ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U-BOATS FROM 1904 TO PRESENT

Born on 23 March 1822, Wilhelm Bauer, started his work on development of the different new submersible designs back in 1848—a subject that attracted considerable attention during the German-Danish War and raised high expectations at the time. His first submarine sketch, created in 1850, featured a single-hull design with transverse frames and 6mm riveted iron plating.

While the original blueprint included two floodable compartments and one control compartment, this configuration was ultimately not built. Instead, 20 tons of iron in the keel served as ballast, with trim regulated by a movable 0.5-ton weight. Propulsion relied on two pedal-driven wheels connected via a two-stage transmission to a drive shaft and propeller. Despite the design changes, the initial concept already contained all the fundamental elements of a functional submarine.

In fact, the British author Burgoyne argued that Bauer contributed more to submarine development than any other inventor. Nevertheless, the completed vessel did not fully realize all of Bauer's original ideas. The final submarine displaced between 28.2 and 30.95 tons, measuring 8.07 m in length, 2.01 m in beam, and 2.63 m in draught. Construction commenced in 1850 at the Hollersch Glassworks in Rendsburg, with additional work carried out by Schweffel & Howaldt in Kiel.