FAU Libraries Exhibits Submarine History May-July 2001

"In Little Boxes Made of Tin": Submarine History

Submarines and their history have taken over the display cases on the Library's 2nd Floor, West Wing, from May through July, 2001. The exhibit tells the fascinating story of underwater craft starting with the legend of Alexander the Great, and moving through the centuries to the designs of the modern atomic submarines.

In 1775, the first submarine to make an actual attack on an enemy warship failed not once but several times to damage or sink its opponent. It was not until 1864 when the CSS H.L. Hunley attacked the sloop Housatonic, that a submarine sank a ship. By 1900 submarines had developed into what Rear Admiral Charles O'Neil said were "ingenious, contrived craft of an eccentric character which mark a step in the development of an interesting science but nothing more." World War I proved differently. The German U-boats set a new standard in warfare as merchant shipping was sunk without warning.

"They bear, in place of classic names,
Letters and numbers on their skin.
They play their grisly blindfold games
In little boxes made of tin."
(Rudyard Kipling, "The Trade" 1916)

In 1954, the Nautilus, "underway on nuclear power" brought the submarine into the modern age. Most recently, the submarine has taken on the task of espionage.

While the prophecies of Robert Fulton and Jules Verne were not fulfilled — submarines have not caused navies to disappear nor wars to cease — submarines have greatly influenced the conduct of wars and may have acted as a deterrent to major holocausts. The submarine's interesting story is presented in greater and more graphic detail on these Websites:

• Official Website of the Hunley Submarine
  
• Submarine: History from the Office of Naval Research
  
• 400 Years of Subs by Brayton Harris .