Solved: What killed the crew of the H.L. Hunley ...

[dogtag]

Excellent article and pics. 1st class research by this Lady.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-L-Hunley.html

[Roadkingtrax]

Water.

[Vern Humphrey]

I don't know anybody knowledgeable about the Hunley who DOESN'T think she wasn't killed by her own torpedo.

[dogtag]

I don't know anybody knowledgeable about the Hunley who DOESN'T think she wasn't killed by her own torpedo.

That was obvious but was not the question. What actually killed them was.
Someone killed by a bullet is also obvious, but what actually caused death ?
Heart, kidney, liver, blood loss, shock ?
Read the article - all of it.

[Roadkingtrax]

Pretty sure it was water.

[togor]

The shock wave from 135 lbs of black powder going off 16 feet away, carried by water, would have been considerable. Maybe they should have used a longer pole.

Seriously though, the men must have known it was a one way trip, given the first two outcomes. Incredibly brave.

[lyman]

interesting article, Thanks for posting it DT,


I was there (Charleston) for the funeral procession, that was a sight to see

[blackhawknj]

First generation technology, inadequate R&D. When William B. Cushing and his crew sank the Albemarle, they used a 14 foot spar torpedo. The explosion threw Cushing and his crew off their steam launch into the water, giving them a chance to escape.

[Vern Humphrey]

Originally the plan was to release a torpedo on the far side of the ship, then back off, pulling a lanyard to detonate it. That was scrapped for a spar torpedo.

[blackhawknj]

When Ezra Lee set off in the Turtle to sink HMS Eagle David Bushnell had designed a clockwork fuse mechanism for the powder charge.

[Vern Humphrey]

When Ezra Lee set off in the Turtle to sink HMS Eagle David Bushnell had designed a clockwork fuse mechanism for the powder charge.

Yep -- unfortunately, the copper bottoms of the British ships prevented attaching it.

[jjrothWA]

well, actually it was a wooden screw, that broke on contact. had they used a simple bayonet, then Lord Admiral Howe, would have benn "sleeping with the fishes"!

[blackhawknj]

I read that the currents and the tide, the rocking of the ship, kept Ezra Lee from keeping the drill stable against the hull. Which I can understand. I drilled an aluminum piece may 1/4" thick last week, with an electric drill, plenty of oil and good light, it still took me at least 10 minutes.

[Vern Humphrey]

I read that the currents and the tide, the rocking of the ship, kept Ezra Lee from keeping the drill stable against the hull. Which I can understand. I drilled an aluminum piece may 1/4" thick last week, with an electric drill, plenty of oil and good light, it still took me at least 10 minutes.

Given the difficulties -- not least that British warships were copper-bottomed -- it was a non-starter.

[Roadkingtrax]

Given the difficulties -- not least that British warships were copper-bottomed -- it was a non-starter.

Copper sheathing is less than a millimeter thickness, and is for wood boring organisms. The turtle's device was designed to penetrate copper, it was the iron plate at the rudder that was the problem.