[elcid1970]

It will be interesting to compare the real Hunley submersible with the reconstructed replicas (IIRC, one is in Columbia, the other in Charleston).

Does anyone notice that the rudder appears to be missing from the original sub?

[tanknetter]

It will be interesting to compare the real Hunley submersible with the reconstructed replicas (IIRC, one is in Columbia, the other in Charleston).

I've been to see the Hunley twice. Once about a year after they recovered it, then again last year (right after they'd righted it - it had been set at about a 45 degree "roll" angle since recovery).

The differences between it and the Charleston replica are significant. As are the differences between it and the various models used in the making of "They Hunley" movie. They've found all sorts of fascinating innovations, such as much better hydrodynamics (particularly in the streamlined and concave bow area) and an flywheel running around the inner hull that was used as a "power assist" to the guys turning the crank.

Couple added notes. First, although it's nice to see the Hunley out of the truss, in the two visits I made I never really found it to be all that obstructive. Second, any visit to the Hunley should be accompanied by a visit to Magnolia Cemetery right down the road. That's where all three crews lost on the sub are buried. The Cemetery is fascinating in its own right - very old, very Southern. Not some place I'd want to be after dark (and I've walked places like Devil's Den and the Slaughter Pen at Gettysburg at night).

[az_gila]

It will be interesting to compare the real Hunley submersible with the reconstructed replicas (IIRC, one is in Columbia, the other in Charleston).

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This is my picture of the Charleston replica taken last May.

It's also interesting that we have to go to a UK newspaper for this article.

[TXnMA]

"It will be interesting to compare the real Hunley submersible with the reconstructed replicas (IIRC, one is in Columbia, the other in Charleston)." One immediately obvious difference is that the replicas (at least the one in Charleston) show a top-mounted, horizontal wooden spar with the torpedo directly in line with it.

I hosted a private forum for scientists, archaeologists and historians working on planning the raising. There, (based on scale CAD drawings of the Hunley and the Housatonic at the moment of closest approach and the fact that the blast severed the Housatonic's prop shaft) I predicted that the torpedo was deployed via an 18--20-foot 2" or so iron pipe, pivoted via a Y-yoke off the lower bow and deployed at a downward angle of 30 degrees.

Shortly afterward, historian and author, Mark Ragan, posted a drawing from the US Archives of "Singer's Torpedo -- used for sinking the Housatonic" with triple, lanyard-triggered percussion fuses -- and a socket on the back for a 2' pipe -- mounted at a thirty degree angle!

When they excavated the lower bow before placing the caisson in front of the Hunley, there was the Y-yoke -- just as predicted...

~~~~~~~~

Just found a couple of old images from the forum:

"Blast Point" shows the probable location of the blast on the Housatonic -- and

Is one of the sketches Mark Ragan found depicting the torpedo...

Not sure if the hard drive with the CAD drawings is still operable; I'll check...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucked out! Take a look at

IIRC, that is the first time that sketch has been seen by the public...

[rockrr]

It will be interesting to compare the real Hunley submersible with the reconstructed replicas (IIRC, one is in Columbia, the other in Charleston).

I found this while looking at different Hunley links: