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OT: Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/13/2012 : 14:48:43

The wreck of the 40-foot submarine H.L. Hunley is of historic significance--it was one of the first submarines, and the first to be used successfully in warfare by ramming and sinking the Union warship USS Housatonic with a harpoon torpedo mounted on an iron shaft extending from the bow. The Hunley also sank and all nine men aboard the Hunley were lost. The wreck was discovered early in May, 1995, off Sullivan's Island, South Carolina.

The sub was raised and is being restored in North Charleston, South Carolina by an organization called Friends of the Hunley. It is reportedly on display on weekends. Tickets available at www.hunley.org/main_index.asp?CONTENT=TOURS.

Current photos of the Hunley can be seen at the following link:

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/confederate-submarine-revealed-1326407618-slideshow/confederate-submarine-h-l-hunley-sits-conservation-tank-photo-183814293.html

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

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waterbaby
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2012 : 18:23:02

Wow! I sure wouldn't have wanted to get into that thing. It's really cool that they were able to retrieve it.

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Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 01/17/2012 : 12:27:40

From the www.Hunley.org website
I visit Mt Pleasant often. And when you see the sub, you will be amazed.

THE HISTORIC MISSION

The Hunley making her way out to sea on the night of February 17th, 1864.

The USS Housatonic.

The Date: February 17, 1864.

The Location: Just outside Charleston Harbour approximately four miles off Breach Inlet in Sullivan's Island on the moonlit sea.

The Conditions: Cold. Bone chilling. Quiet.

The Situation: Desperate. Frightening. A turning point in history.

The Ship: A lookout aboard the Union Navy's largest ship was tired, cold -- but restless. Talk of a Confederate secret weapon was in and out of his thoughts. Suddenly he spotted something move in the chilly waters. A porpoise? There were certainly a lot of them around. But something about this one didn't seem right.

The Underwater Secret: While the cold bit through the lookout's coat, 8 men poured sweat over hand cranks that powered a spinning propeller while their captain manned the dive planes - steering man, iron, anxiety and raw courage towards its final destination.

The Alarm: The alarm rang out. This was definitely no porpoise. Nor was it debris floating from a war-torn Fort Sumter. This was something bizarre. The ship's cannons could not target an object so low in the water. Shots rang out and bullets ricocheted as other union sailors joined in the frantic firing of revolvers and rifles. The object continued to approach at about three knots.

Contact: Below the waterline - as bullets bounced off its cylindrical body, the H.L. Hunley rammed her long metal spar into the stern area, planting a 135 pound torpedo into the Warship Housatonic. The men inside the Hunley lunged forward from the impact, then quickly backed their sub out as the 150-foot attached detonation rope played out. Within seconds, the world rocked and every man, above and below, became enveloped in a concussion of destruction.

Aftermath: The explosion caused the USS Housatonic to burn for three minutes before sending the sloop-of-war collapsing to the bottom killing five sailors. The Hunley then surfaced long enough for her crew to signal their comrades on the shore of Sullivan's Island with a blue magnesium light, indicating a successful mission. The shore crew stoked their signal fires and anxiously awaited the Hunley's safe return. But minutes after her historic achievement, the Hunley and all hands onboard vanished into the sea without a trace.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2012 : 05:57:35

Steve, Sam, thanks for sharing the above.

What I thought might be plumbing are apparently the hand cranks for the propeller shaft.

Brave bunch of guys.

Edited by - OJ on 01/19/2012 06:02:40

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2012 : 06:56:16

If I read the site right, the sub sunk 3 times, killing most of the crews that manned it. I think there were somethign like 4 survivors from all the folks who went aboard.

A costly way to wage war.

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