The Life of Robert Fulton

[Beck Reilly]

In 1800, the American inventor Robert Fulton built a 6.4-m (21-ft) submarine named the Nautilus, which was similar in shape to the modern submarine. Fulton introduced two important innovations: rudders for vertical and horizontal control and compressed air as an underwater supply of oxygen. When submerged, the Nautilus was powered by a hand-operated, four-blade propeller. On the surface the boat was propelled by means of sails attached to a folding mast.

Demonstrated in Rouen with Fulton aboard, the Nautilus folded its mast and sails flat on the deck and, with three crew members cranking a screw, dove to a depth of 7.6 m (25 ft). The French and later the British, however, showed no interest.

What if, however, the United States had heard about the Nautilus and began to pursue the technology? What I am interested in is not how this could happen, but how far submarine technology could be taken in 19th century America.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Well, the only real source of power besides the sails you mentioned, would be either steam power, or human locomotion, as in the Hunley. Steam wouldn't really work for a fully submersible vehicle, because of the byproducts of combustion. On the other hand, the possibility of a semi-submersible vehicle, which submerges to just below the surface of the water, and uses a ram or torpedo to destroy an enemy ship might work. You'd have to wait until 1870 at the extreme earliest to get a fully submersible vehicle, and even then, self-propelled torpedoes are still almost two decades off.

[Straha]

without torpedoes subs would be used as say a ram to break ships

[Glen]

In 1800, the American inventor Robert Fulton built a 6.4-m (21-ft) submarine named the Nautilus, which was similar in shape to the modern submarine. Fulton introduced two important innovations: rudders for vertical and horizontal control and compressed air as an underwater supply of oxygen. When submerged, the Nautilus was powered by a hand-operated, four-blade propeller. On the surface the boat was propelled by means of sails attached to a folding mast.

Demonstrated in Rouen with Fulton aboard, the Nautilus folded its mast and sails flat on the deck and, with three crew members cranking a screw, dove to a depth of 7.6 m (25 ft). The French and later the British, however, showed no interest.

What if, however, the United States had heard about the Nautilus and began to pursue the technology? What I am interested in is not how this could happen, but how far submarine technology could be taken in 19th century America.

Not VERY far. The problem is that to make practical submarines, there are a lot of technological innovations that will have to wait until the end of the 19th century...