Intelligent Whale facts for kids
Intelligent Whale at the Navy Museum, Washington Navy Yard
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Intelligent Whale |
| Laid down | 1863 |
| Acquired | 29 October 1869 |
| Out of service | 1873 |
| Status | Museum exhibit |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement | 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) |
| Length | 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m) |
| Beam | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Propulsion | Hand-cranked screw |
| Speed | 4 knots (4.6 mph; 7.4 km/h) |
| Endurance | 10 hours |
| Complement | 6 to 13 officers and men |
| Armament | Hatch for diver |
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The Intelligent Whale was an experimental submarine. It was powered by hand cranks! The United States Navy thought about using it in the 1860s.
Contents
History of the Intelligent Whale
Building and Early Years
The Intelligent Whale was built in 1863. It was designed by Scovel Sturgis Merriam. The builders were Augustus Price and Cornelius Scranton Bushnell.
In 1864, the American Submarine Company was formed. They took over the project. There were some legal arguments about who owned the submarine.
The Intelligent Whale was finally finished and launched in 1866. After the ownership was settled in court, the submarine was sold. This happened on October 29, 1869.
The United States Navy Department bought it. Most of the money would be paid after successful tests.
The Intelligent Whale could go underwater by filling special compartments with water. To come back up, it would pump the water out. It also used compressed air to push the water out.
It was thought that the submarine could stay underwater for about ten hours. It could hold up to 13 crew members. However, only six people were needed to make it work.
The first test happened in September 1872. It was not successful. Because of this, the Navy decided not to pay more money. They stopped the project.
One famous test was reported by John Philip Holland. He was a pioneer in submarine design. During this test, General Sweeney and two others were on board.
They submerged the submarine in 16 feet (5 m) of water. General Sweeney wore a diver's suit. He went out through a hole in the bottom of the submarine.
He placed an explosive charge under a small boat called a scow. Then he went back into the submarine. The charge was set off with a rope and a special starter called a friction primer. This made the scow sink.
Where is the Intelligent Whale Now?
After the failed test in 1872, the Intelligent Whale was put on display. It was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for many years.
In 1968, it was moved to the Washington Navy Yard. It stayed there for some time. Now, you can see it at the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey. This museum is in Sea Girt, New Jersey.
The U.S. Navy did not use a submarine for service until much later. The USS Holland was the first one. It was put into service in 1900.
See also
- Turtle (submersible)
- Nautilus (1800 submarine)
- CSS H.L. Hunley
- CSS David
- USS Alligator (1862)
- Plunger (1897)
- USS Holland (SS-1)
- Fenian Ram
