H.L. Hunley Confederate Submarine

The building of this warship marked a significant advancement in naval warfare. During the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy warship after it attacked and sank the USS Housatonic in the Charleston harbour on February 17th, 1864. The Hunley itself sank shortly after and the eight crewmen on board drowned. Over a century later, the wreckage of the doomed watercraft was recovered and the remains of the crew were identified and buried in Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery.

Charleston, the Civil War and the Hunley

The Civil War had erupted after the April 1861 attack and surrender of Fort Sumter to the Confederates. President Abraham Lincoln then ordered a blockade on all major Southern ports. As the largest port in the South and the location of the prized Fort Sumter fortification, Charleston became the crux of the blockade. Searching for a way past the blockade, Confederate forces heard news of the Hunley’s successful trials and had it sent from Mobile, Alabama in August of 1863 for a viewing with the military commander. It was then acquired by the Confederate forces.

The Beginning of Submarine Warfare

The 1,240 ton USS Housatonic was a Union Navy warship that was part of the fleet blockading the Charleston harbour. On February 17, 1864, history was made in Sullivan’s Island just outside the harbour when the Hunley attacked, launching a 135-pound torpedo into the USS Housatonic, which sank. This marked the first successful submarine attack on a naval vessel in history. Several crewmen on the Housatonic died when the ship went down; others were later rescued. Shortly after, the victorious Hunley also sank, with the entire crew going down with the ship.

The Recovery

Over a century later on August 8 th, 2000, the wreck of the Hunley was recovered from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. In 2004 the remains of the crew were identified by DNA and interred with full military honours. The Hunley is now housed in a 90,000 gallon conservation tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

Visiting the H.L. Hunley Confederate Submarine

The Hunley is located at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, the former Charleston Navy Base, at 1250 Supply Street in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Visitors can purchase tickets to view the Hunley on weekends in the conservation laboratory. For more information call toll free 1-877-4HUNLEY or e-mail at membership@hunley.org

Click here to visit H.L. Hunley Confederate Submarine official website