To go unseen and unnoticed? Is that the reason? Or could it be to dive deep into the unknown in search of something?
The mystery of the submarine. They all have a purpose, although it varies widely. I am only thinking about them because it was on this date, May 16, 1897, when the first successful submarine — one that could run submerged for any considerable distance — used a combination of electric and gasoline engines in its first launch. This, in the United States by its designer John Philip Holland.
Don’t be fooled, though. The first submarines came about long before this one. They are incredible feats of engineering.
They can propel themselves deep beneath the waves to explore the unknown. But, let’s face it. Many are used for military purposes. In fact, we probably wouldn’t have come so far, so fast, in the way of submarines if it weren’t for people wishing to build for war.
As I mentioned. Submarines have been around for centuries. And they are based on ancient interests. Both Aristotle and Alexander the Great wrote about their fascination with finding out how humans could work underwater.
Not to mention, there are oodles of drawings and diagrams dating back centuries that show how submarining has always been a dream of humanity.
Way back. Early records from 415 BC show that, at the Siege of Syracuse, there was organized military use of submarines. I don’t know what these were like, but it has been recorded that “the military troop divers cleared obstructions using primitive kind of submarines.”
As I write this, what fascinates me about submarines or any other topic we explore, is that there are always a bunch of people who are nuts about the “said topic.” Like submarines. There are more “fan” websites about submarines than you can imagine. And they collect all sorts of data, and factoids, and trivia, all about the sub. Unfortunately, many contradict the others. It all gets murky down there.
I’ve never been on a working submarine. That is, one that was actually running underwater. I’ve toured at least a handful over the years, most of them extremely small and very metal.
But submarines started out as submersibles in the 1600s, which seems incredible to me. And supposedly, the first known military submarine was built in 1775.
They named it “The Turtle.” It only held one person and was controlled underwater independently. I would have hated to be that guy.
But today, they are still going strong. Modern submarines have hulls made from titanium mostly, to keep them from becoming crushed by the water’s pressure. This has significantly increased the ability of the submarine to dive deeper.
They can stay underwater for several months at a time. And there can be as many as 100 people on a nuclear submarine. Which, by the way. America has about 70 submarines in its fleet. China has the most, with 80. Russia comes in third, with 64 subs.
When I think of subs, I typically go right to the sandwich counter for a footlong turkey on white with loads of mayo. And if you say the whole word, submarine, it won’t be long until I’m belting out the old Beetles’ tune about living in a yellow one.
Regardless. Those submarines remind us that there is always a purpose to go beneath the surface and have a look around. I think this is a given when we consider our spiritual selves. Because what lies beneath is sure to surface at some point. And it is always a good idea to explore that thing. It is always important that we come up for air.
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“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
― Albert Einstein
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“To discover the depth, leave the surface and to discover the surface, leave the depth! You shall meet wisdom only when you know both the surface and the depth!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
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“You cannot explore the universe if you think that you are the center of it.”
― Joshua Suya Pelicano
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We all live in a yellow submarine. Or.
