From ancient diving bells to nuclear deterrents, the submarine's evolution is a story of survival.

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before modern navies, inventors dreamed of conquering the deep. From Alexander the Great’s legendary diving bell to the first steam-powered vessels, the quest to master underwater navigation has spanned centuries. Discover how early pioneers solved the lethal problems of buoyancy, oxygen supply, and propulsion to change warfare forever.

The dream of underwater travel dates to antiquity, with early accounts describing divers clearing obstructions during the siege of Syracuse in 415–413 BC. By the 16th century, inventors like William Bourne were sketching enclosed vessels that utilized hand-operated plungers to adjust buoyancy. However, it was Cornelius Van Drebbel who, in 1620, built the first successful submarine. His craft, tested in the River Thames, reportedly stayed submerged for three hours, using a quicksilver barometer to track depth and a chemical process involving saltpetre to refresh the air.

Military potential soon followed, though technical limitations remained severe. In 1776, David Bushnell’s hand-powered Turtle attempted to challenge British ships, though historians like Richard Compton-Hall suggest the mission may have been propaganda. By the 19th century, innovation accelerated. In 1863, the French Plongeur became the first submarine to abandon human power, utilizing compressed air, while Narcís Monturiol’s Ictineo II introduced an air-independent propulsion system in 1867. These designs addressed critical issues of stability and pressure that had plagued earlier prototypes.

The late 19th century saw the emergence of the modern submarine through the work of George Garrett and Thorsten Nordenfelt. Their steam-powered vessels, such as the Abdül Hamid launched in 1887, were the first to fire torpedoes while submerged. Yet, true reliability only arrived in the 1880s with the integration of electric batteries. Stefan Drzewiecki pioneered these electric designs in 1881, paving the way for the diesel and nuclear-powered fleets that would define the strategic landscape of the 20th century. Today, these vessels remain essential for both deep-sea exploration and global military deterrence.

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