A vessel based on the world's first working submarine.
About this creation
The world's first working submarine was built in 1620 by Cornelis Jacobszoon Drebbel, a Dutch inventor and alchemist working in England for James I. My vessel is based on descriptions of this early submarine which made underwater journeys up and down the Thames. It's propelled by oars and air is supplied via hoses attached to a float. Inside the boat, and attached to holes in the bottom of the hull, are rows of "animal skin bladders" which are allowed to fill with water to make the boat sink. To surface, the water is squeezed out using wooden levers. (In the last photo you can see the bottom right lever in the down position). The boat is steered using the oars and the crew would navigate by compass (Like Mr Drebbel himself, I might make a larger Drebbel 2 with a rudder and windows!!) The original boat was built for the Royal Navy but the idea was scrapped when Drebbel was unable to develop a weapon to go with it!!
