Replies

"Re that `blueprint’ drawing that shows the moment of impact between the Housatonic and the Hunley & its torpedo: the depiction does nothing to show that this was a moment of white hot combat caught at a critical instant."

True enough. I drew that graphic with scale, movable vector objects as an engineering study to model the likely configuration of the torpedo deployment system -- not as an artist's dramatization. One purpose was to predict what might be found when the lower bow was excavated, and what might have to be dealt with before placing the caisson immediately in front of the bow.

But believe me, all of us on the forum were in awe of the drama and bravery encapsulated in that historic moment in time. Don Dowdey did a superb job of capturing those aspects in his marvelous action paintings.

~~~~~~~~~

I'm assuming here that participants on this thread are aware of how the Hunley was raised:

The Hunley was (mostly) excavated,
Cylindrical caissons were set in the bottom just fore and aft of the sub,
The "truss" that was just removed was lowered astraddle of the Hunley until it rested on the caissons.
Broad "straps" were run under the Hunley from side to side, and were attached to the truss (with as near equal tension as possible), and...
The truss was lifted, bringing the Hunley with it, and finally,
The whole assemblage was lowered into the tank in the Lasch Center, with the "legs" of the truss assembly resting on the bottom of the pool, and the Hunley suspended beneath it.

And, now, the Hunley has been shored up from beneath, released from the truss, righted from its initial 45 degree listing position, and the truss has now (finally) been removed -- hence these articles...

~~~~~~~~~~

And, no, AFAIK, the rudder was not recovered. There are signs that the Hunley may have been damaged by anchors and/or fishing trawls dragged across it.