Submarines and Their Connection to the War of Independence

NATIONWIDE— Submarines have a rich and diverse history, from its appearance in works of fiction like “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “The Hunt for Red October” to their use in warfare to conduct attacks or reconnaissance with stealth. Surprisingly the use of submarines in warfare traces back rather far in American history, all the way to the War of Independence when the United States of America was a group of colonies trying to get out from under the thumb of the king. On Sept. 7, 1776, the world experienced its first submarine attack. The American submersible craft the Turtle, named after its turtle-like shape attempted to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship Eagle in New York Harbor. The Turtle was a one-man submarine built by inventor David Bushnell in 1775 for use against the British, according to Britannica. The vessel was pear-shaped and made out of oak that was then reinforced with iron bands. Water was pumped in and out of the skin of the boat to allow it to sink and rise and was powered by hand-cranked propellers, one that would allow the vessel to move up and down and another that would allow it to move in horizontal lines, according...