They Perished In A 19th-Century Submarine, And Their Cause Of Death Remains A Mystery

This 40-foot-long vessel made history as the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy ship during battle

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• April 10, 2024

The sinking of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley on February 17, 1864, off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, remains shrouded in mystery even after more than 150 years. This 40-foot-long vessel made history as the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy ship during battle, yet its fate, along with that of its eight crew members, has remained a puzzle to historians and researchers alike.

Following its successful attack on the USS Housatonic, during which the Hunley embedded a torpedo in the Union vessel's hull, the submarine signaled its success to shore and began its journey back to land. However, neither the sub nor its crew ever returned. Instead, the Hunley sank to the ocean floor, leaving behind unanswered questions about the sudden demise of its occupants.

Despite efforts to uncover the truth behind the fate of the Hunley and its crew, conclusive evidence regarding the cause of their deaths has remained elusive. Notably, when the submarine was recovered from the ocean depths in 2000, an examination of its hull revealed no significant damage that could account for the crew's demise.

Even after researchers accessed the crew compartment, they found no clear indication of what led to their untimely end. Various theories have been proposed over the years in an attempt to explain the tragic fate of the Hunley's crew.

One possibility is that the submarine may have been struck by a passing vessel, causing it to take on water and sink. Another theory suggests that the crew may have miscalculated their oxygen levels, leading to asphyxiation as the submarine descended to deeper depths.

Additionally, it has been speculated that a bullet fired through a porthole could have fatally wounded the captain, rendering the crew unable to navigate the vessel back to safety.

However, a group of scientists, led by biomechanist Rachel Lance, has put forth a compelling theory based on their research published in the Plos One journal. Lance and her colleagues designed a miniature model of the Hunley and replicated the explosion caused by the torpedo in a controlled setting.

Their experiments, conducted at a farm in St. Louis, North Carolina, revealed the formation of a shock wave generated by the blast, leading the researchers to posit that a similar phenomenon occurred aboard the actual submarine.

According to Lance, the shock wave generated by the explosion could have inflicted fatal injuries on the crew, specifically causing pulmonary hemorrhage as the wave reached their lungs. This hypothesis suggests that the force of the blast, rather than any external factors or mechanical failures, may have been responsible for the sudden and simultaneous deaths of the Hunley's occupants.

Over 150 years later, the cause of the men's sudden deaths without physical injuries remains a mystery.

The sub, raised from the ocean in 2000, had minimal hull damage.

Researchers couldn't determine the cause of death even after opening the crew compartment.

Several theories explain the Hunley's sinking: a collision with a ship causing a leak, a miscalculation of oxygen levels leading to asphyxiation, or a bullet killing the captain through the porthole, leaving the crew stranded.

Some scientists think the torpedo explosion that sank the USS Housatonic also killed its crew.

In a study in Plos One, biomechanist Rachel Lance tested a mini Hunley model's explosion in North Carolina, revealing a shock wave that suggests the same occurred with the actual Hunley.

Lance thinks the wave impacted every crew member, leading to lung damage and fatal pulmonary hemorrhage. He mentioned that such a forceful wave, akin to explosives experienced in the field, results in unmistakable and instant harm.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the sinking of the H.L. Hunley may never be fully elucidated, ongoing research and scientific inquiry continue to shed light on this enduring maritime mystery.

The efforts of researchers like Rachel Lance underscore the importance of exploring new avenues of investigation to unravel the secrets of the past and honor the memory of those who perished aboard the historic submarine.

Damjan