![]() Peral in 1888 | |
History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | Peral |
Builder | Isaac Peral In Arsenal de la Carraca (Navantia now) |
Laid down | 7 October 1887 |
Commissioned | 1889 |
Decommissioned | 1890 |
Status | Museum ship since 2013 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Submarine |
Displacement |
|
Length | 22 m (72 ft 2 in) |
Beam | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) |
Propulsion | 2 x electric motors, 2 x 30 hp (22 kW), two shaft |
Speed |
|
Range |
|
Armament | one 14 in (360 mm) torpedo tube (bow; three Schwarzkopf torpedoes) |
Peral was the first successful submarine to be entirely powered by electric batteries and the first fully military-capable submarine in history[ clarification needed ]. [1] It was built by the Spanish engineer and sailor Isaac Peral for the Spanish Navy at the Arsenal de la Carraca (now Navantia), [2] [3] the submarine was launched on 8 September 1888.
She had one torpedo tube (and two torpedoes) and an air regeneration system. Her hull shape, propeller, periscope, torpedo launcher and cruciform external controls anticipated later designs. [4] [5] Her underwater speed was 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). With fully charged batteries, she was the fastest submarine yet built, [6] with underwater performance levels (except for range) that matched those of First World War U-boats for a very short period, before her batteries began to drain. For example, the SM U-9, a pre-war German U-boat built in 1908, had an underwater speed of 8.1 knots (15.0 km/h; 9.3 mph), and an underwater range of 150 km (81 nmi) at 5.8 knots (10.7 km/h; 6.7 mph), before having to resurface to recharge her batteries.[ citation needed ]
Although advanced in many ways, Peral lacked a means of charging batteries while underway, such as an internal combustion engine, thus had a very limited endurance and range. In June 1890, Peral's submarine launched a torpedo while submerged. It was also the first submarine to incorporate a fully reliable underwater navigation system. However, conservatives in the Spanish naval hierarchy terminated the project despite two years of successful tests. Her operational abilities have led some to call her the first U-boat. [7]
Peral was withdrawn from service in 1890 and is now preserved at the Cartagena Naval Museum.
Peral was first conceived on 20 September 1884, when Lieutenant Isaac Peral y Caballero wrote a paper which would become his Proyecto de Torpedero Submarino ("Project for a submarine torpedo boat"). [8]
After several studies and experiments, and having gained support from his superiors and fellow officers, Peral exposed his idea to the Spanish navy staff. He wrote a letter to the Spanish naval minister, Vice Admiral Pezuela y Lobo, in September, 1885. Pezuela called Peral to Madrid to have a personal interview with him. After the interview Pezuela agreed to finance Peral's preliminary studies in Cádiz with an initial budget of 5,000 pesetas, before launching a program to build a full-scale submarine. [9]
The first study consisted of human breath test in an enclosure for several hours. A room of 58 m2 (620 sq ft) square meters was used, with an air storage cell, loaded to 79 atmospheres and a storage capacity of 0.5 m3. In addition to instruments to measure the temperature and moisture, there was a tube to re-oxygenate the air supply to the crew through a 4 mm (0.16 in) waterproof cloak and three water buckets to maintain the moisture. Six people locked themselves inside the room; one had to leave an hour and quarter later, but the rest remained for a total of five hours, and the test was considered a total success.[ citation needed ]
On 21 July 1886, the new Navy Minister, rear-admiral Beranger, decided that the project would be reviewed by the Centro Técnico de la Armada (Naval Technical Center), under the responsibility of Admiral Antequera. He considered a more complete study of the actuator necessary before undertaking the construction of the hull and the electric engine. He authorized Peral to carry out all the modifications that he thought worthwhile, granting him 25,000 pesetas.
On 5 March 1887, Peral communicated that the electric motor or "depth's device", as he called it, was ready. On 17 March, the Commander in Chief of Cadiz, Florencio Montojo, who headed the technical committee overseeing the machine, requested budgeting for Peral's submarine.
On 25 April 1887, the submarine's construction was finally approved by the government; the keel was laid down on La Carraca on 7 October, although work did not start until two weeks later. Nevertheless, the submarine had already undergone a number of modifications: Peral's original 1885 model conceived of a 61-ton submarine, 18.8 m (62 ft) long, with a beam of 2.52 m (8.3 ft) and a single 40 shp (30 kW) electric motor for a single shaft. The submarine Peral began in 1887 had a length of more than 22 m (72 ft), a beam of 2.87 m (9.4 ft), a draft of 2.76 m (9.1 ft), two 30 shp (22 kW) electric motors geared to twin screws, and a displacement of 77 tons surfaced and 85 submerged. [10]
Air regeneration in the interior of the submarine was accomplished by an auxiliary 6 hp (4 kW) engine, which passed the air through a sodium hydroxide purifier to eliminate CO2 exhaled by the crew. In addition, the pump injected oxygen when needed. The same engine which circulated air also drove the bailing pump.
The submarine dived by means of the "depth's device" which drove two shafts of vertical axes located at both ends of the hull, moved by two 4 hp (3 kW) electrical motors to submerge or surface, and to maintain horizontal stability submerged. The ballast tanks had a storage capacity of 8 tons, and were used to stabilize the submarine. In order to navigate, Peral used a bronze magnetic needle installed in the ceiling of the turret. The design avoided any electrical interference. He also devised a periscope, a fixed tube on the turret; by using a series of prisms, it projected the outside world to within the submarine.
The engine-cooling system consisted of forcing compressed air stored in the submarine over the engines, and though the original project had needed 430 accumulators, the final project installed 613 with a weight of 50 kg (110 lb). The total weight of the batteries was around 30 tons. [10]
The top speed varied with the charge of the batteries. With one-quarter charge, the submarine was able to reach 4.7 kn (8.7 km/h; 5.4 mph), one-half 6.9 kn (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph), three-quarters 8.9 kn (16.5 km/h; 10.2 mph), knots, completely charged 10.9 kn (20.2 km/h; 12.5 mph).[ citation needed ] The range of the boat again depended on battery charge level; Peral calculated his original submarine could reach 132 nmi (152 mi; 244 km) at a speed of 6 kn (11 km/h; 6.9 mph). With no means of charging batteries while underway, such as an internal combustion engine, endurance and range were limited.[ citation needed ]
One of the original features of Peral was an underwater lamp, which enabled the crew to search the sea bottom. [11] The searchlight had a range of 150 m (490 ft). [12]
The submarine was single-hulled, and the ballast tanks were located at the bottom of the hull, underneath the torpedo tube. This single torpedo tube was the only weapon in the submarine, with two watertight doors on each end so the submarine could launch a torpedo submerged. Mechanisms used for reloading were simple and fast, and the submarine had three reserves. This was almost identical to the torpedo launchers used in submarines since then. [7] In order to avoid expenses, the torpedoes Peral launched during the trials were borrowed from torpedo boats, two from Retamosa and one from Barceló.[ citation needed ]
The Peral was launched on 8 September 1888, sixteen days before another pioneering electric submarine, the French Gymnote. On 6 March 1889 the Peral's trials started, consisting of handling and surface navigation. On 7 August that year, the submarine submerged for the first time up to the turret; 18 days later fired the first trial torpedo (without warhead); on 5 December submerged to 7.5 m; on 25 December passed the first non-static dive test, sailing at a steady depth of 9.5 meters; and, in 1890 sailed underwater for one hour, reaching a maximum depth of 30 meters in trials.
On 25 June 1890 Peral made two simulated engagements on the cruiser Cristóbal Colón, one at day and other at night. At the daylight trial the submarine was unable to attack the cruiser, as the optical turret was spotted less than 1,000 yards (910 m) away from the cruiser, which had 200 civilian and military guests who obviously expected to see the submarine, a fact that angered Isaac Peral. The simulated night attack was successful. The staff that evaluated the trials of the submarine submitted a report, considering its speed and range insufficient, and being especially critical about the failure of the submarine during the daylight attack and its electric motors. However, overall the report was positive, and a second submarine was ordered, again under the direction of Isaac Peral but also managed by several naval departments. Peral designed a 30-meter submarine of 130 tons, under the condition of choosing the yard where the submarine would be built and the choosing the team to build it. These conditions were not accepted by the authorities, who considered this a refusal by Peral to build the submarine. Finally they ordered Peral to return the submarine to the La Carraca yard where it was built. On 11 November 1890 a decree set the end of the projects of underwater navigation in the Spanish Navy.
Similar figures of performance were only attained about a decade later in other countries. The speed and endurance of the Peral attained World War I standards (in terms of underwater, battery-powered sailing). [7]
In 1890 Peral was withdrawn from service, equipment removed, and the hull stored at La Carraca Arsenal. In 1913 her demolition was ordered but this was not carried out.
In 1929, Admiral Mateo García de los Reyes, first commander of the Spanish submarine forces, managed to reclaim the hull and towed it to Cartagena, putting it ashore at the submarine base.
In 1965 the authorities of Cartagena succeeded in moving the hull to the Plaza de los Héroes de Cavite.
In 2002 was moved to the Paseo Alfonso XII, in front of the port of Cartagena. [13]
In 2013, Peral was restored and moved to the Cartagena Naval Museum. [14]
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely operated vehicles and robots, as well as medium-sized or smaller vessels, such as the midget submarine and the wet sub. Submarines are referred to as boats rather than ships irrespective of their size.
The V-boats were a group of nine United States Navy submarines built between World War I and World War II from 1921 to 1934 under authorization as the "fleet boat" program.
Isaac Peral y Caballero, was a Spanish engineer, naval officer and designer of the Peral Submarine. He joined the Spanish navy in 1866, and developed the first electric-powered submarine which was launched in 1888. It was not accepted by political authorities, but it was accepted by the navy. He then left the navy to develop other inventions commercially.
The Hayashio-class submarine was the successor design to the Oyashio, and the predecessor of the Natsushio class with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Ordered in 1959, the boats were small with limited capability but were successful. Constructed in Japan from 1960 to 1962, they remained in service until 1979 when they were discarded.
The R-class submarines were a class of 12 small British diesel-electric submarines built for the Royal Navy during World War I, and were forerunners of the modern attack submarine, in that they were designed specifically to attack and sink enemy submarines, their battery capacity and hull shape being optimized for underwater performance.
The TR-1700 is a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines built by Thyssen Nordseewerke for the Argentine Navy in the 1980s, with two submarines completed. These ships are amongst the largest submarines built in Germany since World War II and are among the fastest diesel-electric submarines in the world. ARA San Juan was lost on 17 November 2017, leaving ARA Santa Cruz as the only remaining submarine of this class. As of 2020, the refit of Santa Cruz has been reported cancelled leaving the entire class inactive.
The Osvetnik class consisted of two submarines built for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes – Yugoslavia from 1929 on – by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire in Nantes, France. Launched in 1928 and 1929, the boats were named Osvetnik (Avenger) and Smeli (Daring). They were built to a partial double hull Simonot design similar to the French Circé-class submarines. Also known as the Smeli class, they were the second class of submarines to serve in the Royal Yugoslav Navy (KM), and after extensive sea trials and testing they sailed from France to the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia, arriving in December 1929, where they joined the two larger British-made Hrabri-class submarines to make up the pre-war Yugoslav submarine flotilla. The Osvetnik-class were armed with six 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes, one 100 mm (3.9 in) gun, and one 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft gun, and could dive to 80 metres (260 ft).
The S-80 Plus class is a Spanish class of four submarines being built by the state-owned Spanish company Navantia at its Cartagena shipyard for the Spanish Navy. In common with other contemporary submarines, they feature air-independent propulsion.
Italian submarine Berillo was a Perla-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a gemstone Beryl.
Hrabri (Brave) was the lead boat of the Hrabri-class submarines; built for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes– Yugoslavia by the Vickers-Armstrong Naval Yard in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1927, her design was based on the British L-class submarine of World War I, and was built using parts from an L-class submarine that was never completed. The Hrabri-class were the first submarines to serve in the Royal Yugoslav Navy (KM), and after extensive sea trials and testing Hrabri sailed from the UK to the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia, arriving in April 1928. The submarine was armed with six bow-mounted 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, two 102 mm (4 in) deck guns, one QF 2-pounder L/39 anti-aircraft gun and two machine guns. Its maximum diving depth was restricted to 55 metres (180 ft) by Yugoslav naval regulations.
The Pluviôse-class submarines were a group of 18 submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Before World War I, two were accidentally lost, but one of these was salvaged and put back into service. Four others were lost during the war and the survivors were stricken in 1919.
Mališan was a CB-class midget submarine that served in the Yugoslav Navy from 1953 to 1957. Laid down in 1943 by the Caproni company in Milan as CB-20, she was ordered by the Italian Regia Marina during World War II for harbour defence and anti-submarine warfare tasks, but she was incomplete at the time of the Italian surrender in September 1943.
The French submarine Mariotte was a submarine built for the French Navy prior to World War I. Intended to accompany the fleet, she was designed for high speed on the surface. Although the navy was unsatisfied with her performance on the surface, the boat had a higher underwater speed than any French submarine before or during the following 35 years. Mariotte was plagued with engine problems during her construction and the navy spent years fixing the various issues before finally commissioning her five years after beginning construction. During the war, she participated in the Dardanelles Campaign, but had to be scuttled after she became entangled in the cables of a minefield on her first attempt to penetrate the Dardanelles.
The Circé-class submarines consisted of a pair of submarines built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. One boat was sunk in a collision before the First World War and the other was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the last year of the war.
Amiral Bourgois was one of four experimental submarines ordered for the French Navy in 1906. Each boat was built to a different design and Amiral Bourgois was intended to test a novel powerplant. The experimental diesel engines took over six years to build and greatly delayed the boat's completion until 1913. Although engine problems plagued the submarine throughout her service, she was commissioned shortly after the start of the First World War in 1914, but never made an operational patrol. Amiral Bourgois was under repair when the war ended in 1918, but the work was cancelled shortly afterwards. The boat was struck the following year and offered for sale in 1920. There were no offers and she was used for torpedo testing in 1924–1926. The submarine was sold for scrap in 1927.
Charles Brun was one of four experimental submarines ordered for the French Navy in 1906. Each boat was built to a different design and Charles Brun was intended to test a novel powerplant. Although the shore-based prototype installation was successful, it was a failure when evaluated aboard the submarine, and the boat was never commissioned for active service. Her hull was stripped of its equipment and was used to test a floating drydock in 1914. During the First World War, the hull was ordered to be converted into a water tank in 1916, but it is not certain if this was actually done before it was sold for scrap in 1920.
Delfín is a diesel-electric submarine of the Daphné class that was used by the Spanish Navy between 1973 and 2003. During the submarine's 30 years of service, the vessel participated in various national and international exercises and maneuvers, made more than 2,500 voyages, more than 30,000 hours of immersion and served in this submarine more than a thousand sailors. At the time of her retirement, she was the longest-serving submarine in the history of the Spanish Submarine Fleet.
Aigrette was the lead boat of the Aigrette-class submarines built for the French Navy between 1902 and 1905. Laid down in May 1902, she was launched in February 1904 and commissioned in 1908. She was essentially an experimental submarine, and although in service during World War I, saw no action. The class was designed by Maxime Laubeuf and used Drzewiecki drop collar launchers and external cradles to launch torpedoes.
The French submarine Y was an experimental submarine built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was launched in 1905, but was only commissioned for her sea trials and remained in experimental status because her diesel engine could not be used underwater. A planned refit, which included adding an electric motor and batteries for underwater use in 1907 was cancelled as too expensive. Y was stricken from the navy list in 1909, but was retained for experimental purposes until 1911 when she was sold for scrap.
Jalea was one of seven Argonauta-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the early 1930s. She played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists.