The H. L. Hunley was a Confederate submarine during the American Civil War, known for being the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship. Named after its financier Horace Lawson Hunley, the vessel was built in Mobile, Alabama, and transported to Charleston, South Carolina, where it sank twice during testing, resulting in the deaths of multiple crew members. The submarine was successfully raised and put into service in August 1863. In February 1864, the Hunley attacked and sank the Union warship USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, marking the first time a submarine had sunk an enemy ship in combat. Tragically, the Hunley also sank after the attack, resulting in the loss of its crew. The wreck was discovered in 1995 and eventually raised in 2000. The submarine is now on display at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, South Carolina. The H. L. Hunley's historical significance lies in its pioneering technology and its role in changing naval warfare, serving as a symbol of innovation and sacrifice during the Civil War.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.