[libstripper]

The ship carried a spar torpedo, a remotely detonated explosive charge with small la nce attached that was mounted on a that stuck out rom the sub's bow. The idea was to ram the torpedo into the target's side, where the lance would hold it, then back up leaving the torpedo in the target's side. Then the sub would get far enough back and the lanyard would be pulled, detonating the torpedo and sinking the target. All anybody definitely knows is that the Hunley did all that and later sank. Nobody definitely knows what caused it to sink.

[deoetdoctrinae]