Brandtaucher, 1850 human-powered submarine by Wilhelm Bauer
The Brandtaucher is a submarine built in 1850 in Kiel and measures about 8 meters long. The vessel has a flat bottom and was powered by three crew members turning large wheels to propel it through the water.
The boat was designed by Wilhelm Bauer, a Bavarian engineer, and was originally intended to reach a diving depth of 30 meters but was limited to less than 10 meters due to lack of funding. In February 1851, the submarine sank during a demonstration in Kiel and was successfully abandoned by the crew by letting water enter to equalize internal pressure.
The name Brandtaucher translates to 'fire-diver' in German, referring to the idea of placing mines on enemy ships. The vessel embodied the inventive spirit of its era and demonstrated how engineers pushed technological boundaries to explore new methods of naval warfare.
The boat is housed today in the German Armed Forces Museum of Military History in Dresden and can be viewed there. With its iron construction and simple mechanisms, it offers a direct impression of how early underwater technology functioned.
The first known rescue from a sinking submarine occurred in 1851 when Bauer deliberately let water enter to equalize pressure and displace the air. This escape demonstrated that underwater operations could be survived and laid the groundwork for future safety procedures.
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