Hunley adapted from original designs by William A. Upper Left: Cutaway drawings of the Confederate submarine H. This private engineer worked on secret projects on behalf of the Confederate States of America during the war. Singer, nephew of Isaac Singer who invented the sewing machine. The spar torpedo was developed during the Civil War by E.C. H.L Hunley submarine model is on loan from The History Museum of Mobile (L2008.006.0002) It is on display to the public in Charleston. Since then, the South Carolina Hunley Commission and private, non profit group, the Friends of the Hunley, are unlocking the mysteries of this fascinating submarine. Her resting place in the Atlantic Ocean on August 8, 2000. Lost at sea for 137 years, she was raised from Amazingly well preserved and intact, the Hunley was found buried deep within the sand and silt just outside of Charleston Harbor. The actual submarine was discovered by author and adventurer Clive Cussler in 1995. Hunley replica (model) exhibited here was built in Mobile in the 1960's and is based on sole surviving crewmember William Alexander's early 20th century drawings. Armed with a spar-mounted torpedo attached to the bow, it was powered by eight crewmen who turned a hand-cranked propeller and attained a surface speed of about 4 knots. The cutaway sketch to the left shows that this 'submarine' barely submerged below water surface. Three training runs in late 1863 ended in tragedy, killing a combined 14 crew members, including the submarine's financier and namesake Horace L. Her mission was to break the Union blockade of Charleston Harbor and allow much needed supplies to once again flow into this key Confederate city. Built in Mobile, Alabama in 1863, the Hunley was shipped via railroad to Charleston, South Carolina on August 12, 1863. Housatonic making it the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship. Hunley attacked and sank the Union warship U.S.S. On February 17, 1864, the Confederate torpedo boat/submarine H.

Hunley submarine evolution, (Image courtesy of Dan Dowdy and Friends of The Hunley website Naval Historical Photograph #58769), Lower Right: Illustration of H.L. , Captions, Upper Left: Cutaway drawings of the Confederate submarine H. Hunley - Mobile (1863), Did You Know?, The spar torpedo was developed during the Civil War by E.C. , Speed - 4 knots (4.6 mph), Compliment - 1 officer, 7 enlisted, Armament - spar torpedo (135 lb.), Pioneer I - New Orleans (1861), Pioneer II - Mobile (1862), H.L. Hunley General Stats, Displacement - 7.5 short tons, Length/Beam - 39.5.feet/3.83 feet, Height - 4 feet, Propulsion - hand-cranked prop. It is on display to the public in Charleston., H.L Hunley submarine model is on loan from The History Museum of Mobile (L2008.006.0002), H.L. Lost at sea for 137 years, she was raised from her resting place in the Atlantic Ocean on August 8, 2000.

Confederate States Torpedo Boat Submarine.