USS Housatonic

H. L. Hunley. (2024, September 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._L._Hunley_(submarine)

In September 2021, the WLCC archaeological and conservation team collaborated with the South Carolina Institute of Archeology and Anthropology’s (SCIAA) Maritime Research Division to conduct a joint preliminary survey and test excavation of the shipwreck USS Housatonic. The goal of the project was to re-establish the orientation of the wreck and excavate a test pit at the aft section of the starboard side of the vessel where H.L. Hunley conducted its successful attack on February 17, 1864. Researchers hoped to find remnants of damaged sections of the hull caused by the torpedo that sank the blockading vessel, which might provide answers about the weapons system used by Hunley, one of the most significant remaining mysteries from the historic attack.

The teams from WLCC and SCIAA were able to reestablish the orientation of the hull of the USS Housatonic and locate the approximate location of the torpedo attack. However, the wreck was buried approximately eight feet below the seafloor, several feet deeper than expected based on previous survey data. After surveying the shipwreck, the team realized that because of the conditions and the depth of the wreck site, locating hull damage from the torpedo would be beyond the scope of the project. Instead, the decision was made to map out the extent of the wreck and use the data collected for future work on the site.