American History: The Turtle

Imagine a tiny, egg-shaped vessel bobbing in the dark waters of New York Harbor, piloted by a lone soldier on a daring mission to sink a British warship. This was the Turtle, America's first submarine, a bold invention that emerged during the Revolutionary War. Its story is one of ingenuity, ambition, and a scrappy underdog spirit that still inspires today.

This article dives into what the Turtle was, why it was created, its purpose, its failures, and how it sparked a legacy of innovation that helped fuel the American fight for independence.

What Was the Turtle and When Was It Born

The Turtle, often called the American Turtle, was the world's first submarine used in combat. Crafted in 1775, this one-man submersible was a marvel of its time. Picture a wooden, pear-shaped vessel, about 7.5 feet long and 6 feet wide, built from oak and reinforced with iron bands. Its design mimicked two tortoise shells joined together, earning its name.

This revolutionary craft was the brainchild of David Bushnell, a Yale student with a knack for mechanics. Constructed in Saybrook, Connecticut, the Turtle was a bold experiment in underwater warfare, tested in the Connecticut River before its historic mission in 1776. It was a radical departure from traditional naval tactics, designed to slip beneath the waves and strike where the enemy least expected.

Key Features of the Turtle

Size and Shape: Compact, egg-shaped, and built for stealth.
Material: Oak hull with iron reinforcements, sealed with tar for waterproofing.
Operation: Hand-cranked propellers and foot-powered pumps for movement and submersion.
Air Supply: Enough for about 30 minutes underwater, with brass tubes for ventilation when surfaced.

Who Created the Turtle and Why

David Bushnell, born in 1740 in Saybrook, Connecticut, was no ordinary inventor. A farmer's son turned Yale scholar, he enrolled at age 31 to study mathematics and natural philosophy. During his final year at Yale, the Revolutionary War erupted with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Inspired by the colonists' struggle against the mighty British navy, Bushnell saw technology as a way to level the playing field.

Bushnell's vision was to break the British naval blockade choking American ports. The British fleet, with ships like the HMS Eagle, dominated the seas, cutting off vital supplies. Traditional naval warfare was no match for Britain's might, so Bushnell turned to unconventional tactics. His experiments with underwater explosives at Yale led to the Turtle, a vessel designed to deliver a timed explosive to enemy ships. He collaborated with Isaac Doolittle, a skilled New Haven clockmaker, who crafted the submarine's brass propellers and intricate mechanisms.

Bushnell's Motivation: The British naval blockade was strangling the colonies' economy and war effort. Bushnell believed a stealthy, submersible craft could sneak past enemy defenses, attach an explosive to a ship's hull, and retreat undetected. This audacious idea was backed by key figures like Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and General George Washington, who saw its potential to disrupt British dominance.

The Turtles Mission and Mechanics

The Turtle's primary goal was to sink British warships by attaching a gunpowder-filled keg, or "torpedo," to their hulls. The plan was simple yet daring: a lone operator would navigate the submarine underwater, drill a screw into the enemy's wooden hull, attach the explosive, and set a clockwork timer to detonate it after escaping. This was a revolutionary concept in 1776, when naval battles relied on cannons and sails.

How the Turtle Worked

Submersion: Water was let into ballast tanks to dive, and hand pumps expelled it to surface.
Propulsion: A horizontal propeller moved it forward, while a vertical one controlled depth.
Navigation: Small glass portholes and a compass, lit by bioluminescent foxfire at night, guided the pilot.
Weaponry: A 150-pound gunpowder keg with a clockwork detonator was the Turtle's payload.

The Turtle was tested extensively in the Connecticut River, proving it could submerge, maneuver, and surface. By mid-1776, it was ready for its first mission: to attack the HMS Eagle, the flagship of British Admiral Richard Howe, anchored in New York Harbor. The stage was set for a historic moment in naval warfare.

The Turtles Daring but Unsuccessful Mission

On the night of September 6, 1776, Sergeant Ezra Lee, a volunteer from the Continental Army, piloted the Turtle toward the HMS Eagle. Towed by whaleboats to avoid strong tides, Lee set off alone, navigating the dark, choppy waters of New York Harbor. His mission was to attach the explosive keg to the Eagle's hull and escape before the timer triggered the blast.

The attempt was fraught with challenges. Lee struggled against strong currents, spending hours "treading water" with the Turtle's hand-cranked propellers. When he finally reached the Eagle, he encountered an unexpected obstacle: the ship's hull had a metal plate or iron bar that the Turtle's screw couldn't penetrate. As dawn approached and his air supply dwindled, Lee abandoned the mission, releasing the explosive into the East River. It detonated harmlessly, sending a massive water spout into the air and startling the British, who moved their ships to a safer position.

Why the Turtle Failed

Inexperienced Pilot: Ezra Lee stepped in at the last moment to replace David Bushnell’s brother, Ezra, who became ill, but Lee had limited training to operate the Turtle’s intricate controls.
Technical Challenges: The screw mechanism failed against metal hull components.
Environmental Factors: Strong tides and limited air supply hindered the mission.
Timing: The operation took too long, and daylight exposed Lee to detection.

Two more attempts to attack British ships followed, but both failed due to navigational issues and tides. In October 1776, the sloop transporting the Turtle was sunk by British forces during the Battle of Fort Lee. Though Bushnell claimed to have recovered it, the Turtle saw no further action, and its final fate remains a mystery.

A Spark of Innovation Despite Failure

Though the Turtle never sank a British ship, its impact on naval warfare was profound. It introduced groundbreaking technologies that laid the foundation for modern submarines. The use of water ballast for diving, a screw propeller for propulsion, and a timed explosive were all revolutionary concepts. These innovations influenced later submarine designs, from the Confederate CSS H.L. Hunley in the Civil War to the nuclear-powered submarines of today.

Bushnell's work also pioneered naval mine warfare. His "keg mines," used in a 1778 attack on British ships in Philadelphia, caused chaos and demonstrated the power of underwater explosives. The U.S. Navy later honored Bushnell by naming two submarine tenders after him in 1915 and 1945, recognizing his role as the "Father of Submarine Warfare."

Lasting Innovations from the Turtle

Screw Propeller: First used by Doolittle, it became a standard for watercraft propulsion.
Water Ballast: A simple yet effective method for controlling submersion, still used today.
Underwater Mines: Bushnell's timed explosives paved the way for modern torpedoes.

Inspiring a Nation to Fight On

The Turtle's story resonated deeply with the American colonists. At a time when the Continental Army was outmatched by the British, the submarine symbolized the power of ingenuity and determination. Its bold attempt to challenge the Royal Navy, even if unsuccessful, boosted morale and showed that the colonists could innovate under pressure. General George Washington himself called it "an effort of genius," a sentiment echoed by Thomas Jefferson.

The Turtle's legacy lived on through replicas, like the one built in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial, christened by Connecticut's governor and now displayed at the Connecticut River Museum. Another replica, crafted by Handshouse Studio in 2003, proved the Turtle's design was feasible using 18th-century tools. These recreations keep the Turtle's story alive, inspiring new generations with its tale of bold innovation.

How the Turtle Inspired the Revolution

Symbol of Defiance: It showed the British that the colonists could strike in unexpected ways.
Boosted Morale: The attempt on the HMS Eagle, though a failure, proved American ingenuity.
Strategic Impact: The threat of underwater attacks forced the British to reposition their fleet, stretching their resources.

Even today, the Turtle remains a source of national pride, with replicas displayed at museums like the Connecticut River Museum and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in England. Its story reminds Americans of the revolutionary spirit that turned a ragtag army into a victorious nation.

The Turtles Enduring Legacy

The Turtle may not have sunk a single ship, but its impact on history is undeniable. It introduced the concept of submarine warfare, showing that a small, innovative vessel could challenge a naval superpower. David Bushnell's vision, supported by collaborators like Isaac Doolittle, sparked a legacy that transformed naval strategy. From the Turtle to modern submarines, the journey began with a wooden, hand-cranked craft in 1776.

For those eager to explore this chapter of American history, visiting a Turtle replica at the Connecticut River Museum or diving into books like Turtle: David Bushnell's Revolutionary Vessel by Roy Manstan and Frederic Frese is a great start. The story of the Turtle is a testament to the power of creativity in the face of overwhelming odds. What other bold ideas might shape the future? Discover more about America's revolutionary innovations and share this story to keep the spirit of ingenuity alive.