The Bulldozer That Sank a Submarine Panama Canal's Underwater Collision Nobody Reported 1914 скачать в хорошем качестве

The Bulldozer That Sank a Submarine Panama Canal's Underwater Collision Nobody Reported 1914

At 4:47 AM on October 12, 1914, a 22,000 pound Holt bulldozer operating 20 feet underwater in Panama Canal's Gatun Lake struck something it shouldn't have a U.S. Navy submarine conducting secret training exercises. What happened next was covered up by both the Navy and the Canal Commission, buried in classified archives for over a century. This is the untold story of the underwater collision that nearly sank USS C-3 and killed its 15 man crew, documented through declassified Navy logs, Panama Canal Commission reports, and the personal accounts of bulldozer operator Frank Mallory and dive supervisor Jack Holbrook. THE INCIDENT In 1914, the Panama Canal Commission deployed 12 experimental underwater bulldozers modified Holt crawlers with watertight compartments and external air lines to clear submerged French equipment from the 1880s canal attempt. These machines operated in near-zero visibility conditions on the bottom of Gatun Lake. On October 12, 1914, construction foreman Frank Mallory was operating bulldozer Hull Number 847 when his blade struck a collapsed French crane. The impact sent a 7-foot section of crane boom tumbling through the current directly into the bow of USS C-3, a diesel-electric submarine positioned 70 yards away due to a navigation error. The submarine's forward ballast tank was compromised. When Lieutenant Commander Raymond Applegate ordered emergency blow, the damaged tank failed completely, causing C-3 to angle bow-down at 30 degrees. The resulting pressure wave nearly flipped Mallory's bulldozer. Both agencies filed separate incident reports. Neither mentioned the other. The collision existed in a bureaucratic void. THE COVER-UP Site supervisor Charles Whitman classified Mallory's report as "equipment malfunction." The Navy's report cited "navigation error" and "ballast tank malfunction" no mention of construction equipment or collision. Why? President Wilson's ceremonial Panama Canal crossing was scheduled for November 3, 1914 just 22 days away. The Navy didn't want to explain how a submarine ended up in a construction zone. The Canal Commission didn't want to explain how their equipment nearly sank a naval vessel. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Holt Underwater Bulldozer (Hull 847): Weight: 22,000 pounds Depth capability: 20-40 feet Operator compartment: Pressure equalized, sealed Air supply: External compressed air via reinforced hoses Service life: 1914-1923 USS C-3 Submarine: Length: 105 feet Crew: 15 men (2 officers, 13 enlisted) Class: C-class diesel-electric Base: Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone Service: 1914-1919 SOURCES & DOCUMENTATION This documentary is based on: Frank Mallory's work logs (National Archives) USS C-3 deck logs (Naval Archives) Panama Canal Commission incident reports Jack Holbrook's 1952 maritime trade journal interview Isthmian Canal Commission construction records SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE FORGOTTEN BULLDOZER HISTORY Every week, we uncover the untold stories of the machines that shaped America from WWI combat bulldozers to modern mining operations. If you love heavy equipment history, construction technology, and declassified military operations, this is your channel. 👍 Like this video if it moved you 💬 Comment where you're watching from 🔗 Share to preserve these forgotten histories 🎖️ Join our membership for exclusive 20+ minute deep dives ABOUT BULLDOZER GEEK USA We document the machines that built modern America. From the Panama Canal to the Interstate Highway System, from WWII combat engineering to present-day megaprojects if it moves dirt, we cover it. Our mission: Preserve the stories of the operators, engineers, and equipment that transformed the American landscape. #PanamaCanal #Bulldozer #NavySubmarine #UnderwaterConstruction #1914 #HoltCaterpillar #DeclassifiedHistory #HeavyEquipment #ConstructionHistory #MilitaryHistory #USSub #GatunLake #EngineeringHistory #VintageEquipment #BulldozerGeekUSA © 2026 Bulldozer Geek USA. All rights reserved. This documentary is produced for educational and historical preservation purposes. No bulldozers or submarines were harmed in the making of this video (except in 1914)