Marine Cigar

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Marine Cigar
• Type: Submarine
• Year Built: circa 1851
• Builder: Lodner D. Phillips, Michigan City, Indiana
• Dimensions: 40 ft (12.2 m) long; 14 ft diameter
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 50.3 m / 165 ft
• Location: Near Presque Isle, Pennsylvania

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type

Submarine

Description

Description

The Marine Cigar was a composite submarine featuring a wooden hull with possible iron reinforcement. It was equipped with glass viewing ‘bull’s-eyes’ in a cupola and a hinged bow for salvage tools and collision protection.

History

History

Built circa 1851, the Marine Cigar was the second experimental submarine by inventor Lodner D. Phillips. It was shipped to Lake Erie to attempt salvage operations on the steamer Atlantic, which was lost in 1852. The submarine conducted test dives, reportedly reaching depths of approximately 20 feet, although Phillips claimed it could dive up to 100 feet. During test dives off Port Hope, Lake Ontario, it sprang a leak and was towed to Ogdensburg and then Kingston, but was abandoned as unserviceable due to hull strain.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

• 1851: Shipped to Lake Erie for salvage attempts on the Atlantic.
• Test dives revealed a leak, leading to its abandonment.
• In mid-October 1853, it was launched unmanned during a dive, suffered gear failure, and sank near the Atlantic wreck.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The Marine Cigar was lost and abandoned on the lake floor after an unmanned dive in October 1853. No casualties occurred, and no salvage attempts were made.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is likely buried in sediment at a depth of approximately 165 feet. No confirmed artifacts have been discovered, but there is interest from divers exploring the Atlantic site.

Resources & Links

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Summary

The Marine Cigar represents an early attempt at submarine technology in North America. Its loss in Lake Erie during an unmanned dive marks it as one of the earliest submerged experimental craft in freshwater. The site remains largely unexplored, offering a unique opportunity for future research into early submarine design and technology.