U.S.S. Alligator

The Alligator was an early Civil War submarine built by a Frenchman – this site has a short history of the submarine and some nice images of the inventor’s hand drawn plans. http://americancivilwar.com/tcwn/civil_war/naval_submarine.html

An Infernal Machine

While the C.S.S. Hunley is famous for being the first submarine to sink a ship in combat, but in 1861 another Confederate submarine, built in Richmond, was in the news.  Recent research by historian Mark Ragan, has found evidence proving the subs construction, but its fate remains unknown.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Confederate_Submarine.htm

Ironclads and American Monitors in Peru’s Navy

Came across this while looking up ironclads – turns out two American Monitors were sold to Peru after the Civil War.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/Juan39/American_Monitors.html

This site also has articles on:

Peruvian built ironclads: http://members.lycos.co.uk/Juan39/Victoria.html

A surviving Ericson monitor – the Huascar:  http://members.lycos.co.uk/Juan39/THE_HUASCAR.html

Peru’s first submarine: http://members.lycos.co.uk/Juan39/THE_FIRST_SUBMARINE.html

and many other details of the history of Peru’s Navy,

A Wooden Submarine in New Hampshire!

“The tale of (Thomas) Buckley’s submarine at Hampton Beach years ago, sparked the interest of The Beachcomber this week with images of Jules Verne scenario right here in New Hampshire. …”

http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/holman/sub.htm

A steam powered fish: the Ictíneo

“Few Victorian inventions have the grace and charm of the Ictíneo, the series of two wooden submarines built by Narcís Monturiol i Estarrol in the second half of the nineteenth century. Unlike some of the better known early submarines from his contemporaries in Germany, France and the United States, the Catalan inventor managed to build submarines that operated flawlessly.”

Read more at: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/08/submarines-1.html

Kroehl’s Sub Marine Explorer (1860s)

Here are some current pictures of the Sub Marine Explorer mentioned in a previous post – pretty amazing that a wreck of a Civil War period submarine is to be found off Panama – http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-10437.html

Singer’s Secret Service Corps: Causing Chaos During the Civil War

Here is a link to a great article from Mark Ragan about Singers Secret Service Corps – http://www.historynet.com/singers-secret-service-corps-causing-chaos-during-the-civil-war.htm

Confederate Submarine (1861)

In 1861 reports of a Confederate submarine built in Richmond circulated in various publications including Harper’s Weekly.  For many years evidence of this early sub was lacking, and she was thought to be a myth.  In recent years, historian Mark Ragan has found evidence -accounting records — showing the costs of various materials used in her construction.  What became of her remains a mystery.

See http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Confederate_Submarine.htm

for an image of the period page from Harper’s Weekly.

The Hunley (1860s)

See the: “The H.L. Hunley in Historical Context”

by Rich Wills, former Assistant Underwater Archaeologist, Naval Historical Center for a detailed history of the context of the first submarine to sink a vessel in combat.  Also has information about the two vessels that preceded the Hunley.

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-7b.htm

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-7b.htm

Intelligent Whale (1860s+)

From RoadsideAmerica.Com, comes images and details of the current location of the Intelligent Whale, a submarine started during the Civil War, which may be visited in New Jersey. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/16338