The Bedsit

In September 1776 British Admiral Lord Howe, in his 74-gun ship of the line, Eagle, was in New York port to support the forces opposing George Washington as they advanced on the city.

Suddenly the sailors spotted a small egg-shaped vessel lying nearby just under the waterline.

From it came another, smaller object which floated toward their ship.

Wisely, they sheered off, just as the object exploded, sending up a plume of water.

The very first submarine-launched torpedo had gone off and made history.

Hardly a rip-roaring success for its inventor, Yale graduate David Bushnell - but a foretaste of things to come.