The Boys' Book of Submarines

In Short

Written in 1917, this volume serves as a technical manual and historical overview of the submarine at the height of its development during the Great War. It blends clear, practical instructions for building a model submarine with a broader analysis of how actual undersea craft operate, navigate, and strike. By explaining complex systems like the Diesel engine, periscopes, and torpedo mechanics, the book provides a snapshot of naval technology during a period when the submarine emerged as the most formidable weapon on the high seas.

The Story

The narrative begins by framing the submarine as a "piratical craft" that has transformed naval warfare. It traces the lineage of undersea vessels back to early inventions, such as David Bushnell’s American-built submarine during the Revolutionary War, to illustrate that the fundamental principles of buoyancy and ballast control remain consistent. From these humble, hand-cranked origins, the text moves to the modern technological marvels of 1917, detailing the complex internal structures—including watertight compartments, high-pressure air-flasks, and sophisticated ballast pump systems—that allow these boats to submerge and rise at will.

The middle sections shift from historical context to practical application, offering a detailed, step-by-step tutorial on constructing a working model submarine. This segment provides a hands-on education in engineering, guiding the reader through the creation of a hull from tin and wood, the installation of a motor, and the implementation of a functional propeller-shaft. This model-building serves as a microcosm of the real thing, demonstrating how compressed air and electric power define the capabilities of full-scale vessels.

As the scope widens, the text examines the specialized equipment that defines the submarine’s lethal edge. It provides an exhaustive explanation of the "eye, tongue, and ear" of the craft: the periscope, the wireless telegraph, and acoustic systems for detecting propellers. These technical explanations lead naturally into a discussion of strategy, detailing how submarines coordinate with surface fleets, conduct blockades, and launch torpedoes. The author also profiles the Deutschland, a merchant submarine that successfully traveled from Germany to Baltimore, to showcase the logistical possibilities of long-distance undersea travel.

The story concludes with an analysis of the evolving nature of maritime warfare. As submarines began to dominate the seas, countermeasures emerged, including the use of nets, decoys, and, most notably, aircraft. The final chapters highlight the shift in the submarine’s role from a defensive coastal patrol craft to an offensive weapon, leaving the reader with a sobering perspective on the "ruthless warfare" that characterized the era. By stripping away the mystery of the submarine, the author presents it not as a magical object of fear, but as a complex machine that is ultimately governed by the laws of physics and the ingenuity of its operators.

How It Unfolds

The rise of the undersea craft The narrative introduces the submarine as the decisive weapon of the Great War, tracing its evolution from early, primitive designs to the sophisticated vessels currently patrolling the Atlantic. It emphasizes the ingenuity of American inventors in developing the essential ballast tank systems that remain the standard for all modern undersea boats.

Engineering the model The focus shifts to an instructional phase, where the reader is taught the precise methods for building a functional model. By following these steps—from shaping the hull to installing the stuffing box and motor—the reader gains an intimate understanding of the stresses and forces a submarine must endure.

The anatomy of a weapon Detailed chapters break down the internal components of a military submarine, including the Diesel engine and high-pressure air compressors. These technical descriptions explain how the crew manages the immense water pressure of the deep while keeping the vessel buoyant and seaworthy.

Strategic operations The final section explores the tactical application of the submarine, covering everything from torpedo launches to the deployment of contact mines. It concludes by discussing the emergence of anti-submarine tactics, such as the use of aircraft and destroyers, which altered the balance of power at sea.

The People

While the book is primarily technical, it highlights the figures who shape the story of the submarine. David Bushnell appears as the foundational innovator whose work on the first war-submarine set the standard for future generations. Captain Koenig, commander of the Deutschland, is presented as a figure worthy of admiration for his technical skill and steady hand in navigating a merchant vessel through hostile waters. The crew members themselves are characterized as disciplined professionals who must remain at a "highest pitch" of alertness, living in a confined environment where the safety of the entire boat depends on individual precision. These figures represent a new breed of sailor—one who is as much an engineer and technician as a navigator—tasked with mastering the complexities of a machine that is, as the author notes, "almost human" in its ability to see, hear, and signal.

In Its Own Voice

Of all the mighty monsters that ever sailed the seven seas this piratical craft is by long odds the most daring as well as the most dangerous to both life and property.

The author introduces the submarine as the most significant and formidable vessel in modern naval history.

The skin, as the sheets or plates which form the hull are called, is made of sheet tin, and to cut the tin you should have a pair of tinner’s shears.

The author provides practical, straightforward advice for the reader attempting to build the model described in the book.

A story of a running fight between an airplane and a submarine would have put it in Col. Roosevelt’s Ananias Club a few years ago, but to-day it has all come to pass.

The author notes how rapidly the technological landscape of the First World War rendered the impossible, such as aerial combat against submarines, a reality.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the supremacy of human ingenuity and applied science in the face of conflict. It posits that the submarine is not a mysterious or evil force, but a machine that can be understood, dismantled, and built by any boy with the right tools and patience. By demystifying the technology—from the physics of buoyancy to the mechanics of the Diesel engine—the author attempts to transform the reader from a passive bystander of the war into a knowledgeable participant. Underlying the technical instruction is the question of how quickly technology can reshape the world, a theme highlighted by the constant interplay between the development of new weapons and the inevitable creation of equally advanced countermeasures.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in maritime history or the history of technology will find this book an invaluable primary source from 1917. It captures the specific technological optimism and anxiety of the First World War, reflecting the era's fascination with machines and the industrialization of combat. While the technical instructions for building a tin model may seem quaint, they offer a clear, tactile bridge to understanding the mechanics of early twentieth-century engineering.

Modern readers should be prepared for the book's period-specific perspectives; it is a product of its time, written during the heat of a global conflict, and reflects the patriotic fervor and the specific geopolitical concerns of the United States in 1917. The prose is utilitarian and direct, lacking the polished, overly simplified tone often found in modern children's literature. Reading it feels like looking through an old manual—it is dense with diagrams, technical terms, and a sense of urgent, practical purpose. It remains a fascinating artifact for anyone who wants to see how the "miracles" of undersea technology were explained to a generation growing up in the shadow of the first truly modern global war.