to website. Especially where the U.S. is concerned. I rounded the numbers to the average.
As always, this reminds me of one of life’s greatest lessons. There is way more beneath the surface, things we are not aware of, things we will never see or hear of. The underside of life.
I saw a funny meme on Facebook about how saying “Let that sink in” makes a much great impact when you are making a point. I won’t say it here.
For that is something you never want to say to someone on a submarine.
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“The cause is hidden. The effect is visible to all.”
― Ovid
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“Many realities hidden behind wall of perception.”
― Toba Beta
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“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
― Roald Dahl
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