The first submarine, invented by David Bushnell (1742-1824), was constructed circa 1776. The small submarine is a thin shell structure called "Turtle".

This exhibit is in the Old Saybrook Museum, Old Saybrook, Connecticut

David Bushnell’s intent was to blow up one of the British fleet’s ships anchored in New York Harbor in 1776. The keg attached at the aft of the submarine contained a high explosive.

David Bushnell’s colleague, Ezra Lee, piloted the Turtle. Unfortunately, the attempt to attach the explosive to the hull of the British flagship failed, and the Turtle retreated without accomplishing its mission.

It is thought that the original Turtle rests somewhere at the bottom of Long Island Sound.

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