What is this thing (some kind of manned bomb or torpedo?)

This thing (links below) is sitting outside a pawn shop near me. I can’t figure out what it is. At first I thought it might be some kind of WW2 era kamikaze bomb, or a manned torpedo with the prop missing. But I did a little Googling of the ones Japan used back then, and this doesn’t look much like them. Then I thought maybe it’s the rider pod for some kind of amusement park ride. But it seems weird to be fully enclosed if that’s it. It looks like there are connection points at the front and back, but what it would be connected to is a mystery to me. So, I dunno. Any ideas?

Yeah, I could go inside the place and ask. But I’m socially awkward. And I never pass it when it’s open.

Unknown - http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/mysterious-submarine-beached-in-front-of-tiger-pawn/article_c0082223-27fc-5e37-a4d4-72d6ff54cc57.html

It’s a miniature submarine. Not, AFAIK, a piece of military hardware. More a rich man’s toy.

That was fast! I’ve been puzzling over that for months and you find the answer right in my town’s newspaper in less than 10 minutes. :smack: Not sure why I didn’t do that.

Thanks!

I do love any story that includes a mysterious sea captain:

Simple Google image search on the name on the sub.