The story of Hunley, the first Submarine

This is an interesting story. It is about the first submarine that ever sank a ship. 

On February 17^th, 1864 during the American Civil War “The Hunley”, a Confederate submarine, sank the “USS Housatonic”.

A date that started a new kind of warfare, one which over the next century caused havoc in two World Wars.

Who developed the first Submarine?

It was developed by the Confederate side in the American Civil War.  It was an incredibly risky venture, as, would you believe it “The Hunley” sank twice in trials, killing all the crew each time, then after successfully sinking the USS Housatonic, it sank again!

It was called “The Hunley” after its inventor, Horace Lawson Hunley. He built it at Mobile, Alabama and it was then taken by the Confederate Army.  Being nearly 12m long, they then had to find a way to get it to Charleston, which they did by rail. 

29^th August 1864 the day it sank!

Is the day “The Hunley” set out on a test run, but unfortunately it sank, killing all five members of her crew.

Then it sank again!

They recovered her, modified her and then sent her out again in October 1863, with a new crew of eight, including the designer, Horace Hunley, himself.  Once more it sank, killing all on board, including Horace.   They raised it again, modified it and in February 1864 sent it out one more time, this time on active service.

It sank a third time!

Only this time, she was sent to attack “USS Housatonic”, which was blockading Charleston’s outer harbour. Once more, “The Hunley” did not survive, because this time she was just 6m from her target, when her torpedo exploded. Once more she sank and, yes, her third crew was lost!

Not a fun story, but isn’t history interesting?

10 questions to discuss:

1. 1. 1. 1. Motivation for Innovation: What specific strategic needs or challenges during the American Civil War led the Confederates to develop a submarine?
         2. Early Design Flaws: Beyond sinking twice during trials, were there any specific design issues or limitations identified in the “Hunley” that contributed to these accidents?
         3. Crew Dynamics and Risks: Considering the repeated crew fatalities, how did the Confederates address crew morale, recruitment, and potential concerns about participating in such a risky mission?
         4. Sinking of the “USS Housatonic”: How did the “Hunley” manage to successfully attack and sink the Union warship despite its own vulnerability and history of accidents?
         5. Debate and Blame: Were there any investigations or controversies surrounding the third sinking of the “Hunley” and the cause of its demise?
         6. Legacy of the “H.L. Hunley”: How did the “Hunley”s brief operational history and tragic fate influence the development of future submarines and naval warfare tactics?
         7. Modern Salvage and Analysis: What technologies and insights were gained from the modern recovery and archaeological study of the “Hunley” wreck?
         8. Ethical Considerations: Considering the high loss of life associated with the “Hunley”, do you think its development and deployment were ethically justifiable in the context of the Civil War?
         9. Comparison to Other Early Submarines: How did the “Hunley” compare to other early submarine designs from different countries in terms of technology, capabilities, and operational success?
         10. Lessons Learned: What broader historical, technological, or strategic lessons can be drawn from the story of the “H.L. Hunley” and its impact on naval warfare?

These questions delve deeper into the technical aspects, historical context, ethical considerations, and broader impact of the “H.L. Hunley” and its place in the development of submarine warfare. 

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