The model of David Bushnell's submarine was one of the better ones I've seen, and it avoided many of the errors which they commonly have*. The propellers were correct, the crank/pedal operation, and so on. And it was great that they had it in the show. I've been waiting and hoping for it ever since I first saw the animation of it in the titles. But then I was very disappointed in the really wasteful use of a great model, and opportunity, in the show.
(Spoilers Below):
Of course the Turtle was never used, nor would it ever be wasted, to bring one person into Manhattan. There were a million other ways to sneak into New York, hard as it must have been. To use the Turtle, which was built with great cost, risk and difficulty, and specifically meant to attack an enemy ship, and which was difficult to use... and far slower than shown, would make no sense.
And I worry that the producers were going for a laugh, and that is even worse. The Caleb character is often used that way, and the show often mocks the cutting edge inventions and technologies of the time. And in my experience as a Turtle researcher, the very idea of a Revolutionary War Submarine (and the name, and look, maybe) have cause people to laugh. Just stand by the model in the Nautilus or Essex museum and listen to the tourists... they often laugh at the thing. This might be somewhat understandable to the initiated, but it is an effect that should have been addressed, and not encouraged, on the small screen.
It should not have been treated that way. The genius used to build this blended together many unique inventions and theories: The understanding of the effectiveness of underwater charges; the depth meter; the snorkel; the modern propeller; adjustable water ballast with associated valves and pumps; clockwork timed explosive detonation; sealed shafts; and more...
... and then the show throws this away for a chuckle at the dock scene? With a really ludicrous "4... 3... 2... 1..."? Not only totally historically incorrect event, but a physically and technically ridiculous one. And so then, millions people, who could have been introduced to this fantastic instrument, were left with the impression it was a silly exercise at best, and a nutty joke at worst. In fact, nice model or not, it would have been far better if they left it alone entirely. The submarine... and the memories of the amazing men who built it, and used it... and even, believed in it (Washington, Gates, Franklin, etc...), were done a great disservice here.
* Wrong:
(Spoilers Below):
Of course the Turtle was never used, nor would it ever be wasted, to bring one person into Manhattan. There were a million other ways to sneak into New York, hard as it must have been. To use the Turtle, which was built with great cost, risk and difficulty, and specifically meant to attack an enemy ship, and which was difficult to use... and far slower than shown, would make no sense.
And I worry that the producers were going for a laugh, and that is even worse. The Caleb character is often used that way, and the show often mocks the cutting edge inventions and technologies of the time. And in my experience as a Turtle researcher, the very idea of a Revolutionary War Submarine (and the name, and look, maybe) have cause people to laugh. Just stand by the model in the Nautilus or Essex museum and listen to the tourists... they often laugh at the thing. This might be somewhat understandable to the initiated, but it is an effect that should have been addressed, and not encouraged, on the small screen.
It should not have been treated that way. The genius used to build this blended together many unique inventions and theories: The understanding of the effectiveness of underwater charges; the depth meter; the snorkel; the modern propeller; adjustable water ballast with associated valves and pumps; clockwork timed explosive detonation; sealed shafts; and more...
... and then the show throws this away for a chuckle at the dock scene? With a really ludicrous "4... 3... 2... 1..."? Not only totally historically incorrect event, but a physically and technically ridiculous one. And so then, millions people, who could have been introduced to this fantastic instrument, were left with the impression it was a silly exercise at best, and a nutty joke at worst. In fact, nice model or not, it would have been far better if they left it alone entirely. The submarine... and the memories of the amazing men who built it, and used it... and even, believed in it (Washington, Gates, Franklin, etc...), were done a great disservice here.
* Wrong:
- The clockwork was NOT started by a cord, but by the unscrewing of the attachment screw - The bomb was a hollowed out log, not a barrel as shown - The ports were not that big... they were very tiny, only about 1 1/2" across - And more...
