Ictineo I
was a pioneering submarine constructed in Barcelona, Spain in 1858–1859
by engineer Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol. It was 7 m (23 ft) long with a
beam of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and draft of 3.5 m (11 ft). Her intended use
was to enable the harvest of coral. It is likely she was inspired by the
prototype Brandtaucher of Wilhelm Bauer, completed in 1851, as
Monturiol studied all the available science of submersibles. Ictineo’s prow was equipped with a set of tools suited to the harvest of coral. Monturiol had already named his vessel Ictineo, from the ancient Greek icthus (fish) and naus
(boat). The vessel had a double hull – a spherical inner shell that
resisted the water pressure, and an outer fish-like shell that protected
the submarine and was used for steerage and hydrodynamics. It was 7 m (23 ft) long with a beam of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) and draft of 3.5 m (11 ft). sourceThe
pressure hull was constructed from olive wood, supported with oak
rings, and covered in 2 mm of copper, and measured 4 metres (13 ft)
long, 2 metres (6.6 ft) at its highest, and 1 metre (3.3 ft) wide.
Monturiol calculated that it should be able to maintain its integrity to
a depth of 500 metres (1,600 ft), although he only rated it to 50
metres (160 ft) for the sake of safety. The outer streamlined hull was 7
metres (23 ft) long, 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high, and displaced 10 tonnes.
Several thick glass ports were installed on the sides, top, and bow of
the Ictineo; these were semi-conical in shape so that water
pressure would tend to force them more firmly into their seats and so
avoid leaks.
