After 150 years, Confederate submarine's hull again revealed

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 1/30/15 | BRUCE SMITH

[Kartographer]

A century and a half after it sank and a decade and a half after it was raised, scientists are finally getting a look at the hull of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship.

What they find may finally solve the mystery of why the hand-cranked submarine sank during the Civil War.

"It's like unwrapping a Christmas gift after 15 years. We have been wanting to do this for many years now," said Paul Mardikian, senior conservator on the Hunley project.

[oh8eleven]

There is a great book on the divers that went down in Pearl Harbor ...

Have read it twice over the years. Incredible story - a must read.

[muir_redwoods]

Developing submarines by trial-and-error is a damned tough line of work.

[wally_bert]

Huntley in my non expert opinion.

[odawg]

I know I shouldn’t answer that snot, but I will try. During the war a captured Southerner was asked, “if you don’t own slaves, why are you fighting?” The response: “Because you are here.” Back then, when men were men, when an invading army crossed into your land, you fought back. As opposed to today...

[Boogieman]

“What they find may finally solve the mystery of why the hand-cranked submarine sank during the Civil War.”

I thought it was intentionally scuttled, or was that just a guess?

[iowamark]

Essentially a suicide weapon. A very crude propulsion system, but it sank the sloop Housatonic.

Practical submarines would have to wait for the development of diesel-electric propulsion and the Whitehead torpedo.

[Robert DeLong]

Claustrophobia prevents me from even thinking about climbing into this contraption.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

The way our cowardly Secy of the Navy and President are going, we will need the Hundley for our present rapidly shrinking Navy.

[BenLurkin]

I think it took a hit in the cupola and flooded. Went down with all hands.

[Lee'sGhost]

The original concept would refute the suicide aspect. The idea was to propel the boat to the target while on top of the water while towing a “torpedo” on a float with a long rope. As they approached the target they were to submerge and go under the ship. The torpedo was to explode when they were on the other side and protected from the blast. I don’t recall why they abandoned that strategy. I think I recall correctly that even then, the idea was to harpoon the target with the spar (torpedo attached) and then back off leaving the thing to explode when they were a safe distance. Both concepts at least gave the the illusion that they might survive...though I doubt they would have believe it.

[BlueDragon]

Developing submarines by trial-and-error is a damned tough line of work.

It's the testing of them, that can be the real killer.

[MrEdd]

Jesse Ventura is even now researching the descendants of the crew so he can sue them for something.

[OftheOhio]

The original Steam Punk.

[The_Media_never_lie]

These guys were conscripts or volunteers?

[Kartographer]

"we will need the Hundley for our present rapidly shrinking Navy."

I hope not, because I can't imagine how many billions it would cost to build now days! ;-)

[Oliviaforever]

“The first two died in their seats, drowning for their state’s freedom.”

But not the freedom of the people.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks momtothree. These Hunley topics generally get a ping, as do most Civil War topics. Clive Cussler fans want to know about it too. :')

[colorado tanker]

It’s worth a visit. They have an interesting museum and the guides are all retired Navy.

[DoodleDawg]

The nerve it took just to climb inside boggles my mind.

Especially considering it had already killed two or three crews before it attacked the Housatonic.

[Kartographer]

"They have an interesting museum and the guides are all retired Navy."

Confederate Navy? ;-)