Question
Here is the question : WHAT WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN WAR TO UTILIZE AN EARLY SUBMARINE?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- War of 1812
- Civil War
- Korean War
- American Revolutionary War
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
Although they may appear to be a new invention, submarines were first employed during the American Revolution. The “Turtle,” a one-man wooden vehicle that could travel underwater and was powered by a foot pedal and a hand crank, was built by inventor David Bushnell in 1775. George Washington is credited as calling the ship’s initial attempts to be piloted a failure a “effort of genius.”
The American Revolutionary War was a pivotal moment in the history of the United States. It was the first war fought by the fledgling country, and it was also the first war to utilize an early submarine. Known as the Turtle, this submarine was a remarkable invention that played a significant role in the war effort.
The Turtle was first developed in 1775 by David Bushnell, a Connecticut inventor. The submarine was constructed from wood and covered in waterproof leather. It was just over six feet tall and about seven feet wide, with a small hatch for the operator to enter and exit. Inside the submarine, there was a hand-cranked propeller that allowed it to move underwater.
The Turtle’s primary purpose was to attach explosive charges to British warships that were blockading American ports. The operator would guide the submarine towards the target, and then attach the explosives to the hull of the ship using a screw mechanism. Once the charges were in place, the operator would set a timer and then quickly escape before the charges detonated.
The Turtle’s first mission took place on September 6, 1776, during the Battle of Brooklyn. The operator, Sergeant Ezra Lee, attempted to attach an explosive charge to the HMS Eagle, a British warship that was guarding New York Harbor. However, Lee was unable to attach the charge due to the ship’s copper sheathing. Despite this setback, the Turtle proved that it was a viable weapon and was used in several more missions during the war.
One of the most significant missions took place in 1777, when the Turtle was used to attack the HMS Cerberus, a British warship that was blockading the port of New London, Connecticut. The operator, Sergeant Ezra Lee, was able to attach the explosive charge to the hull of the ship, but the charge failed to detonate. Despite this failure, the mission was considered a success, as it showed that the Turtle was capable of penetrating the defenses of a heavily guarded warship.
The Turtle’s final mission took place in 1779, during the Siege of Savannah. The submarine was used to attack a British warship that was blocking the entrance to the Savannah River. However, the Turtle was detected by the British and was forced to retreat before it could carry out its mission.
Although the Turtle was not a complete success, it was a remarkable invention that paved the way for modern submarines. Its use in the American Revolutionary War demonstrated the potential of underwater warfare and inspired the development of more advanced submarines in the centuries that followed. Today, submarines are a critical component of modern naval warfare and are used by countries all over the world.