Ancient submarine Hunley (10 photos) Bashny.Net

"Hanley" - the first submarine successfully torpedoed the ship opponent. It happened in the five years before the release of the novel "20 Leagues Under the Sea" in 1864. The American Civil War was nearing completion: the army of the northern states triumphed for victory Southerners remained only hope for a miracle. From a technical point of view, the submarine "Hunley" it is they are.



Designed by James McClintock submarine, was an engineering breakthrough that time: the length of 12 meters and height of 1.75 meters, while the autonomous navigation for 2 hours, the rate of 4 miles per hour. However, the speed is directly dependent on the physical training of the crew - the fact that through the submarine was the crankshaft, which were supposed to rotate eight divers, sitting in a rather awkward position. The torpedo was on the end of a long harpoon attached to the bow of the boat. Thus, the "torpedo" was more like a battering ram.



The boat was delivered to Charleston by rail in the summer of 1863, but during one of the exercises sank, taking with him five crew members. Two weeks later, it raised, repaired, recruited a new team conducted a successful training attack, but four days later the submarine went to the bottom again. Among the soldiers stuck behind it the name of "floating coffin" that caused some difficulties to third crew. However, the money did their job - $ 2.5 million guaranteed with the team sinking an enemy ship - eight people volunteered to become divers.



February 17, 1864 "Hanley" attacked the corvette "Hyusatonik." The crew noticed the approaching boat, and even opened fire on it, but that did not stop the submarine torpedo to sink into the board and giving back up, pull the rope that led to the detonation of gunpowder. Sinking "Hyusatonik", "Hunley" signaled that the operation is performed, and it returns to port. Submarine home and never returned. Submarine found only in 1995. When it opened, it was found that all crew members are sitting in their seats, as if no one tried to escape. There are many versions of the death "Hunley" from sabotage to damage in the explosion. According to one of them: the boat lay on the bottom to hide, but the mouth of the team just fell asleep, invisible, as the candle went out, signaling a lack of oxygen.



One of the first raised inside the boat went ashore Charlstouona military commandant, Gen. P. Berigard.



He later recalled:
"The spectacle was indescribably awful. Curved agony of people huddled in a heap at the bottom. On the faces of all frozen in an expression of despair and death throes. Some were holding candles burned. Hunley was at his post. His right hand rested on the hatch cover, as if trying to open it, the left has been clamped candle ».