Before commenting, please read: This video is NOT intended to say what did or didn't happen to Hunley or its crew. That is a separate topic. This is solely meant to explore the evolution of our understanding of Hunley since it was recovered. A side note is there is an audio error at 6:20. I say "Housatonic."
Those were some special men who would get into that contraption after it killed two other crews in most horrible fashion. I can't wrap my head around how desperate they were from the blockade that they'd attack it in such a way. Putting that mine on the end of a pole with contact detonation meant it was a suicide run pure and simple.
Well done and intriguing video. Your videos get better and better. As a kid who lived in Hunley Park Navy housing and went to Hunley Park Elementary in Charleston, we were told the story of the Hunley in the 1st grade. Even then I was amazed at the courage of the crew.
My take on this is that the crew were killed by the concussion. Which probably also started her seams. What is particularly interesting is that the mine was contact fused. Which raises the question as to if the crew where actually aware of that detail, and the weight of the charge. My suspicion is not. They were sacrificed.
Theory is that the concussion of the torpedo either killed or knocked the crew unconscious and damaged the sub to the point it started slowly taking on water. She sank to the harbor floor, where water continued to enter the crew compartment and eventually, (8:23 the next morning) stopped the pocket watch. I would think this could be easily confirmed if a physicist would determine the blast effect of the 135 pound weapon, the distance from that to the submarine (spar length) the concussive effect felt by the crew etc. Perhaps they were doomed the minute the torpedo was attached to the sub.
It's horrifying to think that in a instant the crew were knocked out and drowned where they were as their sub was left at the bottom of the sea. Though it's curious as to why the Henley ended up as far out as she did, I think it's possible that either currents or possibly surviving members of the crowd attempted to save themselves by desperately propelling the sub forward. With what little light in the sub being extinguished due to the explosion however, they were trying to sail blind and ended up moving further out to sea. Oxygen began to run out and the men who were alive either suffocated or drowned. A bit more fantastic version of events I admit, but still intriguing to think about.
Would you ever be willing to cover the Nov 13 battle off Guadalcanal? That's another naval action where there is a lot more information that recently came out using wreck evidence that greatly changes what occurred there.
Watches in the mid nineteenth century were not very accurate, although marine chronometers were. The time on the gold watch is the time the watch stopped not the time the Hunley sank. Mechanical watches run until 1) the energy in the mainspring is exhausted 2) they are stopped manually 3) environmental forces stop them. In the 60s I accidentally left a Timex watch in the wash. The Timex made it to the spin cycle, having survived filling the of the tub, wash and rinse cycles! This was neither a water proof nor a even a water resistant watch! It survived soaking in hot water, agitation during the wash cycle, centrifugal force of drain cycle, being flooded by the rinse water and only stopped while being spun dry. Just a cheap no jewels $10 watch. The Hunley might well have survived the initial explosion, slowly sunk and remained on he bottom until the crew was asphyxiated and the crew compartment flooded, hours or even days after he crew perished.
So much history is based on contemporary accounts and eyewitness statements. Given that often those have been erroneous it makes me wonder how much of history we can trust.
Before commenting, please read:
This video is NOT intended to say what did or didn't happen to Hunley or its crew. That is a separate topic. This is solely meant to explore the evolution of our understanding of Hunley since it was recovered.
A side note is there is an audio error at 6:20. I say "Housatonic."
Don't worry about errors, tour videos on these historical topics are always great.
Take care, and all the best.
Nice job. The story of the Hunley is fascinating!
Absolutely engrossing, one of your best yet. Thanks for posting!
Those were some special men who would get into that contraption after it killed two other crews in most horrible fashion. I can't wrap my head around how desperate they were from the blockade that they'd attack it in such a way. Putting that mine on the end of a pole with contact detonation meant it was a suicide run pure and simple.
Well done and intriguing video. Your videos get better and better. As a kid who lived in Hunley Park Navy housing and went to Hunley Park Elementary in Charleston, we were told the story of the Hunley in the 1st grade. Even then I was amazed at the courage of the crew.
Great video and thought provoking content! Thanks!
My take on this is that the crew were killed by the concussion. Which probably also started her seams. What is particularly interesting is that the mine was contact fused. Which raises the question as to if the crew where actually aware of that detail, and the weight of the charge.
My suspicion is not. They were sacrificed.
Dixon certainly knew.
Theory is that the concussion of the torpedo either killed or knocked the crew unconscious and damaged the sub to the point it started slowly taking on water. She sank to the harbor floor, where water continued to enter the crew compartment and eventually, (8:23 the next morning) stopped the pocket watch. I would think this could be easily confirmed if a physicist would determine the blast effect of the 135 pound weapon, the distance from that to the submarine (spar length) the concussive effect felt by the crew etc. Perhaps they were doomed the minute the torpedo was attached to the sub.
It's horrifying to think that in a instant the crew were knocked out and drowned where they were as their sub was left at the bottom of the sea. Though it's curious as to why the Henley ended up as far out as she did, I think it's possible that either currents or possibly surviving members of the crowd attempted to save themselves by desperately propelling the sub forward. With what little light in the sub being extinguished due to the explosion however, they were trying to sail blind and ended up moving further out to sea. Oxygen began to run out and the men who were alive either suffocated or drowned. A bit more fantastic version of events I admit, but still intriguing to think about.
Would you ever be willing to cover the Nov 13 battle off Guadalcanal? That's another naval action where there is a lot more information that recently came out using wreck evidence that greatly changes what occurred there.
I certainly will one day.
@@centralcrossing4732 The new evidence can be found in an article by Robert Lundgren, called The Naval Battle for Henderson Airfield, First Night.
Watches in the mid nineteenth century were not very accurate, although marine chronometers were. The time on the gold watch is the time the watch stopped not the time the Hunley sank. Mechanical watches run until 1) the energy in the mainspring is exhausted 2) they are stopped manually 3) environmental forces stop them. In the 60s I accidentally left a Timex watch in the wash. The Timex made it to the spin cycle, having survived filling the of the tub, wash and rinse cycles! This was neither a water proof nor a even a water resistant watch! It survived soaking in hot water, agitation during the wash cycle, centrifugal force of drain cycle, being flooded by the rinse water and only stopped while being spun dry. Just a cheap no jewels $10 watch. The Hunley might well have survived the initial explosion, slowly sunk and remained on he bottom until the crew was asphyxiated and the crew compartment
flooded, hours or even days after he crew perished.
John Cameron Swazy used to strap a Timex watch on an outboard motor propeller and cross a lake. The Timex took a licking and kept on ticking.
Hahahahahahaha
Sherman goes brrrrrrt
My nickname
So much history is based on contemporary accounts and eyewitness statements. Given that often those have been erroneous it makes me wonder how much of history we can trust.