[Redleg Duke]

My knowledge is from non-politically correct history books, but I believe the attack profile was to ram the keg into the target ship, causing a point on the keg to impale the ship. Then the Hunley wss to back away from the target ship to a distance of some 100-yards, the length of the tigger lanyard, where upon, the warhead (keg) would detonate.

Apparently, the lanyard was tangled and detonated the warhead while the Hunley had just started to back away.

“No plan survives contact with the enemy!” Von Moltke the Elder.

[Dacula]

https://imgur.com/gallery/6mgk50F

[DiogenesLamp]

That is the method that was theorized, but the evidence shows the copper torpedo was firmly bolted to the Iron spar, and would not come off. It blew up a mere 18 feet away from the Submarine. Last year fellow Freeper TXnMA posted images of the iron spar with the remains of the copper mounting bracket still attached to it.

I can't believe anyone thought putting 135 pounds of cannon powder into a copper tank and blowing it up a mere 18 feet away from themselves would not kill them.