The imperial historiography almost always attaches the scientific achievements of its subjects to either the ruling dynasty or the title nation. This postulate is based entirely on the historiography of scientific maritime navigation in the Russian Empire, although considerable contributions were made by Americans, Croats, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, Montenegrins, Scots, Serbs, Ukrainians.
Purpose and focus. The purpose of our research is to distinguish the Ukrainian scientific maritime navigation in the nineteenth century, in particular its underwater component. To a greater extent, our research is focused on the activities of the Odesa branch of submariners in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Methods. In the work, a reflection of the memoir memories of the author was used with the help of the following methods of historical research: problem, comparative, critical, content analysis, chronological (direct and reverse), historical hermeneutics, structural analysis, microhistorical analysis, prosopographic analysis, comparative studies, linguistic, ethnographic and statistical (cliometric).
In the dissertation the cliometric researches of the world development of the submarine navigation of the XV-XIX centuries were conducted. The national directions (German, Polish, Ukrainian, American, Russian) scientific submarine navigation, which existed in the Russian Empire from the nineteenth century, are outlined before its collapse. Submariners of a possible Ukrainian origin of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are mentioned. The activity of the Odesa submarine cell of the last quarter of the nineteenth century is analyzed and analyzed in details. Three concepts of the development of the submarine navigation of representatives of the Ukrainian direction have been published and a comparison has been made on the defined criteria of the Ukrainian and Russian diving divisions during the specified period. The emphasis has been placed on the invention of motion under water without the use of any mechanical propellers made by V.P. Kreminsky and its world priority is set. Examples are given of neglect of the Kreminsky’s invention, which leads to irreversible consequences, in particular on atomic submarines.
Thus, the study substantiates and proves the significant contribution of Ukrainian explorers to the origin and development of the world's submarine navigation in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, which gives grounds for introducing in the scientific circle the term «Ukrainian direction of scientific submarine navigation». Recommendations. The research can be used as a basis for covering a more meaningful topic of Ukrainian scientific seafaring.
