[PSUBS-MAILIST] Leary's Turtle "replica"

[CWall@swri.edu]

Leary made a complete hash of it, in my opinion.  I doubt very strongly that
his hull shape is accurate, and the propellors are laughable, and would have
been in the 18th century.

I feel he has, in essence, defamed Bushnell, and I strongly suspect the Turtle
was a far better sub than his gonzo version proved to be. 

Of course, nearly every version I have seen illustrated contains ridiculous
interpretations of the historical text- Bushnell was making a *weapon*, and
some of the excresences I've seen depicted would have no better purpose than to
 snag on obstructions and kill the operator.

Don't forget- this sub never killed or injured it's operators in the hundreds
of hours of operation and the two wars it was used in.   You could do worse
than to research and experiment with this design, provided you have the
intelligence of an engineer from the late 1700's.

Most people don't, however. 

Craig Wall