Early Submarine

The early submarine was equal parts engineering ambition and life-threatening experiment. The CSS Hunley, built in 1863 to break the Union blockade of Charleston, was propelled by eight men turning a hand crank — sank twice in trials, was raised twice, and on February 17, 1864 became the first submarine in history to sink a warship when it detonated a spar torpedo against USS Housatonic. It then sank a third time and was not found for 131 years. Early submarines faced the fundamental problem of air: a sealed hull consumed its oxygen in hours, forcing operators to surface frequently or suffocate. Propulsion by hand crank or primitive electric motor limited range and speed severely. In the game this unit delivers a surprise torpedo attack from concealment, but is fragile, slow, and forced to surface regularly — easily destroyed by any vessel that spots it.