Table of Contents
- 1 When was the Housatonic sunk?
- 2 What caused the USS Hunley to sink?
- 3 How many died on the Housatonic?
- 4 How many times did the Hunley sink?
- 5 Where can you see the Hunley today?
- 6 What does the word Housatonic mean?
- 7 What was the significance of the sinking of the USS Housatonic?
- 8 When was the first USS Housatonic launched?
When was the Housatonic sunk?
17 February 1864
Housatonic was one of four sister ships which included USS Adirondack, USS Ossipee, and USS Juniata. Housatonic is recognized as being the first ship sunk in combat by a submarine when she was attacked and sunk by H.L….USS Housatonic (1861)
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Commissioned | 29 August 1862 |
| Fate | Sunk 17 February 1864 |
| General characteristics |
What really sank the Hunley?
On February 17, 1864, the H.L. Hunley sank from an explosion shortly after it plunged a live torpedo into the hull of the Union warship USS Housatonic.
What caused the USS Hunley to sink?
On February 17, 1864, the ship headed out of Charleston Harbor and approached the U.S.S. Housatonic. The Hunley struck a torpedo into the Yankee ship and then backed away before the explosion. The Housatonic sank in shallow water, and the Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle.
Were there bodies found in the Hunley?
Crew Remains: Archaeologists excavating the Hunley after its recovery in 2000 found the crewmembers’ remains were largely found at their stations, with no sign of panic or desperate attempts to escape the submarine.
How many died on the Housatonic?
In mere moments, a large explosion on the Housatonic sunk the vessel. Despite the rapid sinking, most of the ship’s 150-member crew had enough time to abandon the ship. Only five of the Union crew were reported killed.
How old is the Housatonic River?
Indigenous people began using the river area for fishing and hunting at least 6,000 years ago. By 1600, the inhabitants were mostly Mohicans and may have numbered 30,000. The river’s name is derived from the Mohican phrase “usi-a-di-en-uk”, translated as “beyond the mountain place” or “river of the mountain place”.
How many times did the Hunley sink?
Hunley was a Confederate submarine with a crew of eight. But despite its claim to fame, it was a dangerous vessel to be inside. In a career of just eight months during the Civil War, between July 1863 and February 1864, the sub sank three times, killing nearly 30 men—including its inventor.
How many ships did the Hunley sink?
She was then shipped by rail on 12 August 1863, to Charleston. Hunley (then referred to as the “fish boat”, the “fish torpedo boat”, or the “porpoise”) sank on 29 August 1863, during a test run, killing five members of her crew….H. L. Hunley (submarine)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Confederate States | |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1978 |
Where can you see the Hunley today?
Finally located in 1995, Hunley was raised in 2000, and is on display in North Charleston, South Carolina, at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center on the Cooper River.
How polluted is the Housatonic?
The Housatonic River and its floodplain are heavily contaminated with PCBs originating from the GE Facility in Pittsfield, MA. PCBs are present in large quantities in river sediment and floodplain soil; estimates range from between 100,000 to nearly 600,000 pounds of PCBs.
What does the word Housatonic mean?
The Algonkian word Housatonic, also spelled Housatunnock or Aussatinnoag, meaning “ a place beyond the mountain” has been applied to a river running through western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut and a band of Mohican Indians.
Where is the Hunley today?
Today it resides on the campus of Clemson University’s Restoration Institute at 1250 Supply St. in North Charleston. The space is part conservation lab, part museum, said Kellen Butler, executive director of Friends of the Hunley. Scientists work on the submarine during the week while guests can visit on the weekends.
What was the significance of the sinking of the USS Housatonic?
The Sinking of USS Housatonic on 17 February 1864 during the American Civil War was an important turning point in naval warfare.
How long did it take to sink the Housatonic?
Within five minutes, Housatonic was partially underwater. H.L. Hunley thus achieved the first sinking of a warship in combat via submarine. Five men – two officers and three crewmen – went down with their ship while an unknown number of Union Navy sailors were injured.
When was the first USS Housatonic launched?
Housatonic was launched on 20 November 1861, by the Boston Navy Yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, sponsored by Miss Jane Coffin Colby and Miss Susan Paters Hudson; and commissioned there on 29 August 1862, with Commander William Rogers Taylor in command.
How many people died in the Housatonic?
Two officers and three men in Housatonic died. The Confederate submarine escaped but was lost with all hands not long after this action; new evidence announced by archaeologists in 2013 indicates that the submarine may have been much closer to the point of detonation than previously realized, thus damaging the submarine as well.