Today in History: A Submarine Sinks a Warship for the First Time

On this day (February 17) in 1864 the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to sink a warship. The Confederate vessel was as dangerous to its crew as it was to other ships. It sank twice in 1863 while being tested killing 5 and 8 crewmembers respectively. Then it successfully sank the U.S.S. Housatonic (killing 5) which was blockading Charleston Harbor but sank because it was only twenty feet away from the exploding torpedo. All eight crewmembers died. The wreck of the Hunley was found in1995 and raised 5 years later and can be seen today in North Charleston.