H. L. Hunley, Civil War submarine in North Charleston, United States

The H. L. Hunley is a Confederate hand-cranked submarine built at Mobile, Alabama, and launched in July 1863. Its riveted iron hull, about 12 m long, tapers at both ends and carries two hatches, a four-bladed propeller in a circular shroud, and a single vertical fin. It is displayed at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston.

The submarine was built during the Civil War in Alabama and transported by rail to Charleston, where it successfully attacked and sank the USS Housatonic in 1864. After the attack, it disappeared with its entire crew and remained on the ocean floor until 1995, when it was located and then raised in 2000.

The crew operated the submarine by turning a hand crank together that drove a propeller, while working in a cramped space with limited light. This human-powered system shows the physical effort and close teamwork that were necessary for every mission.

The Warren Lasch Conservation Center displays the hull in a tank of water on the Cooper River in North Charleston. The vessel is kept submerged between examinations, so what visitors see is the exterior of the iron hull rather than a dry exhibit. Access to the tank area is by guided tour.

The German sources record 35 deaths across the submarine's accidents, while the English article counts 21 crewmen lost in three sinkings. The boat's hull was built from a steam boiler split in two, with a 30.5 cm steel band inserted between the halves for strength.