A 60-year-old farmer designed his own submarine

Zhang Shengwu, a resident of Hanshan County, Anhui Province, has finally realized a dream he started nearly 10 years ago. Having successfully launched his 5-ton, two-passenger submarine, which he named "Big Black Fish ," Zhang began the project in 2014. His dream was sparked when he saw a submarine diving on television.

"I've seen boats all my life," Zhang said, "but none of them went underwater. That's when I felt something was missing," explaining how he began pursuing his dream.

A FARMER BUILT A SUBMARINE BY HIMSELF

Zhang, who worked in furniture making, welding, and shipping, began building his first submarine using scrap steel, an engine, and a battery while his wife, who was caring for his mother, slept at night. The first model could only dive to a depth of one meter and was significantly waterlogged. However, in 2016, he secured a national utility model patent in China .

Dissatisfied with the first prototype, Zhang spent an additional 40,000 yuan (approximately 225,000 Turkish Lira) on a second model. The new version, completed this month, is 7 meters long, 1.8 meters high, and can carry two people. Its maximum diving depth is recorded as 8 meters.

Approximately two tons of concrete were poured into the submarine's bottom to ensure stability, and water tanks were installed at the fore and aft ends for diving and ascent. The submarine's cockpit, with all welds sealed with silicone, features a blue-lit instrument panel and a rubber-covered joystick.

The submarine , which travels at about 7.5 km/h (4.5 mph), has a waterproof camera mounted atop a 5-meter mast to monitor the riverbed. It even found a fisherman's lost net during a test dive, earning a 3,000 yuan (approximately 16,000 Turkish Lira) reward for doing so.

Zhang's story is a living example of what can be accomplished with determination and curiosity, without the need for engineering training or large budgets.