Editing Narcís Monturiol (section)

=== ''Ictíneo II'' ===
{{Main|Ictíneo II|l1 = ''Ictíneo II''}}

The ''Ictíneo II'' was originally intended as an improved version of the handpowered ''Ictíneo I''. The Spanish Navy pledged support to Monturiol but did not actually supply it, so he had to raise funds himself, writing a letter to the nation to encourage a popular subscription which raised 300,000 pesetas from the people of Spain and Cuba and was used to form the company ''La Navegación Submarina'' to develop the ''Ictíneo II''.

Monturiol's ultimate plan envisaged a vessel custom-built to house his new engine, which would be entirely built of metal and with the engine housed in its own separate compartment. Due to the state of his finances, construction of the metal vessel was out of the question. Instead, he managed to assemble enough funds to fit the engine into the wooden ''Ictíneo II'' for preliminary tests and demonstrations.

On 22 October 1867, ''Ictíneo II'' made her first surface journey under steam power, averaging {{convert|3.5|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on|lk=on}} with a top speed of {{convert|4.5|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}. On 14 December, Monturiol submerged the vessel and successfully tested his air-independent engine, without attempting to travel anywhere.

On 23 December that same year, Monturiol's company went bankrupt and could attract no more investment.<ref>{{cite book | last = Stewart | first = Matthew | title = Monturiol's Dream: The Extraordinary Story of the Submarine Inventor Who Wanted to Save the World | publisher = Profile Books Ltd. | year = 2003 | isbn = 1-86197-470-1}}</ref> The chief creditor called in his debt, and Monturiol was forced to surrender his sole asset, ''Ictíneo II''. The creditor subsequently sold her to a businessman, and the authorities, who taxed all ships, issued its new owner with a tax bill. Rather than pay the bill, he dismantled the submarine and sold it for scrap.<ref>Cindy Lee Van Dover. [http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/a-utopians-submarine A Utopian's Submarine] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213006/http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/a-utopians-submarine |date=3 March 2016 }}. Retrieved on 2008-08-01</ref> A replica can be seen at the harbor of Barcelona.