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The Resurgam, the
world's second mechanically propelled submarine, was designed and
patented by a Manchester clergyman called Reverend George William
Garrett. The submarine was built in 1879 by Cochran & Co in
Birkenhead, at the time she cost £1500.
The Resurgam was fabricated using
iron plates fastened over iron stringers and frames with the central
section clad with wood retained by iron straps. She was powered by a
closed system steam engine patented by Eugene Lamm in 1872, this
provided steam to turn the single screw for up to four hours.
Resurgam was designed to be positively buoyant so diving was
controlled by two hydroplanes amidships. When built the
Resurgam was 45’ long and 10’ diameter, weighed 30 tons and had
a crew of three.
After successfully completing
trials in the East Float at Wallasey, the Resurgam was to make her
way under her own steam from Birkenhead to Portsmouth for a
demonstration to the Royal Navy.
During the voyage, technical
problems forced the crew to dock at Rhyl for repairs. Once the
repairs were complete the crew set sail at night in a gale, towed by
steam yacht. The yacht developed engine trouble so the crew of the
Resurgam transferred to the towing vessel to deal with the
mechanical problems. The conning tower hatch on the now unmanned
submarine could not be closed from the outside so the Resurgam took
on water. The towrope broke under the additional strain and on
February 25th 1880 the Resurgam was lost somewhere off Rhyl. |
The hull underwater showing damage to the fin |
