Intelligent Whale

Scovel S. Meriam
Oliver Halstead


Intelligent Whale at US Navy Museum

US Navy Photo


Sketch of Inteligent Whale from Scientific American

Scientific American Supplement, June 1899


Length 28 feet 8 inches
Beam 7 feet 0 inches
Displacement 13 tons

The Intelligent Whale was purchased by the U.S. navy in 1869. She was propelled by hand and had wooden doors on the bottom which allowed a diver to exit and attach a mine to a ship. Pressurized air was used to empty the ballast tanks. During an official navy test in 1872, the Intelligent Whale flooded. The crew escaped, but testing ended.


Ó2000, 2001, 2002 Gary McCue


Gary W. McCue
gwmccue@ct.metrocast.net
http://www.geocities.com/gwmccue

1