Turtle was the American submarine that attempted an attack in New York Harbor in 1776.
Designed by David Bushnell, Turtle was a small, hand-powered submersible built during the American Revolutionary War. On September 6, 1776, operator Ezra Lee attempted to attach an explosive charge to the hull of HMS Eagle, a British warship in New York Harbor. The mission did not succeed.
Turtle is often described as the first submarine used in combat, although the attack itself failed. Its operator worked inside a cramped wooden vessel and used hand-powered propellers to maneuver underwater. The craft’s design included a screw-like device intended to bore into an enemy ship’s hull so a timed explosive could be attached.
The episode belongs to the wider military history surrounding the 1776 independence movement. It is not the same as later successful submarine warfare, and Turtle should not be confused with modern submarines or with Bushnell’s later experiments. Its significance lies in the early attempt to use underwater technology against a naval target.