Robert Fulton and the Submarine

by William Barclay Parsons

PLATE THE TENTH

When Mr. Pitt saw the sketch of this engine of simple construction, easy application, and powerful effect, he observed that if Introduced into practice it would lead to the annihilation of all military marines, It was therefore agreed not to use it,—But when I speak of my interest and that of my friends in these inventions, I must call the particular Attention of the Arbitrators to this engine to Shew that while in france I might have brought forward this system to the infinite Injury of England; I did not bring it forward but came to this Country by Invitation to explain the engines to government; and receive what might be considered a fair equivalent for inventions of such magnitude, leaving them to government to use or not as they might think proper; It must therefore be considered that my negative to France is a Positive advantage to England, and out of these Ideas will arise considerations on such sums or annuity as a Great nation can afford to pay for her own security, and which should in reason satisfy men possessed of inventions the consequences of which are incalculable,

After what has been said on the practice of the instantanious Bomb, it will be seen that the submarine Vessel is not of much importance nor necessary to Carry such engines into effect from England against France, or from France against England, but it would be of the first importance to the Sweeds, Danes, Dutch, Spaniards or Portuguise in a War against England for with such vessels they could come without risque and anchor instantanious Bombs in the British channel in the mouth of the Thames in the roadsteads and, along the coast, and distress the commerce to as great a degree as before described,

Each submarine Vessel constructed in the best manner would cost about 8,000 £. 10 of them could be built for 80 Thousand pounds, and each of them requiring 6 men to Navigate them, the total would be 60 men. Each Vessel could carry 30 bombs the ten could convoy 300, Besides the Bombs each could carry water and provisions for 6 men for 6 weeks, they are therefore calculated to navigate all the narrow seas of Europe and might anchor Bombs in any channel or roadstead where it might be thought necessary; Thus it is that this invention of submarine navigation and Submarine Bombs, gives to the minor maritime powers a decided advantage over the Major maritime Nations,

The manner of attacking a single ship with two clockwork bombs has been explained in plate the tenth; which mode I conceive will be allowed to be less expensive than fire ships and attended with less Risk than Bordage or any mode now in practice

But suppose an enterprise to send such Bombs in among the Shipping at Brest or any other open port; the tide running at the rate of two miles an hour, the clockwork being set to two hours would make it practicable to set the Bombs afloat at four miles distance from the Enemy; and they would arrive among the shipping about the time the explosions commenced; It would of course be advisable to get as near the Enemy as possible before giving the Bombs to the tide, and in allmost all cases it is possible to near them within two miles or a mile and a half in the night time; the clockwork should be set accordingly.

Plate 12

Plate the 12 will Shew how the hooks are arranged to pass the Buoys and yet hook in the Cable; in all cases where the line of the Bomb may cross one; it is a round ended hook filled in with cork to keep it from sinking being round at the end it cannot hook in the Buoy, but if the line crosses a cable it will glide along till it comes to the hook and be caught, the Bomb will then drift alongside, and sheer under the ships bottom, this being a mode of attack it is to be considered what would be the risk of 10, 15 or 20 Sail were 2 or 3 hundred such bombs floated among them in one night.

But as Ships at anchor cannot follow or even fire to advantage in the night on boats which are 4 or 5 hundred yards off; it [necessarily] reduces the enemy to the necessity of defending themselves against boats, by boats—, this being the Case what could prevent 40 British Boats running with the flood into the harbour of Brest, there throw their Bombs across the Bows and retire with the ebb of night;? 16 oard cutters each with 4 or 5 marines and two swivels would complete such an enterprise with little risk for as the objects of the British Boats would not to fight but run: the oars would never be interrupted and their Velocity together with the fire of the marines would clear their way through any of the enemy’s boats which could be ready to oppose them; but they would have another advantage for the explosion of the first bomb or the Blowing up of the first ship, would occupy all the enemy’s boats In saving the men which would leave little or no opposition to the British Boats; I Leave to nautical Gentlemen to consider whether such an attack with such engines whose operation is instantanious; Is not practicable for British seamen in Brest harbour; and if at Brest, it is also practicable at Cadiz and other ports, and presents a more effectual mode of destroying the Enemys fleets than any method now in practice and with less risk, But I do not expect Gentlemen to decide in favour of this mode of attack without first contemplating Galleys or cutters of the best construction, and picked men, habituated and exersised to the System and practice of the Bombs,—For as a morter is not given to the management of a lighthouseman, but to a Bombadeer, so these engines should not be confided to officers or men till they had been practiced in the use of them,