American Diverįollowing the loss of New Orleans, Hunley and McClintock took what they had learned about submarines and relocated to Alabama where they began work on a more ambitious, electric-powered, five-man underwater craft dubbed the American Diver or Pioneer II. Both boats were deliberately scuttled by the designers along the Mississippi River when the Big Easy fell to the Yankees in the spring of 1862.
#Civil war submarine hunley movie trial#
Built in New Orleans during the second year of the war, this early demonstrator was followed by a 20-foot-long, iron-hulled trial submarine known as Bayou St. Early Demonstratorsīefore completing their more famous boat, inventor Horace Lawson Hunley (namesake of legendary reb sub) along with shipbuilders James McClintock and Baxter Watson devised a small experimental submersible vessel that they dubbed The Pioneer. Here are some others: A sketch of the first Southern submarine, Pioneer. Yet, the ill-fated Hunley, or “fish boat” as some called it, was just one of a number of submarines and semi-submersibles to see service in the war between North and South. But if there was any consolation for the rebellion, the innovative vessel had succeeded in destroying a 1,240-ton enemy warship before being lost for good.Īnd while the celebrated Rebel submarine was ultimately a washout, it stands as the most famous example of a Civil War-era submersible warship. In total, 21 sailors went down with the ill-fated ship in all three sinkings. In both instances, the ship was recovered, repaired and pressed back into service. The incident marked the third and final time Hunley had sunk – the other two mishaps had taken place during the vessel’s sea trials. It wasn’t the only submersible fighting vessel of the Civil War. Hunley launched the world’s first successful submarine attack in history. It was the world’s first successful attack by a submarine.ĭespite achieving this historic feat, the Hunley was lost with all hands before she could return to port Historians agree that the craft was fatally damaged by the blast from its own torpedo. The charge detonated, blowing a hole in the starboard side of the Union vessel and sending the stricken ship to the bottom. Hunley quietly paddled along side the warship USS Housatonic as the Yankee vessel rode at anchor near the mouth of Charleston Harbor.ĭespite being spotted by sharp-eyed lookouts, the Hunley’s eight-man crew managed to ram a spar torpedo into the hull of the U.S. 17, 1864, the 40-foot-long, seven-ton, hand-cranked Confederate submersible H.L. “The ill-fated Hunley was just one of a number of submarines and semi-submersibles to see service in the war between North and South.
In April 2004, thousands of men in Confederate gray and Union blue walked in a procession with the crew’s coffins four miles from Charleston’s waterfront Battery to Magnolia cemetery, in what has been called the last Confederate funeral.At the outbreak of the Civil War, submarines captured the public’s imagination as this drawing from Harper’s Weekly shows. The sand and silt and the remains of the crew in the interior were removed. When the Hunley was raised, scientists speculated the crew may have run out of air before they could crank back to the coast. After close examination of the spar two years ago, scientists speculated the crew were knocked unconscious by the shockwave of the explosion. The Hunley had a 16ft spar tipped with a charge of black powder that was exploded, sinking the Housatonic. He said the clues will be studied closely as scientists try to piece together what happened to the 40ft vessel that night in 1864. “I would have to lie to you if I said we had not, but it’s too early to talk about it yet,” he said.
Mardikian said the exposed hull has indeed revealed some clues that may help solve the mystery of the sinking. Now about 70% of the outside hull has been uncovered. In August, scientists using small air-powered chisels and dental tools began the laborious job of removing the coating. Last May, it was finally ready to be bathed in a solution of sodium hydroxide to loosen the encrustation.
It was covered with a hardened gunk of encrusted sand, sediment and rust that scientists call concretion. A conservator works at removing the encrustation from the hull of the Hunley.
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