Charles Momsen and Submarine Escape 3: The Trunk, The Bell, The Lung

Creating an escape and rescue apparatus proved complicated: there wasn't even a way to open a hatch on the old boats. Charles Momsen, working at the Bureau of Construction and Repair (now Bureau of Ships) had to start at the very beginning: how to open a sub hatch while still under tons of water, let alone breathe. And some of his methods were a little...interesting.