A Mission in the Night
On February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley approached the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor. The 40-foot sub, powered by a hand-cranked propeller, carried a 135-pound black powder torpedo mounted on a spar at its bow. After hours of stealth, the Hunley pressed its torpedo against the Union ship, triggering an explosion that sank the Housatonic within minutes.
The Submarine Disappears
While five Union sailors perished, the remaining crew escaped. Meanwhile, the Hunley vanished without a trace. It was the first successful submarine attack in history, but the vessel and its crew never returned. For over 130 years, its fate remained a mystery.
Rediscovery and Investigation
In 1995, the Hunley was found 30 feet underwater, and in 2000, it was raised and brought to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in South Carolina. Archaeologists discovered the crew still seated at their stations, with no signs of struggle or attempts to escape.
The Final Theory
Modern tests suggest the explosion’s shockwave likely caused fatal pulmonary trauma. The crew died instantly, unaware of their success. Today, the Hunley rests in a Charleston museum, a testament to the ingenuity and risks of early submarine warfare.
On February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley approached the USS Housatonic off Charleston Harbor. The 40-foot sub, powered by a hand-cranked propeller, carried a 135-pound black powder torpedo mounted on a spar at its bow. After hours of stealth, the Hunley pressed… pic.twitter.com/56xLUiODYj
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) December 21, 2024