Ictíneo I facts for kids
Ictíneo I replica
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Quick facts for kids Class overview |
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| Name: | Ictíneo I |
| Builders: |
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| Operators: | Narcís Monturiol |
| Succeeded by: | Ictíneo II |
| In service: | 28 June 1859 to January 1862 |
| Completed: | 1 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Submarine |
| Tonnage | 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) (pressure hull) |
| Height |
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| Installed power | Human muscle |
| Propulsion | Hand crank propellers |
| Endurance | 2 hours (submerged) |
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
The Ictíneo I was a very early submarine built in Barcelona, Spain. It was made between 1858 and 1859 by a clever engineer named Narcís Monturiol. This amazing invention helped people understand how to build ships that could travel underwater safely.
Contents
Building the Ictíneo I
Why Monturiol Built a Submarine
Narcís Monturiol lived in a town called Cadaqués. One day, he saw a coral diver die while working underwater. This sad event gave him an idea. He wanted to create a special ship that could go underwater. This way, coral divers could work in a much safer way.
Monturiol kept his idea a secret for over 12 years. He was worried that people might make fun of him. Also, he didn't have enough money to build such a unique vessel. But a friend convinced him that his idea was important. His friend believed that money could be found from other friends and the public.
Naming the Submarine
Monturiol had already chosen a name for his underwater ship: Ictíneo. This name comes from two ancient Greek words. Ichthys means "fish" and naus means "boat." He explained that the Ictíneo looked like a fish. It also moved like a fish, with its engine at the back and fins to steer. It even had special "swimming bladders" to help it go up and down in the water.
Starting the Project
In September 1857, Monturiol went back to Barcelona. There, he started the first company in Spain focused on underwater travel. It was called Monturiol, Font, Altadill y Cia. They raised 10,000 pesetas to begin the project. In 1858, he shared his plans in a science paper. It was titled "The Ictíneo or fish-ship."
First Journeys and Tests
Launching the Ictíneo I
On June 28, 1859, Monturiol was ready for the Ictíneo's first trip. The submarine was put into Barcelona harbour. Sadly, it hit some underwater poles. Monturiol thought fixing it would use up all his money. He quickly repaired the damaged windows, the outside of the ship, and the water tanks. Because of the damage, he decided to limit how deep the submarine could go to about 20 metres (66 ft).
Testing the Submarine's Abilities
During the summer of 1859, Monturiol did more than 20 test dives with the Ictíneo. His business partner and the shipbuilder were his crew. He slowly went deeper and deeper, reaching his 20 metres (66 ft) limit. He learned that the crew could stay underwater for about 2 hours. This was possible using only the air sealed inside the submarine. He also found that they could stay underwater for twice as long by using compressed oxygen and a special machine to clean the air.
The Ictíneo was easy to steer and handle. However, its top speed was not very good. This was because it was powered only by human muscle.
The End of the Ictíneo I
The Ictíneo I was eventually destroyed in January 1862. This happened after about 50 dives. A cargo ship accidentally crashed into it while it was docked. After this, Monturiol built a much better submarine called the Ictíneo II.
Today, a modern copy of the Ictíneo I can be seen. It stands in the garden entrance of the Marine Museum in Barcelona.
How the Ictíneo I Worked
Submarine Design and Shape
Monturiol understood that a fish shape was best for moving smoothly through water. But for a submarine to handle water pressure, a round shape was strongest. So, he combined these ideas. He built an inner, oval-shaped hull to hold the crew safely. Then, he added an outer, fish-shaped hull. There was a space between these two hulls that filled with water. This design is now called a light hull.
Materials and Strength
Monturiol wanted to build the inner hull from metal because it's very strong. But he and his supporters didn't have enough money. So, he used wood instead. He knew a lot about wood because his father was a cooper, someone who makes barrels.
The inner hull was made from olive wood. It had strong oak rings to support it and was covered with 2 mm of copper. This inner hull was 4 metres (13 ft) long, 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall, and 1 metre (3.3 ft) wide. Monturiol believed it could go as deep as 500 metres (1,600 ft) without breaking. But for safety, he only rated it for dives up to 50 metres (160 ft). The outer, fish-shaped hull was 7 metres (23 ft) long and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high. It weighed about 10 tonnes when fully submerged.
The Ictíneo had several thick glass windows on its sides, top, and front. These windows were shaped like cones. This design meant that water pressure would push them more tightly into place, helping to prevent leaks.
Controlling Depth and Balance
The submarine had four ballast tanks. These were like bladders located between the two hulls. Two were at the front and two at the back. The crew could control them from inside the submarine. They used valves to let water in and pumps to push air in. This allowed the submarine to sink or rise.
There was also an emergency system. If the main system failed, two large weights outside the submarine could be dropped. This would make the submarine light enough to float to the surface. Monturiol also put a heavy weight inside the submarine on a metal track. This weight could be moved back and forth to keep the submarine balanced.
Power and Air Supply
For power, the Ictíneo used propellers that were turned by hand. Monturiol also invented a special machine called an air scrubber. This device removed carbon dioxide from the air inside the submarine. It did this by forcing the air through a container of calcium hydroxide. This invention allowed the submarine to stay underwater for longer periods. He also tried to create oxygen, but that method didn't work well. For light inside, he used a candle. A clever trick was that the candle flame would turn red if the oxygen level started to get too low. This warned the crew that they needed more fresh air.
See also
- Ictineu 3
Images for kids
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Ictíneo I replica at the Museu Marítim, Barcelona
