Working in the small confines of the roughly 4-foot tall hull, scientists are slowly breaking off the concretion — a layer of sand, sediment, shells and corrosion products — that built up slowly over time while she was lost at sea for over a century.
I get to watch the submarine come out of its shell and be one of the first people to actually see the crew compartment in over a century. Human Remains Found: A tooth was found in the concretion on crank position number 3, where it is believed crew member Frank Collins sat. His remains were buried in alongside his crewmates and others that lost their lives in the testing and development of the Hunley.
At the time of his burial, several teeth were missing from his cranium. Forensic analysis of the skull indicated the teeth were lost after his death from decomposition, meaning the discovery of more human remains was not a totally unanticipated find. The flywheel that powered the propeller can now be seen as a clever piece of engineering. Practical Design: The iron crank system was designed to address the vigorous challenges of cranking.
Cranking for the length of time needed to reach the enemy target ship was strenuous work and no doubt caused muscle fatigue with blisters and sores. It appears a thin metal tube was wrapped loosely around the crank to allow for easier work. The tube was also covered in a cloth material, likely meant to soften and alleviate the rub on the hands. Until recently, the concretion completely covered the vessel both inside and out. It is being removed so that a conservation treatment can be completed to ensure the submarine is preserved for our generation and the ones to come.
It has been a multi-year process with several different phases. First, the exterior of the submarine was cleaned of this encrustation. Then, in , scientists moved their work to clearing it off the interior. Scientists uncover what killed crew of Civil War sub H. Science Scientists uncover what killed crew of Civil War sub H.
Hunley Scientists say they've solved a longstanding mystery about what killed the crew of the first combat submarine ever to take down an enemy ship.
Social Sharing. The Hunley itself later sank, with its crew of eight aboard. It has now been replaced with the correct link. Related Stories Video. These small glass ports were equipped with iron covers that could make the ports watertight and also block any light from escaping the sub, and possibly alerting ships to their presence. These ports were all found closed.
Historical Records : Some historical evidence suggests the Hunley did not sink immediately after the attack and light, perhaps in the forms of signals, was seen by both Union and Confederate sources.
Records indicate the Hunley crew was to signal to shore if they were successful in sinking the Union warship. Lieutenant Col. The lights never appeared. Was Flemming the last man to see the Hunley for more than a century? If he was, his account could suggest a tragic end for the Hunley. Also, because the Hunley had no ports facing aft, the crew might not have even known a ship was bearing down on the submarine. The aft hatch cover being prepared for removal.
The true appearance of the aft pump can now be seen after deconcretion was completed. Sediment In-filling: After the Hunley filled with water, sediment suspended in the water column settled along the bottom of the submarine.
Analysis of the deposition of sediment indicates some additional material filling the submarine over time may have entered near the forward conning tower. Here is what we know as of now…. Next: Top Possible Theories.
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