CSS Hunley: The First Submarine
by 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 it was the first to sink a naval vessel in war.
Following the death of its inventor, the military commander of Charleston, General P.G.T Beauregard ordered that the Hunley’s new skipper Lt George E Dixon make the attack on the surface. Charleston, which had been blockaded and under siege for more than two years, was desperate to break the stranglehold. The Hunley represented their best and possibly only hope.
On the night of 17 February, 1864, and under the cover of darkness, the Hunley set sail, her target was the sloop USS Housotonic, five miles out to sea and blocking the entrance to Charleston harbour. The attack on the Houstonic was a complete success, the torpedo exploded sending the ship to the bottom in a matter of minutes taking 5 of her crew with her. The Hunley now lit the lantern to indicate that she was returning, this lantern was still seen to be lit more than an hour later. Exactly what happened next is unknown, but it is believed that Lt Dixon was forced to submerge to make it back into Charleston undetected. What is known is that they never made it.
On 8 August, 2000, the Hunley was raised from the bottom of Charleston harbour and salvaged. The bodies of the crew were found to be still at their posts so there had been no rush for the hatches indicating that they did not in fact drown but were probably overcome by a lack of oxygen. This may have been the result of a miscalculation by Lt Dixon. The remains of the crew were interred with full military honours on 17 April, 2004. Neither Charleston nor the South were ever to break the blockade.
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Post CommentGuy Hogan
On September 23, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Very well written, entertaining and informative. I’m a military history junkie. Job well done.
cassie simpson
On October 10, 2009 at 7:10 pm
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Kim Seabrook
On October 10, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Probably, I\’m just grateful someone bothered to look at it.
luke
On May 18, 2010 at 2:14 pm
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