TheDesignofJulesVernesSubmarineNautilus

StuartWier

Boulder,Colorado

March9,2015

Copyright2011,2013,2014,2015StuartK.Wier

Reproduction, retransmission, reuse, or redistribution prohibited without prior written consent of the author. Individuals are welcome to print one copy for their own personal use.

Abstract

JulesVerne'ssubmarine Nautilus, from hisnovel TwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas, was described byVerne inways bothdetailedandconsistent. Verne clearly hadaparticulardesigninmind,withexactlyspecifieddimensions, externalshape,andinternalcompartments. Usingdimensionsgiventhroughoutthenovel, supportedbythe original illustrations, Verne's design can be drawn as plans, unambiguously, with no significant unresolvedquestions.Hissubmarinedescriptionisdetailedenoughtopermitjudgmentstobepassedaboutthedesign'ssuitabilityforarealship. Thesubmarinecouldbebuiltashedescribedunderthelimitationthatthebatteriesandenginehedescribeddidnotyetexist. Verne'sdesignincorporatesimportantfeaturesusedbyactualsubmarinebuildersofhisday,aswellassomeofthenewestdevelopmentsinnavalarchitectureofhistime.

Theclosefitofthe Nautilus'shullshape to itsinteriorlayout,andhowallthecompartmentsfittogether, stronglysuggeststhatVernecreatedactualdrawingstoguidehisthinkinganddescriptions. Itisunlikelythatthevariousnumerical dimensionsof the Nautilus, internal andexternal, carefullygivenbyVerne,would happento agree bychanceifhiscreationweresimplyamentalconcept,orentirelyverbal,writtenwithnoreferencetoascaleddrawingsortomeasurements.Verne'ssubmarineNautilusismuchmorethanafantasyofanovelist'simagination.

Aplan(horizontalcrosssection)andelevationsofVerne'sdesignarepresented.Thehull,70meterslong,ispurelycylindricalthroughoutmuchofitslength,withacircularcrosssectionof8meters. Thebowandsternaresimplecones,thencetaperingintothecylinder.Aplatformordeckontoponly0.8metersabovethewaterlinefeaturesapilothouse,arecessfortheship'sboat,onehatchtotheinterior,andastronglightforunderwaterilluminationonapedestalabout1.5metershigh.Thereisasinglepropelleroffourbladesand6meterdiameter,andaruddermountedonasternpost.Thereisonepairofdivingplanes,mountedatmidsectionofthehull. Mostofthemajorinteriorcompartmentsaredescribedindetailwiththeirdimensionsandfurnishings. Thesalonhasalargeovalportonbothsidesofthehullforunderwaterviewing.Anairlockwithadoorallowhelmetdiverstostepdirectlyontotheseafloor.

Introduction

In1867whenJulesVernewasbeginningtoplananovelaboutanunderseavoyage,heandhisbrotherPaultraveledtotheUnitedStatesonboardtheGreatEastern.TheGreatEasternwasanenormousvesselforitstime,213meters(698feet)longand23meters(75feet)wide,thelargestvesselafloat,anditincorporatedsomeofthenewestfeaturesofmarinearchitecture.Ithadadoubleironhull,sails,steamengines,paddlewheels, andapropeller7.3meters(24feet) in diameter. Verne showed and described his keen interest in the ship, and noted details of its design,construction,andoperation.Thinkingofavisionaryunderseavessel,hefoundhimselftravelingonthemostadvancedshipofhistime. IntheUnitedStatesVernesawothernewtechnology,suchasthelargeandfastHudsonRiversteamboats.Thiswasaperiodofdelightinrapidtechnicalprogress.

Forthepastcenturythesubmarinehasplayedanimportantroleinnavalaffairs,andinthepast50yearssubmersibleshavebecomevaluableinthescientificexplorationoftheoceans.Yetafictionalsubmarine,conceiveddecadesbeforerealsubmarinestookupseagoingduties,remainsacandidateforthemostrenowned:JulesVerne'sNautilus,fromhisnovelTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas.

JulesVerneisrightlyregardedasaprophetofmanyoftheinventionswhichcharacterizedtwentiethcenturylife.ThenovelsofJulesVerneareaswellknownfortheirtechnicalinnovationsasfortheirjourneysandexoticlocations.ThesubmarineNautilusanditsenigmaticcaptainNemoareamongVerne'smostfamouscreations.EvensomewhohavenotreadVerneknowthattheNautilusforeshadowedlargemodernsubmarines.

TheGreatEastern.

Verne's success in foreseeing the large size and seakeeping capabilities of actual submarines has long beenrecognized. Submarinedesigngradually approached,over decades, the fictional size, shape, andperformanceofVerne'sNautilus.Onlynear1960didsubmarinesbegintoequaltheperformanceofthefictionalNautilus,90yearsafter TwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas waspublished. LessappreciatedisthetechnicalmeritofVerne'ssubmarinedesign,aconceptsodetailedthatitcouldbeusedtobuildasubmarine,onewithfaultsbutnoworsethansubmarines madeby engineers of his day, and in many ways correctly indicating future developments. Joiningtechnologyofhisday,principlesofscience,andsomeassumptionsaboutwhatmightbepossibleinthefuturewithhiscreativity,Vernecamesurprisinglyclosetosomeaspectsofmodernsubmarines.

Inthelate1860swhenVernewroteTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas,muchofthetechnologywetakeforgrantedwasunknownorpoorlyknown. Electriclightswereexperimental,andbatteriesandelectricalmotorsweresmall,primitive,andinefficient.Therelationsbetweenvoltage,current,andpowerwerenotclear.Theveryconceptofenergyasameasurablequantitywaslittleunderstood.Fewpracticalelectricaldeviceswereinuse,yetVernesensedgreatpossibilitiesinelectricity.Hewasrightinforeseeinglargepowerfulelectricalmotors;hewaswronginhopingforlargebatteriessupplyingenormouspowerfordaysorweekswithoutrecharge.

Theoriginalillustrationsfromthe1871editionareausefulaidinsupportandinterpretationofVerne'swriting. Infacttheillustrationofthesubmarinefromtheoriginaledition,copiedonthetitlepageofthisreport,isacompletelycorrectindicationoftheshapeofthehull.ThoughtheillustrationsdonotalwaysconfirmVerne'sdescriptions,andinsomecasesare inconsistentevenamongthemselves, theyoftenverifyorelaboratedetails in thenovel. The twoillustrators, Edouard Riou and Alphonse Marie deNeuville, brought in by Verne's publisher Pierre Hetzel, wereobviouslyfamiliarwiththenovelanduseditasaguidefortheircreations.

AlltheseillustratorswerecollaboratorsandfriendsofJulesVerne.TheymettogetheratthesameParisiancafes; they discussed their projects and formed a team united, interdependent, and very enthusiastic.(A.Gernoux, LesAnnalesdeNantes,10April1955,quoted inEdmondoMarcucci, "LesIllustrationsdesVoyagesExtraordinairedeJulesVerne";Paris:BulletinSocieteJulesVerne1956,p.17.)

OneofdeNeuville'sillustrationsshowsNemolookingatplansoftheNautilus.DidVerne(orsomeoneheknew)drawplansofVerne'sconceptionoftheNautilus?Didhesharetheplanswithhisillustrators?Ibelieveso,giventheinternalconsistencyofthemeasurementshegivesoftheNautilus,howwellitallfitstogether.

ThisisnotanattempttodetailVerne'sprocessofcreationoftheNautilus,noranexhaustiveanalysisoftheNautilusasasubmarine. TheintentionistopresentacompleteplanwithallthedetailsandinteriorarrangementsofVerne'sNautilus,asdescribedinVerne'soriginalFrenchtext,aidedbytheillustrationsfromthe1871edition.Figure1showsmyplanfortheNautilus,whichisconsistentwithVerne'sdescriptionsandwhichattemptstoincludeallhisdetailsanddimensions,and also be inagreementwiththeoriginalillustrations sofarasispossible. Figures2through4arephotographsofa1:100scalemodelofthesamedesign.Figure5isanartisticimpressionoftheplaninFigure1.Thiswasmadebymodifyingamodernsubmarinepicturefoundonline(blogs.knoxnews.com/eder/2007/12/new_submarine_money_has_nuke_f.html,publishedin2007).Ihavenotbeenabletofindthecreator(ortheoriginalimage)ofthispicture.

ThisreportexpandsonanarticleIpreparedin1982.IhadlongbeeninterestedinVernessubmarine,andhadjustdiscoverednewtranslationsofhisnovelTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeaswhichincludedVernestechnicaldetails. TheprevioustranslationintoEnglishwassopoorthatVernessubmarinedescriptionwasgarbledbeyondcomprehension.Infact,eventhen,morethan110yearsafterthenovelappeared,therewaslittleornorealizationintheU.S.thatVerneactuallyhaddescribedavesselwhichcouldbedrawnonpaperandevaluatedintechnicalterms.

ReadinganewtranslationbyMendorT.Brunetti(SignetClassics,1969),andassistedbyWalterJamesMillersannotatededitionoftheoldtranslation(NewAmericanLibrary1976),IrealizedthenthatVernehadoutlinedatruedesignforasubmarine,andonewhichwas,inthetermsofhistime,aremarkablyplausibleprojectionofwhatmightbepossible.IreadthetranslationsandbegantorecreateVerne'splanfrominformationinthenovel,excitedtoseewhatVernedescribedindetail.FormyownunderstandingofVerne'stechnicaldetails,Iturnedtohiswords.Itookcaretotranslate Verne's descriptions as precisely as possible, in terms of their technical context, including nauticalterminology.

FindinginterestintheNautilusonlinein2011,Iexpandedmyoriginalreportfrom1982andmadeitavailableonmywebsite. Since2011IhavefoundthatenthusiastsofTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas independentlycreatedotherplansoftheNautilus.

Anearlyinvestigationsimilartomineisthatof JeanGagneux,ChiefEngineerontheFrenchnuclearsubmarineRedoutable,whomadeadetailedandcompletestudyofVerne'sNautilusin1980,beforemyoriginalwork,butwhichIhaveonlyrecentlydiscovered.Hisfindingsareclosetomine.

March9,2015

Boulder,Colorado

Figure2

Figure3

Figure4

Figure5.Artist'simpressionofthesubmarineNautilusofJulesVerne.Copyright(c)2015StuartKWier

TheEnormousIronCylinder:TheHulloftheNautilus

JulesVerne's Nautilusis an"enormouscylinderofsheetiron,l'normecylindredetle. Isisastreamlined,taperingateachend,andmostlyfreeofangularprotrusions.TheNautilus isquitealargeship,70meters(230feet)longand8meters(26.2feet)wide. Unlikemodernnavalsubmarinestheinteriorincludeslargeelegantroomsfurnishedwithfineart,museumqualityartifacts,furniture,andcarpets.

CaptainNemodescribesthe Nautilus asanelongatedcylinderwithconicalpoints, andsaysithasaformalmostlikeacigar.Notethediagramintheillustrationabove.Laterinthenovel,ProfessorAronnaxstatesthebowandsternoftheNautilusarefusiform,spindleshaped,andthehullcanjustlybecomparedtoalongcigar.Nemo'sinitialdescriptionmightapplytoacylinderofuniformdiameterwithtwoconicalendcaps. However,suchashapeisnotexactlyspindleshaped,orcigarlike.Nemoelaborates,sayingitslinesaresufficientlylonganditsstreamlinesprolongedenough,thatdisplacedwatermovesasideeasilyandopposesnoobstacletoitsprogress.Theillustrationsusuallyshowahullshapewithlonggradualcurves.

Canwereconcilethesestatements,thecylinderwithconicalends,andthestreamlinedspindle?Yes,anditiseasytodoso.Acentralcylindricalsectionofthehullwithuniformdiametercanbesmoothlyjoinedtotrueconesattheends. Thisisacylindertoconetransitionjunction.Thecurveofthehull there inalongitudinalcrosssectionisanarcofacircle,andacirclecanbefoundwhichistangenttoanycombinationofcentralcylinderandanendconeofanylength,withnobulgeorchangeinslopeateithercontact.Inotherwords,thehulloutlineis

smooth.AppendixAshowssomecombinationsofconicalendsectionsandcirculararcs,somevariouspossibledimensionsforthecylindertoconetransitionjunction,whichsmoothlyjointheconestoacentralcylinderof8metersdiameter.

Theoriginalillustrationsfrequentlyshowahullwithacurvedshapeforeandaft;nonehavepurelyconicalends,whichwouldappearwithaprofileoutlineshowingonlystraightlines.Howeverthereareillustrationsshowingthehullinprofilewithtwodifferentlengthsofthecurvedhullsections,atoddswitheachother:onehaslongtapersorsharperendsandtheotherhasmorebluntends,suchasthenextpicture,adetail fromanoriginalillustrationshowingtheNautiluspassingasinkingship.Theillustrationonthetitlepageofthisreportisthemorecigarlikeform.Eitheroftheseisconsistentwiththehulldescription,butnotalwayswithinteriordetails.

Myplanandmodelofthe Nautilus (Figures14)agreeswithallofVerne'smeasurements anddescriptions.Thishullshapeandsizeenclosestheinteriorcompartmentsofthe Nautilus describedbyVerne. ThehullinFigure1ispurelycylindricalinitscentral30meters(98.4feet)oflength,withadiameterof8meters(26.2feet).Thisistheminimumlengthofany8metercylinderwhichcancontaintheforwardendofthesaloninthedoublehull.Thesalonanddoublehullaredescribedindetailbelow.Anyshortercentrallypositioned8meterdiametercylindercannotfitthesaloninside.Sinceitiscircularincrosssectionthemaximumbeam(width)is8metersandthedistancefromthetopdecktothebottomofthehullis8meters.

Fivemeters(16.4feet)ateachendofthehull(Figure1)aretruecones,eachwithabasediameterof3.24meters(10.6feet).Joiningthecentralcylindertotheendconesaretwopartsofthehullwhicharecurvedinprofile,each15meterslong.Theouterhullcurveinacentrallongitudinalcrosssectionisacirculararcofradius48.5meters(159feet).Thisfigureisusedonlyindrafting;thatlengthisnotseenontheplans.

Thishullshapeisintermediatebetweenthemoststreamlinedhullsandtheblunthullsinthenovel'sillustrations.AhullwithalongercylindricalsectionwouldalsofitVerne'sinteriormeasurements,butanymorestreamlinedshapewillnot.NotethatthereisnoreasonatallthatVerne'shullshapewouldbeanythingotherthana regularcircularcylinderinmuch ofthelength, smoothlyjoining simpleconesattheends. There arenoswellings,bulges,ridges,polygonalshapes,protrudingrams,orsawedgedfins.Asmuchfunasthosemightappear,

Thefinishoftheoutsideofthehullalsohastwodescriptions,againsomewhatatoddswitheachother.WhenProfessorAronnaxfirstboardstheNautilusfloatingonthesurfacehesaysthehullwassmooth,polished,and

notimbricated,imbricatedmeaningshowingoverlappingedgesinaregularpattern.Healsosaysitseemedtobebuiltofboltedplates. Muchlaterhesays,thesesheetmetalplates,lightlyimbricated,resembledtheshellsoflargeterrestrialreptiles.Thenovel'soriginalillustratorsconsistentlyshowdelineatedandpossiblyoverlappingplateswithlinesofboltsorrivets,typicalofmetalhullconstructionofthetime.ItseemsVerneimaginedtheNautilushadahullofsmoothorpolishedmetalplates,butalsoshowingboltsorrivets,withlinesoroverlapsattheedgesoftheplates.ThisformofhullconstructionsurvivedtoWorldWarIandbeyond.

Thehullismadeoftwoshells,oneinsidetheother,connectedwithTirons. Nemocallsthisacellularconfigurationwhichhasextremerigiditysothatthehullresistspressurelikeasolidblock.IthadbettertheNautilusroutinelycruisesatdepthsofthousandsofmeters.Theshellsaremadeofsheetsteel,withadensityof7.8gramspercubiccentimeter.Theouterhullorshellisfivecentimetersthick(1.97inches).Thisissimilartothethicknessofthesteelpressurehullsofmanymodernsubmarines.Thekeelis50cm(20inches)highand25centimeters(10inches)thick.

Thereisnoindicationofthethicknessoftheinnershell,orofthewidthofthedoublehull.ButVerne'svoyageontheGreatEasternmayhaveformedhisideasinthismatter.TheGreatEasternliketheNautilushadadoublehull.ThedrawingaboveishalfofatransversesectionofthedoublehulloftheGreatEastern(fromScientificAmerican,Dec.27,1862),andwecanusethisdesignasaguidetowhatVernemighthaveregardedasagooddesignforthehulloftheNautilus.(Thechaininthedrawingisnotpartofthehull.)ThetotalthicknessoftheGreatEastern'sdoublehullwas0.86meters(2feet10inches).SincetheGreatEasternwasclosetothreetimeslargerthantheNautilusinlineardimensions,thesamehullstructurescaleddowntoathirdfortheNautiluswouldbeabout0.29meters(11inches)thick,aninitialestimateofwhatVernemayhavehadinmind.Verne'sNautilusalsohas watertight transversebulkheads for safety, another new ideahemayhavecopied fromthe GreatEastern.

Morerecentactualsubmarinesoftenhadorhavedoublehullsaswell.ButwhereasVerne'sdoublehullmadeuponepressureresistinghull,actualsubmarineshaveapressurehullontheinsidewhiletheouterhullisnotpressureresisting,allowingfull pressureseawaterinside,toprovidestreamliningandcoveringformachineryoutsidethepressurehullwhichcanbeexposedtoseawaterpressure. Modernouterhullsmaybeabout2cm

thick(1inch)andtheinnerpressurehullaboutabout5cmthick(2inches)basedonpublisheddatafortheRussiansubmarineKursk.TheKurskhada2meterseparationbetweentheouterandinnerhulls.

Themaximumdepthreachedbythe Nautilus inVerne'snovelis16,000meters(52,480feetorcloseto10miles),inPart2,Chapter11,subjectingthehulltoapressureof1600atmospheresor10metrictonspersquareinch(1.6metrictonspersquarecentimeter).Thisdepthfarexceedsthedepthcapabilityofanylargesubmarine,andexceedsthedeepestpartoftheocean,nowknowntobeabout10,900meters.

ThebowoftheNautilusisusedasaramtodamageorsinkships.Describingtheconstructionofthesubmarine,Nemomentionstheramasspecialforging,sayingitwasmadeinMotola,Sweden. IronandsteelforgingsarestillmadeinMotala.ItappearsthatVerneimaginedtheramasasinglesteelcastingseveralmeterslong,whichmadeupallorpartoftheforwardconicalsectionofthehull.Thereisnomentionofaprotrudingramorharpoon.

Intheearlypartofthenovel,AronnaxmentionsaCunardsteamship,the Scotia,whichcollidedaccidentallywiththeNautilus,sufferingaholelikeanisoscelestriangle2metersacross,asifmadebyacuttingmachine.Sothepointseemstobebecutortaperedtomakethreeedges,modifyingitsbasicconicalshape.IncidentiallytheScotiawasarealsteamshipofVerne'stime,whichcarriedTheodoreRooseveltandhisfamilytoEuropeinthesameyearinwhichitsupposedlywasstruckbythe Nautilus, but withoutencounteringsubmergedobstacles.SuchdetailsexemplifyhowVerneusedactualcircumstancesofhistimetoprovideabasisinreality.

Onemeasureofthesizeofasubmarineisitsdisplacement. Displacementofasubmarineismeasuredbythevolumeofwateritoccupies,typicallywhenfullysubmerged,orbytheweightofseawaterinthatvolume.Onecubicmeterofpurewaterweighsexactlyonemetricton,1000kilograms(2205pounds),andbychanceisalsoclosetooneEnglishlongton(2240pounds,20timestheantiqueweightunithundredweight). Sowhendealingwithpurewateracubicmeterofwater(avolume)isalsoonemetricton(aweight). Verneusesthisequivalence.

NemosaystheNautilusdisplaces1500.2cubicmeters,whichmeanswhenentirelysubmergeditdisplacesorweighs1500cubicmetersortons.Vernemadetwoerrorshere.Acubicmeteroffreshwaterweighsametricton,butacubicmeterofseawaterweighstypically1.025timesmore.TheNautilusisavesseloftheoceans,notoffreshwater.Only2.5percentmore,butthatissignificantifyoubuildasubmarine.Ifyoursubmarineisunderweightby2.5percent,itwillneversubmerge.

Amuchlargererroristhat,despiteVerne'susualprecision,hisstateddisplacementfortheNautilus issimplyimpossible.Thecentralcylindricalsection,8metersindiameterand30meterslong,asinFigure1,alonehasavolumeof1507.96cubicmeters,leavinglessthannothingfortheother40metersofthehulllength.ItisnotpossibleinnaywaytodesignahullwhichfitsVerne'snumerousothermeasurementsandalsohas1500.2cubicmetersvolume. ThedesigninFigure1,whichmatchesall ofVerne'sotherspecifications,hasasubmergeddisplacementverycloseto2500cubicmeters(inweightofseawater,about2562metrictons).Thesimilarityofthenumbers1500and2500suggeststhatVerne'suseof1500.2cubicmetersinplaceof2500wasasimplecaseofacopyingmistakesomewherealongtheline,withonenumeralinerror.

Thisisalargesubmarine. Verne's Nautilus istentimeslargerthananyrealsubmarinebefore1900. ThecommonGermanTypeVIICUboatofWWIIwas865tons.USfleetsubmarinesofWorldWarIIweremostlyabout2400tons.Modernfleetballisticmisslesubmarinesarefarlargerthan2500tons.

Surfaced,asubmarinedisplaces(weighs)less;waterpumpedoutofballasttanksisreplacedwithairandthelowerweightoftheentirevesselcausesittofloatandemergeabovetheseasurface.Thetopdeckofthefloating

Nautilusis0.8metersabovethewaterlevel,onetenthofthetopplatformtokeelseparationof8meters.Nemosays,Iwished,whensurfaceditwouldemergeonlyonetenth.Consequentlyintheseconditionsitmustdisplacenootherthanninetenthsofitsvolume...ThiswouldbetrueiftheNautiluswererectangularincrosssection,alongsquarebox,butbeingcircular,lessthanonetenthofthevolumeisoccupiedbythetoptenth(0.8m)ofthe8metercircularcrosssection. ThedesigninFigure1reducesthedisplacementby6.2percent,155cubicmetersoutof2500,whenthedeckis0.8metersabovethewater,includingthepilothouse,hullenlargementtoformthedeck,longboat,andsearchlight.

Theseerrorsaresimplemistakeswhichdonotalterthenovel'sessentialquality.TheyareatoddswithVerne'soccasionalpreoccupationswithmuchsmallertechnicaladjustments,suchasNemo'sdiscussionoftheeffectsofthecompressibilityofseawater,afarsmallereffectthandensityvariationsbetweenfreshandsaltwater,whichVernecompletelymissed.ButallthesetechnicaldetailsbyVerneshowhisdesiretobuildonreality.

ThereisaflatdeckorplatformontopoftheNautilus;theplatformlieseightycentimeters(31inches)abovetheleveloftheseawhenthesubmarineisfloatingonthesurface.ProfessorAronnaxsaysthehullitselfforms,initsupperpart, asortofhorizontalplatform. Severalillustrationsshowtherivetedplatesofthepressurehullformingtheflatsurface.Laterpracticalsubmarineshadupperdecksmadeofgratingsofmetalorwoodattachedtopressurehullsmaintainingcircularcrosssectionsthroughout.Aremovablerailingcanbeinstalledaroundthedeck.

AnExcellentCraft:TheNautilus'Longboat

Thereisalongboat,lightandunsinkable,forexcursionsandfishing.Theboatisstoredinthemiddleofthedeck,halfsunkinarecessintheship'shull,formingabulgeofsomekindabovethedeck.OnoneoccasionAronnaxsaidhewasseatedontheprotrusionmadebythehulloftheboat.Severaloftheoriginalillustrations(asnext)showabulgeonthehullwhichiseithertheboat,oracoverovertheboat.Theboatcanholdatleasttenpersons:sixoarsmen,oneatthetiller,andthreepassengersinthestern.Alengthmorethan5meters(16feet)iscalledfor.Despitethissize,Aronnaxsaystwomencanremovetheboatfromitsrecessandlaunchitinthesea.

Oneillustration(shownbelow)showsalargeboatsittinguprightbehindalargecoilofrope,anditappearstobeatypicalwoodenlapstrakeorclinkerbuiltboatofVerne'stime. Theentireillustrationappearstohavebeeninspiredbyfishermenonabeach,notbythe Nautilus. Nemodescribeshisboat ashavinguniquefeatures,nothinglikethoseofawoodenboat.Hisboatis

...entirelydeckedover,absolutelywatertight,andheldinplacebysolidbolts.ThisladderleadstoahatchinthehulloftheNautilus,whichcorrespondstosimilarhatchpiercedinthesideoftheboat.Thisdoubleopeningadmitsmetotheboat.SomeoneclosesthehatchoftheNautilus,andIclosetheotherintheboat,byforceofpressure.Ireleasetheboltsandtheboatriseswithtremendousspeedtothesurfaceofthesea.ThenIopenthepanelofthedeck,carefullycloseduntilthen,Istepthemast,Iraisesailortakemyoars,andgoonmyway.

Thisindicatesthattheboat'scompartmentdoesnothaveaseparatecoverifVernedescribedthesubmergedlaunchingoftheboatcompletely. Vernefailstosuggesthowaboatlargeenoughtoholdtenmen,coveredtohaveawatertightinterior,andstrongenoughtoresistthedepthsreachedbytheNautilus,canbelightenoughfor

two men to remove fromits position 'halfsunk' in arecess in thehull. Theboatof the Nautilus, and itsoperation as described, isfascinating, but scarcelypractical.

Alltheforwardpartofthesubmarine:InteriorLayoutandFurnishings

Thediningroom.

EntrytotheinterioroftheNautilusisbyastaircasefromthetopdeck,closedontopbyapanel,andendingbelownearthecenterofthesubmarine.Thisstaircouldbequitesteep,asisoftenthecaseonships,suchasthestairsshownintheillustrationoftheenginesoftheGreatEasterninthethefinalpartofthisreport,stairswhichVernehimselfmayhaveclimbed. Vernetermsthecentralstairaladderthreetimes;thesteepnessofsuchamarinestaireasilyexplainstheuseofthatword.FrenchlikeEnglishneedsaspecialwordforsteepmarinestairs.

The interior of the Nautilus includes several large ornamental compartments. Aronnax gives the exactdimensions.Goingforwardfromthecenteroftheshiptothebowthereisadiningroom5meters(16.4feet)square, thendouble doors leadingto a libraryof thesamesize. Forwardof the library is thegrandsalon,

rectangular, 10meters (32.8feet) long, 6 meters(19.7feet) wide, and5meters (16.4feet) high. Thesalonoccupiesthefullwidthofthehullbutthediningroomandlibrarydonot.

Thediningroomhastalloakensideboardsatbothsidesoftheroom,andsparklingontheirshelvesarerowsoffaence,porcelain,andglassofincalculablevalue.Silverplateddinnerserviceshinesunderraysoflightpouringfromfixturesintheceiling.

Thelibrary.

Thisillustrationdepictsthelibraryofthe Nautilus exactlyasVernedescribesit. Therearedarkbookcases,ornamentedwithcopper, liningthewalls, largedivansupholsteredinmaroonleather, andacentral table. Adoubledoorintheaftpartition,notshown,leadsthroughawatertightbulkheadintothediningroom.Anotherdoorforwardleadstothesalon.Thelight,movablereadingstandsorsupportsforbooksareaniceperiodtouch,asmentionedinthenovel.Thelibraryholds12,000volumes.Illuminationisbyfourfrostedelectrichalfglobesinvolutesoftheoverheadorceiling.

TheSalon

Thesalonissplendid.ItsfurnishingsaccountformorethanhalfthecostoftheNautilus.Thirtypaintingsbygreatmasterscoverthewalls, fromtheRenaissanceto19 thcenturyFrance, but noimpressionists, of course.Smallcopiesofmarbleandbronzestatuesfromantiquitystandincorners.Thereisanorganandmusicforit;theearliestcomposerisMozartandthemostrecentWagner. NemohasnoBachfuguestoperformontheorgan.Thereisatrainednaturalist'scollectionofwonderfulmarinespecimens,andafountain,ofallthings,whichfallsinto the shell of a tridacna clam some 6 meters (20 feet) around, or about 2 meters (6 feet) across, anextraordinaryshellinitsownright.

Thesalonhascutcorners,asshownintheillustrationabove.Aronnaxsaysdoorspierceeachcutcornerofthesalon.Indeedtherearefourdoorsineachcornerofthesalon:onefromthelibrary(aft),onefromNemo'scabinforward,oneleadingtoapassagegoingaft,andoneleadingtoashortpassagegoingforward,alongsideNemo'scabin,tothecabinusedbyAronnax.Theillustrationshowstwoofthosefourdoors,inthecutcorners.

ThesalonasillustratedlookslikethedrawingroomofaScottishbaronialresidenceoftheVictorianperiod,eventothetrophiesofarmsoneachsidewall.Theproportionsofthisdrawingarealittlewrong;thesaloniswiderthantall.

AWindowoftheNautilus

Despitewhatisineffectaworldclasscollectionofartandartifacts,themostmemorablefeatureofthesalonarethewindowswhichallowthepassengersoftheNautilustogazeuponthelivingmarvelsofthesea.Therearetwowindows,oneoneachsideofthesalon.Theoriginalillustratorsdepictedasalonwindowthreetimes,alwaysasanovalabout2metershighby3meterslong(about6by10feet).Vernedoesnotindicateanysize,andonlysaystheyareoblongopenings.Metalpanels,operatedbyunseenmachinery,cancoverthewindows.Oddlythefirstillustrationofthesalonshowsnowindowswhicharedramaticallyillustratedelsewhere.

ForwardofthesalonisNemo'scabin,5meters(16.4feet)foreandaft,andthenanelegantchamberusedbyAronnax2.5meters(8.2feet)foreandaft.Thewidthsarenotgiven.Nemo'scabinisseverelyplain.Forwardof

Aronnax'cabin,thehullextendsanother7.5meters(24.6feet)tothebow,thepointoftheram,includingareservoirofair.ThereisapassageconnectingAronnax'scabintothesalon,passingNemo'scabin,andanotherpassagefromthesalontothecentralstair,passingtoonesideofthelibraryanddiningroom.

Bigtroubleatthecentralstaircase,ontheupperdeck.

Goingaftfromthecenteroftheshipis"asortofwell"withaverticalladderleadingupintotheboat,thenthecentralstaircaseleadingtotheupperinteriordeckandfromtheretothetopdeck.Nextisacabin2meterslong(6.56feet)alongthetheaxisofthesubmarineoccupiedbyConseilandNedLand.Nearbyisthegalley,3meters(9.8feet)long,placedbetweenlargestorerooms.Thesecompartmentsallfitbestiflocatedonbothsidesofthecentral corridor, asshowninFigure1. Thegalleystovesareelectrical, andthere is anelectrical distillationapparatustomakepotablewater.Nearthegalleyisabathroomwithhotandcoldrunningwater.

AftofthegalleyAronnaxnotedwhathecalledthecrews'postorberth,5meters(16.4feet)long,butthedoorwasclosedandhecouldnotseeitsarrangement.Itseemsfeasiblethatthiscompartmentisthecrew'smess,beingnextto thegalleyandtoosmall for all thecrew'sberths. Acrossfromthegalley is thecompartmentwhereAronnax,ConseilandNedLandweredetainedwhenfirstboardingtheNautilus,20feet(Frenchpieds)longand10feetwide.Itsdoorisabout10meters(33feet)fromthediningroom.Aftofthiscabinistheoutfittingroomfordivers,withadozensetsofdivingsuits,andwithadoorfromtheoutfittingroomintoanairlockchamber.The

airlockhasadoorintheouterhull, adoorwhichVerneoncecallsa 'doubledoor.' Diverswalkoutofthesubmarineandstepontotheseafloor,ratherthandroppingthroughahatch.Perhapsevensidebyside.

Behindawatertightbulkhead,aftofthecrew'smess,thedivers'outfittingroom,andtheairlock,istheengineroom,asinglelargecompartment20meters(65.6feet)long.Theengineroomisdescribedinthenextsection.

Anoteaboutthelowerdeck'slevelinthehull: ifitisplaced1.5metersabovethebottomofthehull,asinFigure1,thereisenoughspacebelowformainballasttanks,andthecenterlineofthehullisalongthecenterlineofthesalon.ThesalonjustfitsinsidethehullinFigure1,butitmustbecenteredontheaxisofthehulltofit.Nemo'scabinmustberaisedafewsteps(about0.75meter)tofitinsidethehull,andtheforwardcabinneedstobeafewstepshigherstill(another0.75meter).

AsshownintheplaninFigure1,thereisconsiderablespaceinsidethehull,ineffectanupperinteriordeck,notdescribedbyVerne.IfhegaveanythoughttothisareaIhavenoidea.Itistheobviousplaceforcrewquarters.Thespaceavailableis18m(59feet)long,andmorethan5m(16.4feet)wideand2.5m(8.2feet)high. Thecrewisscarcelymentionedinthenovel,andalmostnothingissaidabouttheiraccommodationsoractivities.ThereisalsoanunstatedmysteryaboutwhereNemoliveswhenhedisappearsfordaysatatime,whilehisthreeguestshavefreeaccesstothelargeornatecompartmentsonthelowerdeck,andeventoNemo'scabin.AtleastthereisplentyofroomintheNautiluswherehemightbe.

Thedynamicpowerofmyenginesisnearlyinfinite:Power,Propulsion,andControl

DespiteapopularnotionthatVerne'sNautilushadsomesortoffuturisticpowersupply,suchasatomicpower,Vernebasedhistechnologyonwhatwasknowninhisday. Thepowersupplyischemicalbatteries. Vernerealizedthattheactualbatteriesofhisdaywerefarfromadequate,asbatteriesremaintoday,butsuggestedtheymightbegreatlyimproved. NemosaysheuseslargeandpowerfulBunsenbatteriesratherthanRuhmkorffbatterieswhicharelesspowerful. NemohasimprovedtheBunsenbatterybyusingelementsofasodiumzincamalgaminplaceofzincalone,whichNemoclaimsdoublestheelectromotiveforceofthebatteries(whatwecalltodaythevoltage).PerhapsVernewasunawareoftheexplosivepropertyofsodiumincontactwithwater.Nemoextractssodiumfromseawateronaremoteisland,wheretheprocessisfueledwithseacoal. ThenewsodiumwouldrechargeVerne'shypotheticalbatteries,whichseemtolastformonthsbetweencharges.

Theelectricity,generatedintheforwardpartoftheengineroom,powerslargeelectromagnetswhichsetinmotion a system of levers and gears which transmits movement to the propeller shaft. In Verne's daydevelopmentofbothbatteriesandelectricalmotorswasprimitive.Notuntillateinthe19 thcenturydiddesignofrotaryelectricalmotorsachievetheirpresentlevelofhighefficiency,duetotheeffortsofmathematicallytrainedengineerssuchasCharlesSteinmetzofGeneralElectric. Verneseemstohaveinmindareciprocatingengine,somethinglikeaclassicsteamshipenginewithverticalsteamcylinders,whereelectromagnetsfilltheroleofthecylinders.Atthattime,suchadesignseemedperfectlyplausible. Asitturnedout,rotaryelectricalmotorsaremuchbetter.

Thepropellerhasfourblades,adiameterof6meters(19.7feet),twometerslessthanthefulldiameterofthehull,andapitchof7.5meters(24.6feet).Thepropellerinthediagramshownbelowisthatofthe GreatEastern.ThatpropellerpresumablyrepresentsgooddesignpracticeatthetimeVernewrote.TheGreatEastern'spropellerweighed36tons;reducedto6metersdiameteritwouldweight20tons.Thetextofthenovelsaysthepropellercanmake120turnspersecond,whichmustbeatypingmistake. Thathighfigureisessentiallyimpossible;evenifyouhadthepowertoturnsuchanenormouspropellerthatfast,theresultwouldbecavitation,frothingthewaterintosteambubbles,andlittleforwardmotion.Vernesurelymeant120turnsperminute,stillthreetimestherotationrateoftheGreatEastern'spropeller.Atthisratethepropellerwouldgiveaspeedof,Iestimate,22to33

milesperhour,or19to29knots,aplausiblespeedforahighpoweredsubmergedsubmarine.TherearesomewhollyunworkablecharacteristicsofVerne'sNautilus,butthepropellerisaboutright.

PropelleroftheGreatEastern.Diameter7.3meters(24.6feet);weight36tons.

Thepictureatthetopofthissectionisasmalldetailfromoneoftheoriginalillustrations.Despitethesmallsizeandhavingsufferedtheindignitiesofbeingturnedintoanengraving,thisisacrudebuteffectiveimpressionoftheoutsideoftheNautilus,andtheonlyillustrationtoshowthelarge,fourbladedpropeller.Theillustrationreproducedonthetitlepageofthisreportalsoshowsahintofthepropeller,whichwasperhapsmoredistinctintheartist'soriginaldrawingbeforeitwasmadeintoanengravingforprinting.

Tosteer,theNautilushasanordinaryrudderwithalargebladefixedonthebackofthesternpost. Itiscontrolledintheusualway,withaship'swheelbyahelmsman,inapilothouse. Noneoftheillustrationsshow the rudder so there is no indication which ofseveralpossibleshapesandarrangementsVernemighthavehadinmind.Figure1showstwopossiblerudderarrangements.Onewiththerudderaftofthepropellerisliketherudderofthe GreatEastern, attachedtoasternpost,asshowninthephotographattheright.Inthisscenetherudderbladeandpropellerbladesarenotattached.Thehumanfiguresindicatethemassivesizeofthatship,butthepropeller,rudder,andopeningareonlysome22%largerthanthecorrespondingpartsofVerne's Nautilus. The French submarine Plongeur,which was launched shortly before Verne wroteTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, had thesamerudderdesign.IaminclinedtothinkVernehadsucharudderinmind,eventhoughit isnot exactlydescribed, or shown in the illustrations. This photostronglysuggeststhecharacter of thesternofoftheNautilus.

ThepilothouseisalittlelikethepilothousesofMississippiRiverandHudsonRiversteamboats,6feet(Frenchpieds)onaside,whichrisesabovethedeckofthe Nautilus. Portswithlensshapedglassinthefourwallspermitthehelmsmantoseeinalldirections.Thewindowsare21cm(8.3inches)thick.Threemen,atleast,canstandinthepilothouseatatime.Theoriginalillustrationsshowtheexteriorofthepilothousemanytimesandinmanysizes,somecomicallysmall,butthetextisclear. TheillustrationshownbelowisconsistentwithVerne'sdescription,exceptforitslackofaportholeintheside.WhenVernewasbeginningtothinkofthisnovelhevisitedNewYorkCityandtraveledonaHudsonRiversteamer. Hisexplicit useoftheAmericanterm'steamboats'isanothersignhewasconsciouslyusingideassuggestedbyAmericansteamboatsinhispilothouse.

ThePilothouse

Todive,Nemosayshecanmovethe Nautilus intheverticalwithinclinedplanesattachedatthecenterofflotation,whoseangleiscontrolledwithlevers.ApparentlyVernehadtheideathatthesubmarinewoulddescendorascendonanevenkeel,alongapathatananglesetbytheinclinedplanes.InadramaticsceneNemosetstheinclinedplanestovertical,andthesubmarinerises,onalevelkeel,atarateof1league(2.5miles)perminute,or150milesperhour,vertically.Onewonderswhathappenedonreachingthesurface.Vernehadsomeoddideasabouthydrostaticpressurewhichexplaintheextremeforceneededforsuchverticalspeed.Forexamplehesaysthepressureoftheseawouldobliteratefootprintsinthesoftseafloor.

Such a centrally located pair of diving planes appealed to submarine designers in Verne's day, but theyproducedlittleornocontrol.Someearlysubmarinessurprisedandalarmedtheircrewswithsuddenchangesinpitchanddepth,inonecasedivingsosuddenlythatthesubmarinewasstuckforatimeinthemudofthebottom.Thesolutionisdivingplanesnearthestern,andadditionallyanotherpairontheforwardpartofthehull. Thisarrangementallowspositivecontrolofpitch.Modernsubmarinesuseanangledownorupwhendivingorrising.

Alsoaidingdivingareballasttanksholding150tonsofwater(presumablyVernemeant150cubicmeters),placedinthelowerpartoftheNautilus.ThereisenoughspaceforthesetanksintheplanofFigure1,belowthelowerdeck.WhenthetanksarefilledtheNautilusattainsneutralbuoyancy.Asindicatedabove,thetankswouldactuallyneedtoholdabout155cubicmetersratherthan150forthedeckfreeboardof80cmwhensurfaced.TwoofVerne'serrorscanceledeachotherouttogivealmostexactlythecorrectsizeforthemainballasttanks.

The ballast tanks are emptied with powerful pumps, rather than the compressed air used in practicalsubmarines.Thepumpscanshootjetsofwater120feetintheair,whenthesubmarineissurfaced.Therearereservoirsofcompressedair,buttheyareusedonlyforemergencies,apparentlyforbreathingair.

ThereissomequestionaboutthetopspeedoftheNautilus.Cruisingsome2000milesduringaperiodofoneweek(Part1,Chapter18),theaveragespeedwasabout12milesperhour.OnceAronnaxsaysthespeedwasnotlessthan35milesperhour(Part1,Chapter23). Nemoclaimsatopspeedof50milesperhour. Thehighestspeedachievedinthenovelis40milesperhour(about64km/hour)whenthesubmarinewasfleeing,trappedunderAntarcticice,andthepassengersareonthepointofsuffocation.AllthesemilesaretheFrenchmille.

Tolighttheseaunderwater,thereisastronglightor'shipslantern'inanexteriorenclosureattheaftendofthetopdeck. TheenclosureistallenoughforNemotoresthiselbowsonitwhilehegazesonthesurfaceoftheocean(perhaps1.2mor47inches)andthesidesmustbeprettynearlyvertical,also.ThewindowsareFresnellenseswithannularrings,likewindowsinlighthouses. Fresnellensescanbecircular,square,orcylindrical,surroundingalight,soVernemayhavehadanyoftheseinmind. ThislightilluminatestheseaallaroundtheNautilussoitismoreafloodlightthanasearchlightwithanarrowbeam.Thelightsourceisanelectricalcarbonarcinavacuum,withgraphitepoints.TheexteriorlightorlanternoftheNautiluscombinesthebesttechnologyofVerne'sday.

Vernehadanidea,orahope,thatthedeepseawouldbeclearandtheNautiluswouldsailthoughatransparentmediumlikeanairshipthroughtheatmosphere.SeveraltimesthelightfromtheNautilusilluminatestheseaforhalfamileormore.ThefirsttimeAronnaxlooksoutthewindowsofthesalon,theseawasdistinctlyvisibleforamilearoundtheNautilus.Insuchaworldsonarwouldbeneeded,butastronglightwouldbenecessary.

BoththepilothouseandthelightenclosurecanbepusheddownintothehulloftheNautilus,byhand,leavingnothingshowingabovethehull.Thisrequiresthepilothousetobeaftofthesalon,orelseitwoulddropdownintothesalonwhenwithdrawn.

A dramatic illustration in period character showing part of the steam enginesdrivingthepaddlewheelsontheGreatEastern. Vernetraveledonthisship,andengineroomtourswereofferedtothepassengers,twoofwhomweseeinthispicture. Verne'sideafortheenginesoftheNautilusmayhavehavebeenreciprocatingliketheseengines,ratherthanrotary;hemayhavebeenstronglyimpressedbythesizeandpoweroftheseactualmarineengines.Notethestairs,whichalsocouldbetermedladders.SuchmarinestairwaysprobablywerewhatVernehadinmindforthecentralstairorladderofhisNautilus.Submarinersknowthehandrailsontheladdershouldextendnearlytothedeck,toaidfastdescentsbysliding.(LondonIllustratedNews,)

ThereisnooriginalillustrationinthenovelshowingtheenginesofVerne'sNautilus,buttheviewaboveofthesteamenginesoftheGreatEasternshowsthecharacterofenginesofthetime,andthesearemarineenginesinanengineroomwhichVernesawwhenhewasfirstplanningthenovel.

AnAssessmentofJulesVernesSubmarineNautilus

ForanovelistVernepresentstechnicalmattersinanunusuallydetailedmanner.Hewasnotanengineer,buthedidrecognizeseveralimportantfactorsofsubmarinedesign,combinedthelatestmarinetechnologyofhisdaywithprojectionsofplausiblefuturedevelopments,andconceivedanddescribedindetailasubmarinewhichwasremarkablyforesightful.Verneisnotcountedamongtheseriousnovelistsbythe litterateurs,butheisaleaderamongthoserareandremarkablepersonswhoforesawactualandhugelyimportanttransformationsintechnologyandsocietylongbeforetheyoccurred.

Theclosefitofthe Nautilus'shullshapewithitsinteriorlayout,andhowallthecompartmentsfittogetherconsistently,suggeststomethat Vernecreatedactualdrawingstoguidehisthinkinganddescriptions. It isunlikelythatthevariousnumericaldimensionsoftheNautilus,internalandexternal,carefullygivenbyVerne,wouldagreethiswayifhiscreationwereentirelyverbal,writtenwithnoreferencetoascaleddrawing.Verne'ssubmarineNautilusismuchmorethanafantasyofanovelist'simagination,andmorelikeapreliminarysketchofanactualdesign.

SometechnicalpointsmaybemadeaboutVernessubmarinein TwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas.Verne showed great foresight about how technology of his day signaled possibilities about the future; hissubmarinedescriptionisselfconsistentanddetailedenoughtopermitdrawingstobemadeandjudgmentstobepassedabout its designas if for apreliminarydesignforareal ship; andthedesignincorporates importantfeaturesusedbyactualsubmarinebuilders.

Thissectiondiscusseshisdesign,andhowtofixitsproblemswhileretainingasmuchofhisconceptaspossible.AsathoughtexperimentletusimproveVerne'sdesign,onstepatatime,inlightoflaterexperience,tocreateasubmarinewiththebestpossibleperformancewhilekeepingasmuchofhisNautilusaspossible.

FirstitisimportanttosaythatVerne's Nautilus iscarefullydetailedanditcouldbebuiltprettymuchashedescribedunderthelimitationthatthebatteriesandenginehedescribeddidnotyetexist.Ifweusedthebestmodern(powerful)electricalmotorandthebestmodern(butfairlylimited)batteries,theperformancewouldstillfallfarshortoftheperformancedescribedbyVerne.Thebatterieswouldprovidepoweronlyforafewhoursofoperationatlowspeeds.Verne'sproposedsodiumzincbatteryelementswouldhavetobedispensedwith,sincetheymightcausetoxicfumes,fire,orexplosionsthemomenttheycameincontactwiththebatteryfluid.

ThehullshapedescribedbyVerneandshownintheillustrationsisareasonableoneforsubmergedoperations.InfactVerne's Nautilus inshapeandsizeisperfectlyacceptable. DockVerne's Nautilus atasubmarinebasetodayanditwouldnotattractmuchnoticeorcomment,exceptforthelackofasailorconningtower.Perhapsanewexperimentalboatwitharetractablesail? Iamassumingthehullactuallyissmooth,withnooverlappingplatesorlinesofrivets.Thehullflattenedontopintoadeckisquiteordinary.Thesharplypointedbowisnotthebestdesignpracticenow,butthatwouldnotmakeavitaldifferenceinperformance.

Similarsubmarinehullswithcylindrical central sections, roundedbows, taperingsterns,andfewanglesorprotrusionsareinwidespreadusetoday,asintheUSLosAngelesclass.Thisshapeisfineforsubmergedrunningbutpooronthesurface.Surfaced,waveseasilypassoverthebow.Withafreeboardlessthanameter,Vernesdeckplatformwouldfrequentlybesweptbywavesexceptinthecalmestconditions,asinshelteredharbors.Underwaywithanywavesoratanyspeed,thelowpilothousewouldbesmotheredinwavesandfoam,renderingthewindowsoflittlevalueforthehelmsman. OpenhatchesforventilationwhichNemodescribeswouldshiptonsofwater. Theimageof the Nautilus surfacedandcruisingtheopenPacificOceanwithcrewmembers

strollingondeckiswhollyunrealistic.Thissameproblemplaguedearly19 thcenturysubmarineswithsimilarhullshapes, the solution being conning towers for all boats, and surfaceshiplike upper hull work for vesselsoperatingroutinelyonthesurface,thecasebeforeatomicpower.SincetheNautilususuallyoperatessubmerged,likemodernnuclearsubmarines,wecanretainVerne'shullform,andevenkeepthepilothouse.Ofcoursevisualsteeringwillhavelimitedusesubmergedaswellassurfaced,sopropernavigationandsonarinstrumentsarealsoneeded.

Thehullconstructionrequiresattention. TheenormousdepthcapabilityofVerne's Nautilus isimpossible,asfor for anymodern submarine this size. Themaximumdepth of Verne's proposedconstruction wouldbehundredsoffeet,notthousandsofmeters,andthehullmadeofrivetedplatesisaleakpronedesign.Butifweaccepta5cmthick(2inches)weldedsteelhullofthesameshape,muchlikemodernpressurehulls,amaximumdepthofperhaps300meters(1000feet)couldbepossible.Alternatively,theexteriorshapeoftheNautiluscouldberetainedwhileusinganinnerpressurehullwithalighterouterhull. Somehulldesignimprovementsarerequired,buttheyneednotbetoofarfromVerne'ssuggestedcellulardoublehull.

Verneprovidesforverticalcontrolwithonepairofdivingplanesatthecenterofflotation.Hisidea,sharedbybuildersofactualsubmarinesofhistime,seemstobethatincliningtheplanesslightlywouldcauseaneutrallybuoyantvesseltodiveorriseonanevenkeel.Infactdivingplanesatthecenterofflotationarebasicallyuseless.Manyfactorscancauseasubmarinetopitchupordown,andcentraldivingplanesareintheworstpositiontocountersuchmotions.Twopairsofdivingplanesarethecommonsolution,onenearthesternandtheotherpairforwardofcenter.Thelongmomentsofactionprovidedbytheseparationofthesecontrolsurfaceslaterallyfromthecenterofflotationallowpositivecontrolofpitch.Let'ssayweadddivingplanesatthestern,andkeepthepairofcentralplanes,ormovethoseforward,andlet'scombinesteeringanddivecontrolsintoasingleyokewithcomputercontrolled,hydraulicassistedactioninplaceofathelargeship'swheel,andyoucouldmaneuvertheNautilussomethinglikeanairplane.

Vernecallsforballasttanksofsome150cubicmeterscapacityinthelowerpartofthehull.Thereisnothingparticularlywronghere,butlargertanksarebetterandvariousauxiliaryandtrimtanksareneeded,also.Hisuseofpumpstoemptythetanksinsidethepressurehullcausesallkindsofproblems. Suchtanksandpumpswouldhavetobeaspressureresistantasthepressurehull,forexample.Itisbettertousecompressedairthanwaterpumps,andballasttanksoutsidethepressurehull.

BasedonVerne'sdescriptionoftheinternalfurnishings,thereisashortageofweighttocomeuptothe2500tondisplacement,andthecenterofmassseemstobeaftofcenter. Adesignproblemhere,butnotimpossibletocorrect.

ThelackofanadequatepowersupplyistheoutstandingdeficiencyofVerne'sdesign,asitwasforallsubmarinesuntilthecloseofthe19thcentury.Seekingtobasehissubmarineonknowntechnology,Vernesuggestedelectricalbatteriesforpower,admittedlybatteriesfarmorepowerfulthananyinhisday.Eventodaybatteriesareusedfor supplemental submarinepower, but forpropulsiontheyonly last hours, not theweeksandmonthsdesiredforVernes Nautilus. Onlyanuclearreactorcanprovidepowerforsubmarinestooperateformonths,freeoftheneedforairforengines,andfreeoftheneedforfrequentrefueling;onlyanuclearreactorcanprovidethehighpowernecessaryforVerne'sNautilustoachieveitsspeeds.

Thepowerrequiredtoattainthespeedsgivenforthe Nautiluscanbeestimatedfromperformanceofsimilarsubmarinesandbasicscalinglawssuchastheshafthorsepowerrequiredforagivenspeedbeingapproximatelyproportionaltothecubeofofthespeed.Iestimate,veryapproximately,theshafthorsepower(shp)forVerne's

Nautilusat3,300shpfor20knots,7,000shpfor25knots,12,000shpat30knots,16,500shpfor35knots,andmorethan27,000shpfor40knots,submergedspeeds.HowpowerfulareactorandenginecombinationcouldfitintheengineroominVerne'sNautilusismorethanIcansay,butperhapslessthan5,000or10,000horsepower.

Withsomemodifications,whichdonotrequirelargechangesin appearance,aworkableversionofVernesNautiluscouldbebuilttoday.Itwouldrequirenuclearpower,betterhullconstruction,changesindivingplanesandcontrols,andconsiderableattentiontoballastandothermatters. Amodernpropellerwouldincreasespeedandrange.Whetheritwouldhavealibraryof12,000volumes,oragrandsalonwithfineartbyoldmasters,isuptotheownertodecide.Itwouldcostafortunetobuildbuttheartandfurnishingsmightcostmore,asitdidinVerne'sday.

Verne'ssubmarinedesigniscenteredaroundthelargesalon,thelibrary,livingquarters,andthediningroom,withagenerousspacefortheengines.Modernnavalsubmarinesappeartobedesignedaroundthepowerplant,enginesandweapons,andtheyaresubjecttooperationalrequirementssuchasadraftsmallenoughtonavigateshallowpassages.Humanactivitiesaretuckedintospacesamongthemachinery.Verne'sNautilusisforhumansinvestigatingthesea,andmakingtheirhomeatsea.

Text,newsubmarinedesign(Fig.1),photos(Figs.24)andartworkCopyright2011,2013,2015StuartK.Wier.

Reproduction,reuse,orretransmissionprohibitedwithoutpriorwrittenpermissionfromtheauthor.

March9,2015.

AppendixA:Numericaldetails

UnitsofMeasure

InJulesVerne'sTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas,shortlengthsaremeasuredinmeters,themodernmeter(3.28feet).VernealsousestheFrenchpiedorfootwhoseexactvalueinmoderntermsIdonotknow,butitmaybecloseto,butdifferfrom,theEnglishfoot(0.305m).

Verne's league, lieue, is 4000kilometers long(2.5Englishstatute, land, miles): Nousavionsatteint uneprofondeurdeseizemillemtresquatrelieues....(Wehaveattainedadepthof16000metersfourleagues).Thetwentythousandleaguesof thetitle is80,000kilometersor50,000miles.That ishowfarthe Nautilustraveledduringthecourseofthenovel.

Speedsaregivenasmilleslheure,Frenchmilesperhour,notasyoumightexpectinkilometersperhour.Theunitkilometerdoesnotappear(tomeatleast)tobeusedevenonceinthenovel.Frenchmilles,miles,canrefereithertoFrenchstatutemilesortonauticalmiles,sospeedsinthenovelmaybeintendedtobeeitherFrenchmilesperhourornauticalmilesperhour.TheexactvalueoftheFrenchnonnauticalmillein1870isunknowntome.Thenauticalmileisuniversal,thesameforallseamen,beingonearcminuteoronesixtiethofthelengthofadegreeoflatitude,inotherwordsdeterminedbythesizeoftheEarth,andis1.83km.Anauticalmileperhour,orknot,is1.83kilometersperhouror1.15Englishmilesperhour.

Tonsinthisreportreferstothemetrictonortonne,theweightofacubicmeterofpurewater,1000kgor2204pounds,andpresumablyiswhatVernehadinmind.Thisisquiteclosetothelongton,of2240pounds,usedintheU.S.forshipdisplacements.

HullCrosssections

Asdescribedinthetextatrueconeateachendofthehullcanbesmoothlyjoinedtoacentralcylinder,bymeansofacurvingshape, thecylindertoconetransitionjunction.The curveonanalongaxisverticalcrosssectionismostsimplyacirculararc.Foranylengthofthepurelyconicalendsthehull,theradiusofacirculararccanbeexactlycalculatedtojoinitwiththecentercylindricalsectionofthehull.Thecalculationalsogivestherequiredbasediameterofthecone.Soforanygivenconelength,oranybowangle,youcancalculateauniqueconebasediameterandthearcradiustomergetheconewithanygivendiametercylinder.Hereareadiagram

andsomeexamplesofvaluesoftheparameters.(Thecaseofsimpleconicalendsonacylinder,withnocurvedtransitionregionatall,isalimitingcaseofthismethodofcalculation,wherethecurvedtransitionsectionhaszerolength.)

ThehullshapeshownintheplansofVerne'sNautiluspreparedforthisreport(Figure1)hasalengthofthetrueconicalendsof5meters(16.4feet),aconebasediameterof3.24meters(10.6feet),andthecentralcylindricalsectionofthehullis30meters(98.4feet)long.Theconnectingarc(cylindertoconetransitionjunction)hasaradiusof48.5m(159ft)inthiscase. Thisarcradiuswouldbeusedindraftingthehulldesign. Thetaperingpartsofthehullateachend,includingconeandjunction,are20meterslong(65.6feet).

Herearesomeexamplesof combinationsofconicalendsectionsandcirculararcsforthecylindertoconetransitionjunction,withacentralcylindricalsectionof8metersdiameter.

endconelengthhalfangleconebaseradiusjunctioncurveradiusendpointtocylinderlength(taper)

2.0m.0deg. m m m2.5m.0deg. m m m3.0m38.0deg.2.34m 7.81m 11.03m4.0m26.0deg.1.95m 20.25m 14.11m5.0m18.0deg.1.62m 48.53m 20.00m6.0m18.0deg.1.95m 41.89m 17.84m

7.0m20.0deg.2.55m 24.08m 12.97m

Toincludetheheightandwidthofthefowardendofthesaloninsidethehull,hullswithmorethan20meterslengthintheconeplustransitionjunctionaretoostreamlined.Sothetwoendcones'lengthsmustbenomorethan5meterseach.Thehullneednotbemorebluntthanthat,withconelengthslessthan5m

AppendixB:SubmarinesBuiltBeforeVernesNautilus

HereareviewsofactualsubmarinesbuiltbeforeVernewroteTwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSeas.ThesehavesomefeaturessimilartopartsofVerne'sNautilus,suchashullforms,rudders,propellers,andpilothouses.HowmuchVerneknewofanyofthese,orwasinfluencedbythem,isagoodtopicforanotherinvestigation.

RobertFulton'sNautilus(17931801),builtinFrance,wasaprovensuccessinseveraltrials.Withahelmsmanandtwocrewturningthepropelleritcoulddiveto7meters(23feet)andremainsubmergedformorethananhour.Length6.5meters(21.2feet),beam1.9meters(6.3feet).Towingamine,itcoulddestroyaconventionalwoodenshipwithoutbeingdetected.AFrenchgovernmentcommitteeproposedplansforalargerversion,butitdidnotearntheapprovaloftheFrenchnavydespitetheirongoingwarwithEngland.Perhapstheywererightlyworriedabouttheirownships,iftheEnglishcopiedtheidea.FultonthenmovedtoEngland,whereheprposedtheideatotheBritishnavy,andwasturneddownagain.ProbablytheBritishnavalofficerspreferredtowinthegenerousprizemoneyawardedforcapturedships,ratherthansinkthem.(19thcenturyillustration).

Artist'sconceptionofBrutusdeVilleroi'sAlligator,UnitedStates,1862,aboutwhichlittleisknown.Theactualvesseldidhavearudder,notshownhere.Lengthestimatedtobe30to46feet,anddiameterof5to8feet.ComparetoVerne'snovel'sillustrationoftheNautiluspassingasinkingship.(PhotofromNavSourceOnline:SubmarinePhotoArchive,http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08444.htm,accessedFeb3,2013)

NarcisMonturiolEstarriol'sIctineoI,Spain.(periodillustration)"Builtin1859,itwasthefirstsubmarineabletoroutinelydivetoadepthof20metersandnavigatethereunderthehandpowerofacrewofuptosixmen.Itsinventor,theidealisticvisionaryNarcsMonturiol,conceivedofitasa'newfish'hencethenameIctneo.MatthewStewart,inMonturiol'sDream:TheExtraordinaryStoryoftheSubmarineInventorWhoWantedtoSavetheWorld,Pantheon,2003.SeveralcloseparallelsVerne'sdesignfortheNautilusareclear.

ReplicaofNarcisMonturiolEstarriol'sIctineoII,18651867.Length14meters(46feet),beam2meters(6.5feet).(photobyFlemmingMahlerLarsen,fromWikipedia)

CaptainSimonBourgeois'Plongeur,France,18631872.Length43meters(141feet);displacement380tons.Notethelargeship'sboatandarecessfortheboatinthedeck,asinglefourbladedpropeller,andtherudderaftofasternpost,allfeatureswhichVernealsousedforhisNautilus.Plongeurwastheworld'sfirstsubmarinepropelledbymechanicalratherthanhumanpower,usingan80horsepowerenginepoweredbycompressedair.InseveralwaysthePlongeurwasclearlythemostadvancedsubmarinebuiltprecedingVerne'snovel.ModelintheMunichScienceMuseum.PhotographybyLamgiMari,2010,fromWikipedia.

AppendixC:SubmarinesBuiltafterVerne'sNovel

IsaacPeralyCaballero'sPeral,1888,length22m(72feet).

GustaveZede'sGymnote,launching,1888.Length17.8m(58.4ft).

GustaveZede'sGymnote,1889.

GustaveZd,1898.Length148feet.(planfromScientificAmerican,1903)262 tons surfaced; 270 tons submerged. Crew 19. Top speed: 9 knots surfaced and 6.5 knots submerged.

Range: 105 nm at 4.5 knots submerged. Note the very marginal freeboard when surfaced.

Here is the USS Narwhal (V-5, later SS-167) under construction in 1927. The Narwhal had a circular cross-section and a double hull, similar to the hull design which Verne described for his Nautilus. The beam (diameter) of this hull is 10.14 m (33.3 feet), compared to the 8 m (26.3 feet) of the Nautilus. The 27% increase in beam provides about 60% more interior volume per unit length. The Narwhal was considerably larger than Verne's Nautilus, and larger than other US subs until late 1960s nuclear ships. Submerged displacement 3900 short tons. This photo has a feeling something like Verne's Nautilus under construction, were that possible. U.S.Navyphotograph.

USSAlbacore,inconstruction,1953.Amodernexperimentalsub,designedforhighperformance,andsimilartoVerne'sNautilusinsize,shape,andhavingcircularsectionsthroughoutandalongtaperingstern.Notelayoutofpropellerandrudderatthestern,mountedonasternpost,touseVerne'sterm.Thelengthis205feet(62.5m),beam27feet(8.25m),thatis,7.5meters(25feet)shorterand0.25meters(10inches)widerthanVerne'sNautilus.Complement5officersand50enlistedmen.Submergedspeed35knots,andpossiblymore.TheAlbacorewasdesignedtohavethemostlowdraghullshapepossible,andisnotcylindricalinthemiddleaswasVerne'sNautilus.U.S.Navyphotograph.

TheUSsubmarineclosestinshapeandsizetoVerne'sNautiluswastheTullibee,SSN597(19601987),shownhereduringlaunching.Length273feet(83m),beam23'7''(7.19m)displacement2316/2607tons,complement66,atomicpower(S2Creactor).13knotssurfaced;15knotssubmerged.TheTullibeewaslikeVerne'sNautilusinhavingcircularsections,acylindricalmidsection,andasingleaxialpropeller.Itwas13m(43ft)longerandhad0.8m(2.7ft)smallerbeam.ThisphotographindicatesthesizeofcrewmencomparedtotheTullibeeandtotheNautilus.U.S.Navyphotograph.

TheTullibeeunderwayonthesurface.TheTullibeewasclosetotheshapeandsizeofJulesVerne'sNautilus,withacylindricalmidsectionandaflattenedhullforanupperdeckorplatform.TheNautiluslackedthelargestructuresabovethehullseenhereontheTullibee,insteadhavingasmallpilothouse,about1.5m(5feet)high,nearthelocationoftheforwardverticalfinoftheTullibee.NotethefreeboardoftheTullibee,2m(6feet)ormore,ismuchlargerthanthe0.8meter(31inches)freeboardoftheNautilus.TheNautiluswouldnotemergeevenhalfthismuchabovethesurface,anditsdeckcouldeasilybesweptbywaves.U.S.Navyphotograph.

USSGreeneville(SSN772),indrydockin2001.LikeJulesVerne'sNautilus,theUSLosAngelesclasssubmarines,builtfrom1972to1996,havealongcentralcylindricalhullsegmentwithmodestflatteningontoptoprovideanexteriordeck,circularcrosssections,taperingbowandstern,andasingleaxialpropeller.Thepointofthebowisroundedforreducedwaterdrag,comparedtotheconicalpointoftheNautilus,butotherwisethetaperingforwardhullcurvesaresimilar.TheNautiluslackedthelargesail.TheLosAngelesclasssubmarines'hullsare57%longerand25%widerthantheNautilus,with2.8timesthedisplacement.Powerisabout35,000horsepowergivingperhaps25knotsto37knotssubmerged(46to68km/hr).U.S.Navyphotograph.

AppendixD:Originaltextdescribingtechnicaldetails

ThissectionshowsselectionsfromVerne'snovelwhichbearonthedesignandoperationofthesubmarine.Translationsandinterpretationsarebytheauthor.NotethatnauticalterminologyisnotusuallyavailableincommonFrenchEnglishdictionaries.IusedaFrenchdictionaryof1907tohelpavoidmorerecentdefinitionsfortechnicaltermsandotherwords.MytranslationssimplifysomeoftheornateFrenchofVerne,a19thcenturynovelist,butstrivetomaketechnicaldetailsasclearandascorrectaspossible.Moretranslationsmaybeadded.

TheHull:

TheenormouscylinderofsheetironfromL'normecylindredetle"Tle"alonemeanssheetmetalorsheetiron;elsewhereVernesays"tled'acier,sheetsteel.

wassmooth,polished,andnotimbricatedfromtaitlisse,poli,nonimbriqu.

madeofboltedplates.ilsemblaitque,disje,iltaitfaitdeplaquesboulonnes.

theironplates,lightyimbricated,resembledtheshellsoflargeterrestrialreptiles.Jeremarquaiquesesplaquesdetles,imbriqueslgrement,ressemblaientauxcaillesquirevtentlecorpsdesgrandsreptilesterrestres.

elongatedcylinder,withconicalendsCestuncylindretrsallong,boutsconiques."

hastheshapeofacigaraffectesensiblementlaformeduncigare

thebowandsternoftheNautilusarespindleshaped,likealongcigarLavantetlarrireduNautilusprsentaientcettedispositionfusiformequilefaisaitjustementcomparerunlongcigare.

thelengthofthecylinderfromendtoendisexactly70metersLalongueurdececylindre,detteentte,estexactementdesoixantedixmtres

maximumbeamiseightmetersonbau,saplusgrandelargeur,estdehuitmtres

itslinesaresufficientlylonganditsstreamlinesprolongedenough,thatdisplacedwatermovesasideeasilyandopposesnoobstacletoitsprogress.Thisisatrickyone:seslignessontsuffisammentlonguesetsacouleassezprolonge,pourqueleaudplaceschappeaismentetnopposeaucunobstacleasamarche.

aholelikeisoscelestriangle2metersacross,asifmadebyacuttingmachine.fromuntroulargededeuxmtresdanslacarnedusteamerunedchirurergulire,enformedetriangleisocle.Lacassuredelatletaitdunenettetparfaite,etellenetpastfrappeplussrementlemportepice.Ilfallaitdoncqueloutilperforantquilavaitproduiteftdunetrempepeucommune.

whenfloatingitemergesfromthewateronlyonetenth,soitmustdisplaceinthoseconditionsnootherthanninetenthsofitsvolume.fromquenquilibredansleauilplongetdesneufdiximes,etquilmergetdundiximeseulement.Parconsquent,ilnedevaitdplacerdanscesconditionsquelesneufdiximesdesonvolume

madewithtwohulls,oneinsidetheother...joinedbyTshapedironswhichgivesextremeregidity:LeNautilussecomposededeuxcoques,luneintrieure,lautreextrieure,runiesentreellespardesfersenTquiluidonnentunerigiditextrme.

cellularhullstructureanditresiststhepressureofthedepthslikeasolidblock.Itsboundarycannotyield."Eneffet,grcecettedispositioncellulaire,ilrsistecommeunbloc,commesiltaitplein.Sonbordnepeutcder...

Thetwohullsarebuiltofsheetsteel(density7.8gm/cm3).Theouterhullisnolessthan5centimeters(2.0inches)inthickness.Cesdeuxcoquessontfabriquesentledacierdontladensitparrapportleauestdesept,huitdiximes.Lapremirenapasmoinsdecinqcentimtresdpaisseur...

Thekeelis50cm(20inches)highand25centimeters(10inches)thick.laquille,hautedecinquantecentimtresetlargedevingtcinq

wereachedadepthof1600metersfourleagues...NousavionsatteintuneprofondeurdeseizemillemtresquatrelieuesetlesflancsduNautilussupportaientalorsunepressiondeseizecentsatmosphres,cestdireseizecentskilogrammesparchaquecentimtrecarrdesasurface!

Displacementof1500.2cubicmeters,thatmeanswhenentirelysubmergeditdisplacesorweighs1500cubicmetersortons,from:

CesdeuxdimensionsvouspermettentdobtenirparunsimplecalcullasurfaceetlevolumeduNautilus.Sasurfacecomprendmilleonzemtrescarrsetquarantecinqcentimes;sonvolume,quinzecentsmtrescubesetdeuxdiximescequirevientdirequentirementimmerg,ildplaceoupsequinzecentsmtrescubesoutonneaux.

Iwished,whenfloatinginthewateritwoulddrawnninetenthsandthatitwouldemergeonlyonetenth.Consequentlyintheseconditionsitmustdisplaceninetenthsofitsvolume,1356.48cubicmeters.jaivoulu,quenquilibredansleauilplongetdesneufdiximes,etquilmergetdundiximeseulement.Parconsquent,ilnedevaitdplacerdanscesconditionsquelesneufdiximesdesonvolume,soittreizecentcinquantesixmtrescubesetquarantehuitcentimes...

ThePlatform:

thehullwhichformsatitsupperpartasortofhorizontalplatformlacoquequiformaitsapartiesuprieureunesortedeplateformehorizontale

theplaformrisesabovetheleveloftheseaonlysome80centimeters(31inches)Laplateformemergeaitdequatrevingtscentimtresseulement.

Abouttheship'sboat:

Thereisadinghy,"lightandunsinkable,forexcursionsandfishing":lgreetinsubmersible,quisertlapromenadeetlapche.

"IfollowedCaptainNemoacrosstheinternalpassagewaysandarrivedatthecenteroftheship.Therewaslocatedasortofwellopeningbetweentwowatertightpartitions.Anironladderattachedtothesideledtoitsupperextremity[ofthewell].Iaskedthecaptaintheuseofthisladder.Itleadstothedinghy,hereplied.":

"JesuivislecapitaineNemo,traverslescoursivessituesenabord,etjarrivaiaucentredunavire.L,setrouvaitunesortedepuitsquisouvraitentredeuxcloisonstanches.Unechelledefer,cramponnelaparoi,conduisaitsonextrmitsuprieure.Jedemandaiaucapitainequelusageservaitcettechelle.Elleaboutitaucanot,rponditil."

"Nearthemiddleofthedeckthedinghy,halfembeddedintheship'shull,formedaslightbulge":Verslemilieudelaplateforme,lecanot,demiengagdanslacoquedunavire,formaitunelgreextumescence.

"thedinghy,uncovered,wasdrawnupoutofitsrecessandlaunchedintheseafromtheheightoftheplatform.Twomensufficedforthisoperation.Twomenweresufficientforthisoperation.Theoarswereintheboat.":lecanot,dpont,futarrachdesonalvoleetlanclamerduhautdelaplateforme.Deuxhommessuffirentcetteopration.Lesavironstaientdanslembarcation...

"seatedontheprotrusionmadebythehullofthedinghy,Ibreathedwithdelightthesaltair.":Assissurlasaillieproduiteparlacoqueducanot,jaspiraiavecdliceslesmanationssalines.

...entirelydeckedover,absolutelywatertight,andheldinplacebysolidbolts.ThisladderleadstoahatchinthehulloftheNautilus,whichcorrespondstosimilarhatchpiercedinthesideofthedinghy.Thisdoubleopeningadmitsmetotheboat.SomeoneclosesthehatchoftheNautilus,andIclosetheotherinthedinghy,bymeansofforceofpressure.Ireleasetheboltsandtheboatriseswithtremendousspeedtothesurfaceofthesea.ThenIopenthepanelofthedeck,carefullycloseduntilthen,Istepthemast,Iraisesailortakemyoars,andgoonmyway.:

CecanotadhrelapartiesuprieuredelacoqueduNautilus,etoccupeunecavitdisposepourlerecevoir.Ilest entirementpont, absolumenttanche, et retenupardesolidesboulons. Cettechelleconduit untroudhommepercdanslacoqueduNautilus,quicorresponduntroupareilpercdansleflancducanot.Cestparcettedoubleouverturequejemintroduisdanslembarcation.Onrefermelune,celledu Nautilus;jerefermelautre,celleducanot,aumoyendevisdepression;jelarguelesboulons,etlembarcationremonteavecuneprodigieuserapiditlasurfacedelamer.Jouvrealorslepanneaudupont,soigneusementclosjusquel,jemte,jehissemavoileoujeprendsmesavirons,etjemepromne.

tenmenindinghy"Sixoarsmentookplacesontheirthwartsandthemasterplacedhimselfatthetiller.Ned,ConseilandItookthestern." Sixrameursprirentplacesurleursbancsetlepatronsemitlabarre.Ned,Conseiletmoi,nousnousassmeslarrire.

alltheforwardpartofthesubmarine:toutelapartieantrieuredecebateausousmarin

Aprsavoirdpasslacagedelescalierquiaboutissaitlaplateforme,jevisunecabinelonguededeuxmtres,danslaquelleConseiletNedLand,enchantsdeleurrepas,soccupaientledvorerbellesdents.Puis,uneportesouvritsurlacuisinelonguedetroismtres,situeentrelesvastescambusesdubord.

thewindows...Soudain,lejoursefitdechaquectdusalon,traversdeuxouverturesoblongues.

themainstaircase...lacagedelescalierquiaboutissaitlaplateforme,

acabin2meterslong(6.56feet,alongthetheaxisofthesubmarine)occupiedbyConseilandNewLand,andthenthegalley3meters(9.8feet)long,placedbetweenlargestorerooms.jevisunecabinelonguededeux

mtres,danslaquelleConseiletNedLand,enchantsdeleurrepas,soccupaientledvorerbellesdents.Puis,uneportesouvritsurlacuisinelonguedetroismtres,situeentrelesvastescambusesdubord.

thecrews'quarters,5meters(16.4feet)long,butthedoorwasclosedandhecouldnotseeitsarrangement.Alacuisinesuccdaitlepostedelquipage,longdecinqmtres.Maislaporteentaitferme,etjenepusvoirsonamnagement

thecompartmentwhereAronnax,ConceilandNedLandweredetained,20feet(Frenchpieds)longand10feetwidecettecabine,quidevaitavoirvingtpiedsdelongsurdixpiedsdelarge.

behindawatertightbulkheadistheengineroom,20meters(65.6feet)longAufondslevaitunequatrimecloisontanchequisparaitcepostedelachambredesmachines.Cettechambredesmachines,nettementclaire,nemesuraitpasmoinsdevingtmtresenlongueur.

thedynamicpowerofmyenginesisnearlyinfinite:lepouvoirdynamiquedemesmachinesestpeuprsinfini."

Batteries,propeller,andenginesJemploiedeslmentsBunzen,etnondeslmentsRuhmkorff.Ceuxcieussent t impuissants. Les lments Bunzensont peunombreux, mais forts et grands, ce qui vaut mieux,exprience faite. Llectricit produite se rend larrire, o elle agit par des lectroaimants deglande [?]dimensionsurunsystmeparticulier de leviers et dengrenagesqui transmettent lemouvement larbre delhlice.Celleci.dontlediamtreestdesixmtresetlepasdeseptmtrescinquante,peutdonnerjusqucentvingttoursparseconde.

sodiumelementforthebatteriescestcesodiumquejextraisdeleaudemeretdontjecomposemeslments.Mlangaveclemercure,ilformeunamalgamequitientlieuduzincdansleslmentsBunzen.Lemercurenesusejamais.Lesodiumseulseconsomme,etlamermelefournitellemme.Jevousdirai,enoutre,quelespilesausodiumdoiventtreconsidrescommelesplusnergiques,etqueleurforcelectromotriceestdoubledecelledespilesauzinc.

fiftymilesanhourcinquantemilleslheure.ItisnotclearifVernemeantnauticalmilesorstatutemiles.

sterringwithanordinaryrudderwithalargeblade,fixedonthebackofthesternpost...

Pourgouvernercebateausurtribord,surbbord,pourvoluer,enunmot,suivantunplanhorizontal,jemesersdungouvernailordinairelargesafran,fixsurlarriredeltambot,etquuneroueetdespalansfontagir.

pilothouse

Letimonierestplacdansunecagevitre,quifaitsaillielapartiesuprieuredelacoqueduNautilus,etquegarnissentdesverreslenticulaires.

ThepilothouseisalittlelikethepilothousesofsteamboatsoftheMississippiorHudsonrivers,6feetonaside,whichrisesabovethedeckoftheNautilus.Fourportsoflensshapedglassinthewallspermitthehelmsmantoseeinalldirections.Ctaitunecabinemesurantsixpiedssurchaqueface,peuprssemblablecellesquoccupentlestimoniersdessteamboatsduMississipioudelHudson.Aumilieusemanoeuvraitunerouedisposeverticalement,engrenesurlesdrossesdugouvernailquicouraientjusqularrireduNautilus.Quatre

hublotsdeverreslenticulaires,vidsdanslesparoisdelacabine,permettaientlhommedebarrederegarderdanstouteslesdirections.

jaidisposdesrservoirsdunecapacitgalecedixime,soitdunecontenancedecentcinquantetonneauxetsoixantedouzecentimes,etsijelesremplisdeau,lebateaudplaantalorsquinzecentsepttonneaux,oulespesant,seracompltementimmerg.CesrservoirsexistentenaborddanslespartiesinfrieuresduNautilus.

NemosayshecanmovetheNautilusintheverticalplanewithinclinedplanesattachedatthecenterofflotation:

MaisjepuisaussimouvoirleNautilusdebasenhautetdehautenbas,dansunplanvertical,aumoyendedeuxplansinclins,attachssesflancssursoncentredeflottaison,plansmobiles,aptesprendretouteslespositions,etquisemanoeuvrentdelintrieuraumoyendelevierspuissants.Cesplanssontilsmaintenusparalllesaubateau,celuicisemeuthorizontalement.Sontilsinclins,leNautilus,suivantladispositiondecetteinclinaisonetsouslapoussedesonhlice,ousenfoncesuivantunediagonaleaussiallongequilmeconvient,ouremontesuivantcettediagonale.

Theexternalfloodlight:

Jexaminaialorslinstallationdecetappareildontlapuissancetaitcentuplepardesanneauxlenticulairesdisposscommeceuxdesphares,etquimaintenaientsalumiredansleplanutile.Lalampelectriquetaitcombinedemaniredonnertoutsonpouvoirclairant.Salumire,eneffet,seproduisaitdanslevide,cequiassuraitlafoissargularitetsonintensit.Cevideconomisaitaussilespointesdegraphiteentrelesquellessedveloppelarclumineux.

"TheseawasdistinctlyvisiblewithinaradiusofamilearoundtheNautilus.":LamertaitdistinctementvisibledansunrayondunmilleautourduNautilus.

TheSalon:

"Panscoups"(truncatedcornersofthesalon):

"IfollowedCaptainNemowhobyoneofthedoorwayspiercedineachtruncatedcornerofthesalon,renteredtheinternalpassagewaysoftheship":JesuivislecapitaineNemo,qui,parunedesportesperceschaquepancoupdusalon,mefitrentrerdanslescoursivesdunavire.

"Itwasalargequadrilateral,withtruncatedcorners,10meterslong,sixwide,andtenhigh":C'taitunvastequadrilatre,panscoups,longdedixmtres,largedesix,hautdecinq.

Enparcourantainsilesalon,j'arrivaiprsdelaporte,mnagedanslepancoup,quis'ouvraitsurlachambreducapitaine.Amongrandtonnement,cetteportetaitentrebille.Jereculaiinvolontairement.

Theladdersorstairs,chelles:

Apeinel'troitpanneaufutilrefermsurmoi,qu'uneobscuritprofondem'enveloppa.Mesyeux,imprgnsdelalumireextrieure,nepurentrienpercevoir.Jesentismespiedsnussecramponnerauxchelonsd'unechelledefer.chpt8para2

JesuivislecapitaineNemo.traverslescoursivessituesenabord,etj'arrivaiaucentredunavire.L,setrouvaitunesortedepuitsquis'ouvraitentredeuxcloisonstanches.Unechelledefer,cramponnelaparoi,conduisaitsonextrmitsuprieure.Jedemandaiaucapitainequelusageservaitcettechelle.

Cecidit,lecapitaineNemosedirigeaverslepanneauetdisparutparl'chelle.Jelesuivis,etjeregagnailegrandsalon.L'hlicesemitaussittenmouvement,etlelochaccusaunevitessedevingtmillesl'heure.chpt13p1