USS Housatonic
frigate · United States · Lost 1864
Status: protected · Curator Verified
Research & Discovery: Dr. E. Lee Spence — Marine Archaeologist
Significance
The USS Housatonic holds the ignominious distinction of being the first warship ever sunk by a submarine in combat. On the evening of February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley approached and detonated a spar torpedo against her hull. The Housatonic sank within five minutes, taking five crew members with her. Her sinking is one of the most consequential events in naval history, proving that submersible vessels could serve as effective weapons of war. The wreck site is protected as a US government property and naval war grave.
Technical Details
| Vessel Type | frigate |
|---|---|
| Flag / Nation | United States |
| Builder | Boston Navy Yard |
| Built | 1861 |
| Length | 70 m |
| Tonnage | 1240 tons |
| Cargo | US Navy warship, guns and naval stores |
| Date Lost | February 17, 1864 |
| Cause of Loss | combat |
| Conflict | American Civil War |
| Body of Water | Atlantic Ocean |
| Region | South Carolina, USA |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 32.7195°, -79.771° |
| Discovery Year | 1909 |
| Discovered By | US Army Corps of Engineers |
Sources & Citations
- [1] Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion.
- [2] Chaffin, Tom. The H.L. Hunley. 2008.
- [3] US Naval Historical Center records.
Related Wrecks
- H.L. Hunley (1864) — South Carolina, USA
- Mary Bowers (1864) — South Carolina, USA
- Norseman (1864) — South Carolina, USA
- CSS Georgiana (1863) — South Carolina, USA
- Stonewall Jackson (1863) — South Carolina, USA
- Minho (1862) — South Carolina, USA