An Attack Submarine in 1808

1808 (Norway)

1 Sheet, manuscript with drawing on paper; 15,94 × 36,27 cm;
2 colour photographs of a wooden object 27,15 × 40,84 cm and 26,78 × 40,51 cm

National Archives of Norway
Regional State Archive in Bergen
SAB/A-100006/Eb/0048

Design concepts for submarines and submersible boats have been with us since the Middle Ages, but genuinely feasible proposals didn’t emerge until the 16th century. These were completely enclosed wooden vessels, sheathed in waterproofed leather, that could be submerged. They also included some type of mechanism that would allow for rudimentary manoeuvring. Functioning submarines have however been documented since the 17th century, including those designed and constructed by Cornelius Van Drebbel, a Dutchman in the service of James I of England. Throughout the 17th century, several inventors planned increasingly sophisticated submarines. During the 18th century several projects for military submarines were presented and these culminated with the planning and construction of the famous Nautilus, in 1800, by Robert Fulton in France.

In June 1808, the City Council member in Bergen, Norway, received drawings and plans for a submarine designed to attack enemy vessels. Mikkel Hallsteinsson Lofthus (1782-1850), a mechanic from Ullensvang submitted the drawings of the submarine. His sketches aroused great interest. The submarine was to be driven forward by three pairs of oars, and it would move up and down in the water by moving the weight inside the boat back and forth.

The evaluation of the merits of this proposal generated a considerable discussion. While many were eager for the plan to be implemented, the County Governor, after advice from military experts, concluded that the plan was unrealistic.

Popular posts from this blog

Letter from István Dobos to the Mayor of Gyula Record: 8-12-1912, Budapest (Aerodrom in Rákos) Photograph: between 1914-1918 2 Pages, manuscript on paper, with stamps, 1 photograph Békés County Archives of the National Archives of Hungary HU-MNL-BeML – XV – 77 – Dobos István The history of flying is filled with adventure, invention and tragedy. The early decades of the 20th century were an especially lively and heroic age, witnessing major breakthroughs in aviation. On 8 December 1912, István Dobos (1892-1937), born in the city of Gyula, in Hungary, and at the time a young and ambitious aviator, wrote to the Mayor of his home town. Dobos told that he had been carrying out experiments in the Rákos Airfield, but that results had been disappointing due to inadequate motors on the planes. He added that he did not have the finances to acquire the necessary materials to improve the motors. As a citizen born in the city of Gyula, he pleaded with the Mayor and other authorities to ...
Read more
The Establishment of the Norwegian Healthcare System 04-07-1603,Copenhagen, (Norway) 2 pages of a bound volume, manuscript on paper;   31 x 17 cm (page), 33 x 22 cm (volume) National Archives of Norway RA/F/Fcaa/L0003, page 196 The public healthcare system in Norway can be traced back to the 17th century, when King Christian IV appointed the first public doctor, Villads Nielsen Adamsen [Vilhadius Adamius] (ca.1564 - ca.1616) in Bergen, in July 1603.The King assigned Adamsen as ordinario medic in Bergen, with the letter displayed here.This meant Adamsen would be paid from the public purse, as he was now allowed to dispose some of the churchs income.  Adamsen was the son of a Danish parish priest; he had studied in Padova, Rostock and Siena, focusing particularly on questions related to epidemics and public health. In 1599 he arrived in Bergen, where he established himself and started medical practice. In that year a plague broke out in the city. Adamsen with the assi...
Read more
Managing Water in Toledo 17-10-1561,Toledo (Spain) 1 page, coloured drawing on paper; 59 × 44 cm Spanish State Archives General Archive of Simancas, ES.47161.AGS/5.1/MPD,27,3 Water management has a long tradition in Iberia. With long, hot, dry summers, and certain areas where water is scarce, an efficient and rational use of water has always been a serious issue for the various peoples that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. The document shows the plan for a machine to raise fresh water from the river Tagus to the Alcazar de Toledo. The plan was designed by Giovanni Turriano ( c . 1505-1585) known in Spain as Juanelo Turriano, an engineer and technical advisor to King Charles I. Born in Cremona, Italy, Turriano moved to Spain in 1529 to serve king Charles I. A brilliant and somewhat eccentric personality, he soon started many other projects and inventions, and participated in different technical enterprises. Turriano started living in the city of Toledo in 1534. The old...
Read more