CSS Hunley: The First Submarine

The CSS Hunley, wasn’t strictly speaking the first submarine to be designed or indeed built, but it was the first to see active service, and the first to sink a naval vessel in war. It was named afer its designer and creator Horace Lawson Hunley, who worked on it with his associates James McLintock and Baxter Watson. But Hunley was to remain hands on throughout its development and testing.

By 1863, the Confederate South was being squeezed by the Northern blockade of its coastline and ports, and the territory it controlled was diminishing all the time. It didn’t have the navy with which to challenge Northern superiority at sea, so other methods were sought. On March 8, 1863, the Confederate States Ship Merrimac (later renamed the CSS Virginia) converted into the first Ironclad sailed into the harbour at Hampton Roads and set about the wooden warships moored there. It was a one-sided battle and the Northern fleet was badly mauled. As darkness set in the Merrimac withdrew, intending to return the following morning to complete the job. Much to their surprise upon their return they were confronted by the Northern Ironclad USS Monitor. A furious three hour gun battle raged before both ships withdrew. Though the clash at Hampton Roads changed the nature of naval warfare forever, the first attempt to break the Northern blockade had failed, the technology had come too late.

So still the search went on. The South used mines, torpedoes and sabotage, and they did indeed sink a great many Northern vessels, but it was never more than a pinprick of what was required. The Southern Authorities now pressurised Hunley to complete his design. Two previous designs had already sunk but on the 12 August, 1863, the Hunley at last arrived by rail at Charleston, South Carolina. It was to be commanded by Lt John A Payne and crewed by 7 volunteers, and it was to be rushed into service. It’s sea trials did not go well, however. On 29 August, Lt Payne accidental caused the submarine to submerge whilst its hatches were still open causing it to sink. Payne and 2 others escaped but 5 crewmen were drowned. On 15 October, the Hunley failed to surface drowning all on board including its creator Horace Hunley who was aboard to carry out final checks. On both occasions the Confederate Navy managed to salvage the vessel.

The Hunley was equipped with two watertight hatches but both were very narrow and made any quick attempt to abandon ship almost impossible. The space inside was also restricted and it was not possible to stand upright. It had a crew of 8, seven to turn the hand-cranked propellers, and one to guide and steer the vessel. At each end of the craft there were ballast tanks which could be flooded by valves and emptied by hand pumps. Extra ballast and buoyancy could be provided by the application and removal of lead weights. It was to be armed with a spar torpedo attached to the front of the craft which would be rammed into the vessel they were attacking. The Hunley would then detach itself and submerge, the torpedo would explode as the Hunley pulled away. That was the theory, at least.