The H. L. Hunley was a remarkable submarine built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War, aiming to challenge the naval supremacy of the Union. On February 17, 1864, in Charleston Harbor, the Hunley embarked on its most significant mission to date under the command of Lieutenant George Dixon. The submarine approached its target, the USS Housatonic, a Union warship that was blockading the Confederate port of Charleston. Utilizing a spar torpedo—a device that allowed the crew to detonate explosives while remaining submerged—the Hunley successfully struck the Housatonic, causing a devastating explosion that sank the ship, along with the loss of 5 crew member lives.Following the attack, the Hunley became an icon of Confederate ingenuity. However, the success came at a cost; the submarine itself was lost shortly after the attack, taking with it its crew of eight. The vessel would not be rediscovered until 1995, sparking interest in both its engineering and implications for submarine warfare. The sinking of the Housatonic not only marked a significant tactical achievement for the Confederacy but also transformed naval tactics, leading to a greater emphasis on underwater warfare in future conflicts. This encounter illustrated the evolving nature of military technology and strategy during the Civil War period.