The H.L. Hunley was a submarine built by the Confederate States of America in 1863, during the American Civil War. Two tragic mishaps during testing resulted in the deaths of 13 crewmen in Charleston Harbor, including its namesake, Horace Lawson Hunley. The Hunley was finally put into action in 1864, when it successfully ventured into the Atlantic Ocean, and rammed the USS Housatonic with its spar torpedo, and sank her. The Hunley was the first submarine to ever sink an enemy ship. But the submarine disappeared with its 8 crewmen, and its location remained a mystery for over a hundred years. Today, the HL Hunley resides at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, South Carolina.

This episode explores the history of early semi-submersible and submersible vessels, and the gradual development of submarine technology, including the Confederate built David class vessels, the Pioneer, American Diver, and finally the HL Hunley.

This episode is also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tCpgWaw0P4U

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano.

Original theme music for Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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