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The USS Alligator, built in 1862, was the United States Navy’s first submarine and represented a significant innovation in naval technology during the Civil War. Designed by French engineer Brutus de Villeroi, the submarine measured about 47 feet in length and was constructed from iron, giving it a robust and watertight hull. Initially propelled by a series of hand-cranked paddles operated by the crew, the propulsion system was later upgraded to a screw propeller, although it remained manually powered. The vessel was equipped with air-purifying mechanisms, allowing it to stay submerged longer than most early submarines. Its primary armament was a “torpedo” (essentially a mine) that could be deployed against enemy ships. The Alligator also featured an innovative lock-out chamber, enabling divers to exit and perform underwater sabotage tasks, a novel concept for its time.
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