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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

THE FIRST SUBMARINE TO SINK A SHIP

The first submarine to sink an enemy ship was the H. L. Hunley during the American Civil War. On February 17, 1864, a Confederate submarine with a crew of 8, including Confederate Lt. George Dixon, set off into the Charleston Harbor to sink the Union ship U.S.S. Housatonic. The sub was man powered by hand cranks attached to the propeller shaft.

They were successful in attaching an explosive to the U.S.S. Housatonic and detonating it, sending the ship to the bottom, however, before it could return to port, the H.L. Hunley sank to the bottom also killing its entire crew.

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INTERESTING BOOKS ABOUT THE H. L. HUNLEY

Convergence of Valor: The Men of the H. L. Hunley

Shipwreck Search: Discovery of the H. L. Hunley (On My Own Science)

The CSS H.L. Hunley : Confederate Submarine