Mobile in Mobile County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

H.L. Hunley

Confederate States Torpedo Boat Submarine

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

1. H.L. Hunley Marker

Inscription.

H.L. Hunley. Confederate States Torpedo Boat Submarine. On February 17, 1864, the Confederate torpedo boat/submarine H. L. Hunley attacked and sank the Union warship U.S.S. Housatonic making it the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship. Built in Mobile, Alabama in 1863, the Hunley was shipped via railroad to Charleston, South Carolina on August 12, 1863. Her mission was to break the Union blockade of Charleston Harbor and allow much needed supplies to once again flow into this key Confederate city. Three training runs in late 1863 ended in tragedy, killing a combined 14 crew members, including the submarine's financier and namesake Horace L. Hunley. The cutaway sketch to the left shows that this "submarine" barely submerged below water surface. Armed with a spar-mounted torpedo attached to the bow, it was powered by eight crewmen who turned a hand-cranked propeller and attained a surface speed of about 4 knots. , The H.L. Hunley replica (model) exhibited here was built in Mobile in the 1960's and is based on sole surviving crewmember William Alexander's early 20th century drawings. The actual submarine was discovered by author and adventurer Clive Cussler in 1995. Amazingly well preserved and intact, the Hunley was found buried deep within the sand and silt just outside of Charleston Harbor. Lost at sea for 137 years, she was raised from her resting place in the Atlantic Ocean on August 8, 2000. Since then, the South Carolina Hunley Commission and private, non profit group, the Friends of the Hunley, are unlocking the mysteries of this fascinating submarine. It is on display to the public in Charleston., H.L Hunley submarine model is on loan from The History Museum of Mobile (L2008.006.0002), H.L. Hunley General Stats , Displacement - 7.5 short tons , Length/Beam - 39.5.feet/3.83 feet , Height - 4 feet , Propulsion - hand-cranked prop. , Speed - 4 knots (4.6 mph) , Compliment - 1 officer, 7 enlisted , Armament - spar torpedo (135 lb.), Pioneer I - New Orleans (1861) , Pioneer II - Mobile (1862) , H.L. Hunley - Mobile (1863), Did You Know? , The spar torpedo was developed during the Civil War by E.C. Singer, nephew of Isaac Singer who invented the sewing machine. This private engineer worked on secret projects on behalf of the Confederate States of America during the war. , Captions , Upper Left: Cutaway drawings of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley adapted from original designs by William A. Alexander (1863) , (Source U.S. Naval Historical Photograph #58769) , Lower Right: Illustration of H.L. Hunley submarine evolution , (Image courtesy of Dan Dowdy and Friends of The Hunley website

On February 17, 1864, the Confederate torpedo boat/submarine H. L. Hunley attacked and sank the Union warship U.S.S. Housatonic making it the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship. Built in Mobile, Alabama in 1863, the Hunley was shipped via railroad to Charleston, South Carolina on August 12, 1863. Her mission was to break the Union blockade of Charleston Harbor and allow much needed supplies to once again flow into this key Confederate city. Three training runs in late 1863 ended in tragedy, killing a combined 14 crew members, including the submarine's financier and namesake Horace L. Hunley. The cutaway sketch to the left shows that this "submarine" barely submerged below water surface. Armed with a spar-mounted torpedo attached to the bow, it was powered by eight crewmen who turned a hand-cranked propeller and attained a surface speed of about 4 knots.

The H.L. Hunley replica (model) exhibited here was built in Mobile in the 1960's and is based on sole surviving crewmember William Alexander's early 20th century drawings. The actual submarine was discovered by author and adventurer Clive Cussler in 1995. Amazingly well preserved and intact, the Hunley was found buried deep within the sand and silt just outside of Charleston Harbor. Lost at sea for 137 years, she was raised from

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

her resting place in the Atlantic Ocean on August 8, 2000. Since then, the South Carolina Hunley Commission and private, non profit group, the Friends of the Hunley, are unlocking the mysteries of this fascinating submarine. It is on display to the public in Charleston.

H.L Hunley submarine model is on loan from The History Museum of Mobile (L2008.006.0002)

H.L. Hunley General Stats
Displacement - 7.5 short tons
Length/Beam - 39.5.feet/3.83 feet
Height - 4 feet
Propulsion - hand-cranked prop.
Speed - 4 knots (4.6 mph)
Compliment - 1 officer, 7 enlisted
Armament - spar torpedo (135 lb.)

Pioneer I - New Orleans (1861)
Pioneer II - Mobile (1862)
H.L. Hunley - Mobile (1863)

Did You Know?
The spar torpedo was developed during the Civil War by E.C. Singer, nephew of Isaac Singer who invented the sewing machine. This private engineer worked on secret projects on behalf of the Confederate States of America during the war.

Captions
Upper Left: Cutaway drawings of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley adapted from original designs by William A. Alexander (1863)
(Source U.S. Naval Historical Photograph #58769)
Lower Right: Illustration of

The H.L. Hunley replica and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

2. The H.L. Hunley replica and Marker

H.L. Hunley submarine evolution
(Image courtesy of Dan Dowdy & Friends of The Hunley website

Erected by USS Alabama Memorial Park.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 17, 1864.

Location. 30° 40.89′ N, 88° 0.962′ W. Marker is in Mobile, Alabama, in Mobile County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Battleship Parkway and Old Spanish Trail (U.S. 98). The marker is located in the southern section of the USS Alabama Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile AL 36602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Memorial to USS Herring (SS-233) (within shouting distance of this marker); USN Patrol Boat (within shouting distance of this marker); "Take Her Down!" (within shouting distance of this marker); The Submarine Lookout Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Horace O. Davis (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fallen Guardians Monument (about 400 feet away); 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat (about 400 feet away); 41-Foot Utility Boat (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mobile.

The view of the H.L. Hunley replica and Marker from the USS Drum submarine entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

3. The view of the H.L. Hunley replica and Marker from the USS Drum submarine entrance

More about this marker. The marker is located on the outside section of the USS Alabama Memorial Park. There is a parking fee and entry fee required to visit the exhibits at the park.

Also see . . . H.L. Hunley (submarine).

H. L. Hunley, often referred to as Hunley, CSS H. L. Hunley, or as CSS Hunley, was a submarine of the Confederate States of America that played a small part in the American Civil War. Hunley demonstrated the advantages and the dangers of undersea warfare. She was the first combat submarine to sink a warship (USS Housatonic), although Hunley was not completely submerged and, following her successful attack, was lost along with her crew before she could return to base. The Confederacy lost 21 crewmen in three sinkings of Hunley during her short career. She was named for her inventor, Horace Lawson Hunley, shortly after she was taken into government service under the control of the Confederate States Army at Charleston, South Carolina. Source: Wikipedia

(Submitted on February 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Closeup of the bow with the attachment point for the spar torpedo image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

4. Closeup of the bow with the attachment point for the spar torpedo

Submarine Torpedo Boat H.L. Hunley, Dec. 6, 1863 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Conrad Wise Chapman - American Civil War Museum, December 6, 1863

5. Submarine Torpedo Boat H.L. Hunley, Dec. 6, 1863

"The inventor of this boat, a man named Hunley, can be seen; also a sentinel. This boat, it was at first thought would be very effective; twice it went out on its mission of destruction, but on both occasions returned with all the crew dead. After this had happened the second time, someone painted on it the word 'coffin.' There was just room enough in it for eight men, one in front of the other, with no possibility of anyone sitting straight. The third time it started out, it never came back, nor was anything ever heard from it, but as one of the United States men-of-war in the harbor (USS Housatonic) was sunk at about the same time, the supposition was that they both went to the bottom together. Other objects to be seen in the picture are, Sullivan's Island, and a Dispatch boat." – Conrad Wise Chapman, 1898

H.L. Hunley Cutaway drawings from marker image. Click for full size.

U.S. Naval Historical Photograph #58769 per marker, circa 1863

6. H.L. Hunley Cutaway drawings from marker

Cutaway drawings of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley adapted from original designs by William A. Alexander (1863)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 368 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.