Who Knew? The Submarine Was Invented by Spain!

Who knew?

The invention of the submarine is an important chapter in history, and Spain had a major influence on it. In the mid-1800s, a Spanish inventor named Narcís Monturiol created one of the first successful submarines. He built a submarine called the Ictíneo in 1859, which was designed to travel underwater. Monturiol was interested in using his submarine for underwater exploration and research, rather than just military purposes. This was a big deal because it showed submarines could be useful for more than just war.

The First Submarine: The Ictineo

The Ictíneo was an incredible innovation for its time. Powered by a steam engine, it could dive down to 30 meters underwater, which was quite deep in the 19th century. What set it apart was that it wasn’t just a boat that could submerge and surface. Monturiol’s submarine was designed to stay underwater for longer periods, which was something no one had really done before. His invention proved that submarines could be more than just experimental machines—they could be used for real underwater exploration.

The Ictineo was 23 feet in length. Comparing it to the world’s largest contemporary sub, the K-329 Belgorod from Russia, at 604 feet in length, one can see how much the technology has changed over the years.

Although Monturiol faced a lot of challenges, like getting enough money and convincing people that his submarine would actually work, the Ictíneo was successful in its test runs. Though it wasn’t widely used, it inspired future designs and helped push the idea that submarines could serve many different purposes, from exploration to warfare. Monturiol’s submarine helped shape the future of underwater technology, leaving a legacy that continues to influence submarine development today.