Raising the Hunley

DISCOVERY 1995 Finding the Hunley wasnit easy. Many had tried and failed. including noted author Clive Cusslec who made four attempts between 1980 and 1995. Success came in May 1995, on Cussler's fourth try, when archaeolo his National Underwater P r off HOW IT WILL BE RAISED During the past two months. divers have been preparing a protective cocoon to go around the Hunley. A metal framework will provide support for the fragile vessel during its 29-foot journey to the surface. Atlantic Ocean Uarleton Mount Peant riny Cha ter the coast of Sullivans Island, southeast of Charleston. Divers removed 3 feet of sit and realized that they had uncovered one of Hunley's two small coning towers. The historic submarine rests on its starboard side with its bow pointing almost directly toward Sullivans wreckage Sulivans James sland land Palms HL Hunley Litrdry THE BOILER SUBMARINE Ocean dor A series of slings suspended from -2nch deadighes provided natnal ng to the inberior when faced The Hunley was made out of a cylindrical iron boiler and was bound together by iron strips and rtivets. Ballast tanks were attached to each end and could be filled with seawater to take the sub down. The crew pumped the water out to surface. the frame will cradle t from beneath, and deible bags injected with foam-contoured to fit the hull- will keep it from shifting during the lift and while tis transported pludder Ah hatch -Detonation ope spool Hunley -Hand-ganked prpeler shat Formad hat Captal Sings to a nearby esearch laboratory. Formad ballat Ah ballat tark Lnopeller LKeel ballants deopped off the submaire neeed tofce ly Dive planes cone the sibmarine's depth HISTORY e pump including Hunley, but each time it was raised and repaired. On Feb 17, 1864, the Hunley went out again under the direction of The HLHunley, which was named for a wealthy New Orleans lawyer who was one of its largest investors, first slid down a wooden ramp into Mobile Harbor in July 1863. After successful tests, miltary commanders decided the submarine would be based in Charleston. The Hunley was envisioned as a new Twice in 1863 the weapon to beak the blockade of Union ships that had cut of Union ship to the bottom, killing five of the 155 people on board. What happened next is a mystery. The Hunley signaled Confederate lookouts that it was returning to shore, but it never made R. This much is clear 22oot spar Lt. George Doxon. The target was the Union warship USS Housatonic, which was anchored three miles off The Hunley's attack on the coast of Breach Inlet. The Hunley successfully rammed its had sunk another torpedo spar into the side of the Housatonic. would not be repeated The explosion sent the until World War i Toepede -22foot spar the Confederacy from the rest of the world during the Civil Wat TORPEDO the Housatonic was the first time a submarine The Hunley's spar torpedo contained 90 pounds of black powder and a barbed tip. The barbs were intended to keep the explosive charge firmly attached to the wooden timbers of the enemy ship until detonation. warship. The event Hunley sank in Charleston Harboc kiling 13 men, THE CREW The Hunley sailed with a volunteer crew of at least eight men. Working conditions were cramped. Crew members entered the submarine, which was fashioned from an old boiler through fore and aft hatchways August 1863 and was a member that measured 14 inches by 15.75 inches. One voluntee, torpedo expert Charles Sprague, survived istec kiling all aboard. the first sinking of the Hunley in Detonation lart of the crew when the sub sank for the second time two months HUNLEY FACTS THE SINKING OF THE HOUSATONIC, 1864 75 tons 9 feet, S inches feet, 10 inches Hul height 4 feet, 3 inches Surface speed 4 knots(6 mphi Hand-cranked Eight or nine Amament one spar Weight Length With The Hunkey crew was trained to ram a torpeda, attached to the end of a spac inno the hull of an enemy ship. Aher the torpedo was lodged inside the enemy's hul the Hunley would back away as an attached 150 foot rope When the rope finished unspoling would tighten and activate the torpedo's explosive charge, blowing a hole in the enemy ship Power Crew Roeped Housatonk Sources US. News&World Report, Fends of the Hurley Inc, infomation compiled by ayne Snow and Mike loner JEROME THOMPON/S