Argonaut, Jr.
Quick Summary
The Argonaut Jr., built in 1894 by Simon Lake, was an early experimental submarine. It had a wooden hull, was about 14 feet long, and traveled on the sea bottom using hand-turned wheels. This was a precursor to Lake's more advanced Argonaut, built in 1897. The Argonaut was the first submarine to extensively navigate the open sea. It was 36 feet long, powered by a gasoline engine, and also featured wheels for underwater travel. In 1898, it successfully journeyed from Norfolk, Virginia, to New York City, demonstrating the seaworthiness of its design. These early submarines were designed for underwater exploration rather than combat.12
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