The first submarine sailed the Thames in 1620
In 1620, Dutch inventor Cornelius Drebbel amazed King James I by demonstrating the world's first navigable submarine, a leather-clad vessel that journeyed beneath the River Thames.
In 1620, Dutch inventor Cornelius Drebbel launched what many consider the world's first navigable submarine on London's River Thames. This innovative vessel, built for King James I, featured a wooden frame covered in greased leather and was propelled by oars. It could carry up to 16 people and stay submerged for several hours at depths of 12-15 feet.
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