>the first successful combat submarine was used in the American Civil War by the Confederates to sink a Union WarshipFebruary 17, 1864. The USS Housatonic is sunk by the CSS Hunley. "About 8:45 p. m. the officer of the deck, Acting Master J. K. Crosby, discovered something in the water about 100 yards from and moving toward the ship. It had the appearance of a plank moving in the water. It came directly toward the ship, the time from when it was first seen till it was close alongside being about two minutes. During this time the chain was slipped, engine backed, and all hands called to quarters. The torpedo struck the ship forward of the mizzenmast, on the starboard side, in a line with the magazine. Having the after pivot gun pivoted to port we were unable to bring a gun to bear upon her. About one minute after she was close alongside the explosion took place, the ship sinking stern first and heeling to port as she sank." - Lieutenant Higginson, U.S. Navy, executive officer of the USS Housatonic
>The group of engineers made several attempts at propelling the new sub with an electric-magnetic engine or a small steam engine. Unfortunately, they were unable to produce enough power to safely and efficiently propel the submarine. This “trial and error” process took place over a period of several months until they decided to stick with a more conventional means of propulsion. They installed a hand crank and, by mid-January 1863, the American Diver was ready for harbor trials.imagine
>>64956565>sank three times, killing everyone on board each time
>>64957862is it fair to say it's more of a manned torpedo then?
>>64957865...
>>64957865Manned torpedoes would unironically be less deadly
>>64956565Ahh The first sub to both win and lose at the same time.
>>64956572Nightmarish
>>64957862>"I'm gonna make Das Boot look like a fucking joke">"What the hell's a 'Das Boot'--">FLOODING AFT FLOODING AFTJesus fucking Christ
>>64957862Neptune demands sacrifice.
>>64957862The theory I heard recently is the third time, after sinking the Housatonic, the crew decided to lay low for a bit before surfacing, to avoid capture. They came to a rest at the seabed but never resurfaced. By the time they tried to ascend, it was too late, the air was too thin. They didn't drown, they choked.If true, their bodies would be trapped in a damp, iron tomb beneath the waves perhaps for years before seawater made its way inside.
>>64956565The south lost, get over it.
>>64966091The Hunley was a lot closer than initially believed, and was likely hit by the blast, which would've pulped the occupants.
>>64966091>>64966127Imagine the smell
>>64956572get in boyswe CRANKIN tonight!
