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The Alligator Project:

On 13 June 1862 the US Navy became the first navy in the world to have in its weapons inventory an operational submarine. Contracted for as the “submarine propeller” it soon became known as the Alligator. In 2002, Admiral Jay Cohen and Mr. Dan Basta started the “Alligator Project” Information on the project can be found at NOAA’s Alligator Project website.

To facilitate research, information gathering and distribution, the following web pages have been instituted by Mr. Jim Christley. They are:

1. The Alligator: A lengthly article prepared for the Submarine League’s “Submarine Review”. An edited version was published in the ‘Review’.
2. An unofficial listing of and transcription of the documents reviewed in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Record Groups 71 [Letters to and from the Bureau of Yards and Docks for the period 1861 to 1864], Record Group 45 [Letters to and from the Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard for the period June 1862 to May 1863]
3. A listing prepared by Mr Chuck Viet of the appearances of the submarine in the “Official Record of the War ot the Rebellion”
4. A technical description of the Alligator including comments on the use of “USS” in conjunction with her name.

There are many people researching various areas of the history of the boat and its crews. As more people become interested and explore research items the probability of reviewing items already researched becomes more probable. This is a Good Thing as the more eyes view the documentation, the more we learn. However, some wish to explore ‘uncharted’ territory and might find these pages useful in learning what has been looked at already. If some area is researched and is not listed above, please contact Jim Christley at mailto:oldsubs@adelphia.netso this new area might be added.

V/R

Jim Christley