Study of The Hunley Continues

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The world has a clearer view of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley for the first time in nearly 150 years.

Truss shrouding Confederate submarine removed

Crews at a North Charleston conservation lab on Thursday lifted a more than eight-ton truss that has shrouded the hand-cranked sub for the last dozen years.

The operation took about 15 minutes as the truss was slowly lifted and moved laterally over the tank.

The endeavor allows conservation of the sub to begin. Scientists hope that getting a close look at the entire hull will finally yield clues as to why the Hunley sank in 1864 with its crew of eight.

The Hunley sent the federal blockade ship Housatonic to the bottom, becoming the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship before sinking, too.

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