Cleaned of encrustations, CSS Hunley becomes a real submarine

Stars and Stripes ^ | 9/17/15 | Ruane

[pabianice]

For more than a century, the CSS Hunley rested at the bottom of the ocean just outside Charleston harbor, its crew entombed, its hull gradually encased in hardening encrustations.

When it was raised 15 years ago off South Carolina, it looked more like a barnacled sea monster than the world's first operational submarine, sunk in battle during the winter of 1864.

The remains of its eight sailors were removed in 2001, but research has continued, and Thursday, a conservation team announced that experts have now removed more than half a ton of the encrustations.

The result: the Hunley has much of the look and menace of a modern sub and is clearly the ancestor of the U-boat and the nuclear submarine of today.

[apocalypto]

I saw the film on the Hunley. Great film. I think the title was "The Hunley."

"Dead Wake" is an excellent book. I recently read "Death in the Baltic" about Wilhelm Gustloff, the deadliest sea tragedy ever.

[blam]

Built about ten miles from where I am sitting presently.

[exit82]

Read that book this spring. Wonderful book and very well researched.

[Yardstick]

Wow, the things they could do 150 years ago. Just very cool.

[SunkenCiv]

...it’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap...

[Bigg Red]

Very nice. Would love to see it one day. Actually, we have a trip to SC coming up soon, but the husband says Charleston is too far for a daytrip from where we are camping. Putting it on the list for next year’s trips.