Nikonov even designed a 'diving suit' for this new profession. In addition, a diver would climb out and, using special tools, damage the hull of the enemy ship. Morel’s main weapon was to be flamethrowers ('fiery copper pipes'). The five-crewed submarine was powered by oars. On surfacing, the water was discharged overboard using a copper piston pump. Through them, outboard water flowed into leather bags, causing the vessel to submerge. Ten tin plates perforated with tiny holes were built into the body. It was fastened together with iron hoops and wrapped in leather. The first Russian submarine was shaped like a large wooden barrel six meters long, two meters high. When entering it in the books, the clerk miswrote one letter, writing “Morel” instead of “Model”. Nikonov’s “stealth vessel” was completed in 1724. Despite the failure, he ordered the construction of a full-fledged model. The tsar, looking on, personally took part in the operation to raise the ship using ropes. The second dive did not go so smoothly, and the vessel failed to rise. Halfway across the river, the vessel submerged, then surfaced on the other side. Thirteen months later, a small prototype was tested in the Neva. He appointed Yefim as his “master of stealth vessels” and gave him a workshop in St Petersburg and the right to choose his assistants. Although the concept was by no means new (Dutch engineer Cornelius Drebbel had tested the world’s first submarine in the Thames in London back in 1620), Peter became transfixed by it. In 1719, the tsar finally paid attention to the project and invited Nikonov to discuss the idea in person.

First submarine