The History of Submarines
Over 400 years of innovation - from the first diving attempts in the Thames to the nuclear-powered giants of modern navies.
Cornelis Drebbel
The first known submersible is tested in the River Thames - a leather-covered rowing boat that could submerge.
Turtle
David Bushnell's "Turtle" becomes the first submarine used in combat during the American Revolutionary War.
CSS H.L. Hunley
First submarine to sink an enemy warship (American Civil War). Tragically, the crew did not survive the attack.
USS Holland (SS-1)
The U.S. Navy commissions its first modern submarine, designed by John Philip Holland. The age of submarine warfare begins.
World War I
German U-boats wage unrestricted submarine warfare. Over 5,000 ships are sunk, reshaping naval strategy forever.
World War II
The "Wolfpack" tactics of German U-boats terrorize Allied shipping. The Battle of the Atlantic becomes the longest campaign of WWII.
USS Nautilus
The world's first nuclear-powered submarine is commissioned. A revolution in submarine technology - unlimited underwater range.
North Pole Crossing
USS Nautilus crosses the North Pole beneath the Arctic ice - the first vessel ever to do so.
Mariana Trench
The bathyscaphe Trieste dives to 10,916 meters - the deepest point of the world's oceans. A record that stands for decades.
Titanic Discovery
Robert Ballard uses the submersible Alvin and its remote vehicle Jason Jr. to discover the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
Five Deeps Expedition
Victor Vescovo reaches the deepest point of all five oceans in the DSV Limiting Factor.
Modern Submarines
Latest-generation nuclear submarines can remain submerged for 25+ years. Unmanned underwater vehicles are revolutionizing warfare and exploration.
Submarines Changed the World
Few inventions have influenced warfare and geopolitics as profoundly as the submarine. From breaking blockades in World War I to nuclear deterrence during the Cold War - submarines remain a decisive factor in world politics.
But submarines have also achieved milestones in the civilian sphere: deep-sea exploration, the discovery of the Titanic wreck, and a growing tourism industry show that the fascination with submarines extends far beyond the military.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the first submarine built?
The first known submersible was built by Cornelis Drebbel in 1620 and tested in the River Thames in London. It was a leather-covered rowing boat that could submerge beneath the surface. However, the first submarine used in combat was the Turtle, built by David Bushnell in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War, which attempted to attach an explosive charge to a British warship in New York Harbor.
What was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship?
The CSS H.L. Hunley, a Confederate submarine, became the first submarine to sink an enemy warship on February 17, 1864, during the American Civil War. It attacked and sank the Union sloop USS Housatonic using a spar torpedo (an explosive charge on a long pole). Tragically, the Hunley and its crew of eight did not survive the attack - the submarine sank shortly after.
How did submarines change World War I?
German U-boats revolutionized naval warfare during World War I. Germany's policy of unrestricted submarine warfare targeted merchant shipping bound for Britain, sinking over 5,000 ships. This nearly starved Britain into surrender and forced the adoption of the convoy system. The U-boat campaign was also a major factor in drawing the United States into the war after the sinking of the Lusitania and other American vessels.
When did nuclear submarines first appear?
The world's first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN-571), was commissioned on September 30, 1954. Designed by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover's team, Nautilus demonstrated that nuclear propulsion could give submarines virtually unlimited underwater range. In 1958, she became the first vessel to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole, traveling beneath the Arctic ice cap.
What was the Battle of the Atlantic?
The Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945) was the longest continuous military campaign of World War II. German U-boats, operating in coordinated groups called wolfpacks, attempted to cut Britain's supply lines by sinking Allied merchant ships crossing the Atlantic. Over 3,500 merchant vessels and 175 warships were sunk, along with 783 U-boats. The campaign involved major advances in sonar, radar, depth charges, and code-breaking (including cracking the Enigma cipher).