Drebbel's submarine: Radical 1620 invention the Royal Navy dismissed as a novelty
The British Navy did not see the military value in Drebbel's invention, instead dismissing it as more of a spectacle than a weapon. In 1620, Dutch inventor Cornelis Drebbel built the world's first operational, navigable submarine while working under the patronage of King James I in London.
In 1620, Dutch inventor Cornelis Drebbel constructed the world's first functional submarine while working for King James I in London. The submarine was essentially a wooden rowboat encased in greased leather to maintain its watertight seal, featuring oars extended through its sides to enable it to submerge and travel beneath the River Thames.
This vessel was capable of remaining submerged for up to three hours, thanks to Drebbel's use of chemical reactions to replenish the air supply. It reportedly had the capacity to carry up to 16 passengers and was rumored to have been boarded by King James I himself. While this invention was a remarkable engineering feat for its time, the British Navy of the era did not recognize the potential military applications and instead viewed it as a novelty.
Despite fading into obscurity, Drebbel's radical technological foresight laid the groundwork for centuries of submarine advancements.
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