Clue found in mystery of Civil War sub [ Hunley ]

MSNBC ^ | July 15, 2006 | Associated Press

[SunkenCiv]

If the hatch was intentionally unlocked, there are several possible explanations. Dixon could have opened it to see if the 40-foot (12-meter), hand-cranked vessel was damaged when it rammed a spar with a black powder charge into the Union blockade ship Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864, becoming the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship. Or Dixon could have opened the hatch to refresh the air supply in the eight-man crew compartment or to signal that it had completed its mission. An emergency also could have led the crew to open the hatch to get out. But because the second escape hatch was found in the locked position, that theory seems less likely. "If the Hunley crew opened the hatch, it must have been for a critical reason," said archaeologist Michael Scafuri.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

An update to the Hunley's ongoing story, from July (rather than February for the previous ping).

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
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[SunkenCiv]

Great, the search engine let me down again.

Scientists: Hunley's hatch was unlocked
yahoo news/AP | Jul 14, 2006
Posted on 07/15/2006 3:10:36 PM EDT by nuconvert
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666313/posts

other Hunley topics (a selection):

Missing view port muddies long-held theory of Hunley's disappearance
Island Packet | December 28, 2005 | JOHN C. DRAKE,
Posted on 01/10/2006 12:16:20 PM EST by robowombat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1555391/posts

Scientists: Hunley Had Skylights
wltx | 6/15/2005
Posted on 06/16/2005 7:28:32 PM EDT by stainlessbanner
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1424458/posts

Mystery of Sunken Sub May Lie in Craft's Valves
Associated Press | June 26, 2004 | Bruce Smith
Posted on 06/26/2004 7:20:29 AM EDT by BluegrassScholar
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1160611/posts

Faces, Profiles of Hunley Crew Reconstructed
Navy NewsStand | 4/16/2004 3:44:00 PM | Madeleine Scott, Naval Historical Center Public Affairs
Posted on 04/17/2004 4:04:41 AM EDT by BykrBayb
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1119330/posts

Hunley Findings Put Faces on Civil War Submarine Crew
National Geographic Society | 4/11/04 | Willie Drye
Posted on 04/12/2004 10:53:52 AM EDT by Valin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1116000/posts

[pillut48]

What? No mention of Clive Cussler?

Can't wait until the day when the Hunley's story can be fully told.

[BJClinton]

Unfortunately for the Confederacy, the Hunley M2 Block B was not completed before Gettysburg.

[colorado tanker]

Just visited the Hunley last month. Really interesting and well worth the visit. The guide (retired Navy submariner) said he could give us an argument for three different scenarios why the Hunley sank with evidence that could persuade us of each. But that was probably before this discovery.

One report from land said he saw the Hunley give the illuminated signal for a successful mission, which would be consistent with the open hatch theory.

[wildbill]

The mystery of the Hundley's sinking becomes less of a mystery with the discovery of the open hatch.Here's my take.

Whatever the reason why the Captain opened the forward hatch, once the hatch was opened, if a large swell occurred, the force of water coming in would have driven the Captain down into the sub and out of the hatchway, preventing him from re-securing the hatch.

If enough water came in to take the sub nose-down, succeeding swells and waves would have put her hatch below the average water line and sent the sub into an irrecoverable dive.

Once the sub was flooded completely, and the sub came to rest, the hatch would have fallen to an almost closed position, without being dogged down, as it was found.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"Although scientists said the new discovery could help determine the cause of the sinking, it also is possible that the lock was damaged after the sub sank and the hatch opened while it sat on the ocean floor."

This explanation sounds the most plausible to me. I'm thinking that those men would have attempted every avenue of escape, if one existed. Nevertheless, they sunk the Housatonic, and I'm sure it was just fine with them that it had to be at the cost of their life...

[SunkenCiv]

LOL!

[SunkenCiv]

I concur with colorado tanker's remarks, the lamp signal was the reason for the open hatch. Also, wildbill, a swell in the estuary or whatever with the very little freeboard on the sub would make a bad combo with the open hatch. I believe I've read that the sub sank twice before in shakedown and whatnot.

[colorado tanker]

Yep, the Hunley sank twice before the Housatonic attack, killing HL Hunley himself. The crew were extraordinarily brave men to sail her knowing the history.