Britannica Sources used in this answer

How was the Holland submarine powered on the surface and underwater?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

USS Nautilus — submarine The former USS *Nautilus*, launched in 1954, being towed to Groton, Connecticut, to become a museum, May 1985.

The Holland submarine, a significant forerunner to the modern submarine, utilized a dual-propulsion system to operate both on the surface and underwater.1

Surface Propulsion: The vessel was powered by a gasoline engine, which allowed it to reach a surface speed of seven knots.12
Underwater Propulsion: When submerged, the submarine relied on electric motors. These motors were powered by batteries that were charged by the gasoline engine while the craft was on the surface.12

This combination of a combustion engine for surface cruising and electric motors for submerged operation established a foundational design principle for subsequent naval vessels.12