Confederate Ships--H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 999: Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, artwork by R.G. Skerrett

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the CONFEDERATE STATES --

Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

H.L. Hunley, a small, hand-powered submarine, was privately built at Mobile, Alabama, in 1863, based on plans furnished by Horace Lawson Hunley, James R. McClintock and Baxter Watson. Her construction was sponsored by Mr. Hunley and superintended by Confederate officers W.A. Alexander and G.E. Dixon. Following trials in Mobile Bay, she was transported to Charleston, South Carolina, in August 1863 to serve in the defense of that port. On 29 August, while moored to a steamer, the submarine was accidently pulled over on its side and sank, drowning five members of her crew. After salvage, she was given a new crew and began a series of tests. However, during diving trials on 15 October 1863, she failed to surface. Horace Lawson Hunley, who was directing her operation, and the rest of her men were drowned.

H.L. Hunley was again raised and repaired. With a third crew, and under orders to only operate on the surface, she began a series of attempts to attack United States Navy ships on blockade duty off Charleston. On 17 February 1864, these efforts were successful. H.L. Hunley approached the steam sloop of war USS Housatonic and detonated a spar torpedo against her side. The Federal ship sank rapidly, becoming the first warship to be lost to a submarine's attack.

However, H.L. Hunley did not return from this mission, and was presumed lost with all hands. Her fate remained a mystery for over 131 years, until May 1995, when a search led by author Clive Cussler located her wreck. On 8 August 2000, following extensive preliminary work, the H.L. Hunley was raised and taken to a conservation facility at the former Charleston Naval Base. At present, she is the subject of a careful preservation effort that ultimately should place her in suitable condition for general public exhibition.

This page features all our images of the submarine H.L. Hunley.

For photographs of the raising of the H.L. Hunley, see:

Submarine H.L. Hunley -- Recovery, 8 August 2000.

For more information on the submarine H.L. Hunley, see the "Frequently Asked Questions" entry:

H.L. Hunley, Confederate Submarine.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 999

Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Sepia wash drawing by R.G. Skerrett, 1902, after a painting then held by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society Museum, Richmond, Virginia.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 440 pixels

Photo #: NH 53544

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Inboard profile and plan drawings, after sketches by W.A. Alexander, who directed her construction.
Key to numbered features also includes entries for Photo # NH 53545.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 460 pixels

Photo #: NH 53545

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Midships section drawing, after sketches by W.A. Alexander, who directed her construction.
Key to numbered features is provided in Photo # NH 53544.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Photo #: NH 58769

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Cutaway drawings published in France, based on sketches by William A. Alexander, who directed her construction.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 380 pixels

Photo #: NH 63085

Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Model built by Floyd Houston, New Suffolk, New York. It was presented by him to the Naval Historical Foundation on 7 April 1960.
Note spar torpedo projecting from the submarine's bow.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Photo #: NH 63084

Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Model built by Floyd Houston, New Suffolk, New York, and presented by him to the Naval Historical Foundation on 7 April 1960.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 46KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Photo #: NH 51949

Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley (1863-1864)

Model built by Floyd Houston, New Suffolk, New York, and presented by him to the Naval Historical Foundation on 7 April 1960.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Photo #: NH 53543

Park and Lyons machine shop building, Mobile, Alabama

Where the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley was constructed in 1863.
Located at the corner of Water and State Streets, in Mobile, this old building housed the Gill Welding and Boiler Works when photographed in about 1960.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 620 pixels

Additional Images of the submarine H.L. Hunley are owned by other institutions. Among them are the following:

(1): Sketch by Conrad Wise Chapman, showing H.L. Hunley from the port stern, while out of the water at Charleston, SC, on 6 December 1863. A man is leaning on her rudder, talking with a second man who is seated nearby holding a musket.
This image is owned by the Museum of the Confederacy, 1201 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

(2): Pencil ketch by Conrad Wise Chapman, showing H.L. Hunley from the starboard stern, while she was out of the water at Charleston, SC, on 2 December 1863.
This image is owned by the Valentine Museum of the Life and History of Richmond, 1015 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

For additional information on these items, the availability of reproductions and usage rights, contact the owning institutions. Both have WEB Sites that can be readily found through standard Internet search engines.