Turtle

by Manstan, Roy R.

• ISBN13: 9781594161056
• ISBN10: 1594161054
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-05-05
• Publisher: Westholme Pub Llc

Summary

At the onset of the American Revolution, David Bushnell created the first submarine vessel designed specifically for the destruction of vessels of war. The authors provide new insight into Bushnell's invention and trace the history of undersea warfare before Bushnell. Illustrations. Maps.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xi
Interpretation
Turtle Soup: Two Centuries of Interpretation	p. 3
Science, Technology, and a One Room Schoolhouse	p. 17
A Novel Idea Takes Shape	p. 33
A Secret "Machine"	p. 43
How to Feed a Two-ton Turtle	p. 59
Replication
The Turtle Project: Not Just Another Birdhouse	p. 77
Propulsion: How to Move a Two-ton Turtle	p. 85
The Hull: Was the Turtle More Than a Barrel?	p. 97
Hatch and Life Support: How to Survive Inside a Turtle	p. 109
Navigation: A Compass and a Depth Gauge Guided the Turtle	p. 119
Firepower: The Turtle and Its Infernal Machine	p. 129
Investigation
Walking in Bushnell's Shoes: Operational Testing of the Turtle	p. 145
Propeller Thrust: Horsepower = Manpower	p. 155
Hull Resistance: Moving a Two-ton Turtle	p. 163
Transit Speed: A Tortoise or a Hare?	p. 169
Maneuvering and Submerging: Engaging the Target Undetected	p. 179
Pilot Endurance: A Mission Not for the Faint of Heart	p. 193
Pilot Ergonomics: By Design or an Afterthought	p. 205
Speculation
The Turtle in the Connecticut River: A Convenient Location	p. 215
The Turtle Did Not Operate Alone: Bushnell's Navy	p. 225
Bushnell's Biggest Mistake: Too Few Turtle Pilots	p. 233
September 6, 1776: The Turtle Sets Out on Its Mission	p. 243
The Next Day: Why the Turtle Mission Failed	p. 257
Epilogue	p. 269
David Bushnell to Thomas Jefferson	p. 276
Benjamin Gale to Benjamin Franklin	p. 289
Benjamin Gale to Silas Deane	p. 292
Ezra Lee to David Humphreys	p. 298
Ezra Lee to Charles Gristnotd	p. 303
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson	p. 309
Glossary	p. 311
Notes	p. 331
Bibliography	p. 347
Index	p. 357
Acknowledgments	p. 369
About the Authors	p. 371
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