Spar Theories

Spar and torpedo configurations. There are two primary issues relating to the spar and torpedo.

1. It's fairly certain that the spar could be raised out of the water. The issue is when that happened: at departure time or deployment time? In other words, was the Hunley operating as a David class torpedo boat when it made history?

2. Did the spar have lateral support to overcome water resistance when turning or cruising in a current? From an engineering standpoint, it had to be there inorder to steer the boat. The Hunley was described as very slow to turn.

Thanks to Bruce Kinsey for sharing the beautiful diagrams of possible spar configurations.

AreTheseBlocks.jpg
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Possible identifications of the lumps in the Chapman painting. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

BlockTackle.jpg
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Pulling the spar under using block and tackle. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

Fin Stop.jpg
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An alternative theory of the purpose of the hull protrusion shown in other images as a possible mounting point for wires used to stabilize the spar. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

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The current Friends of the Hunley logo.

logo_old.jpg
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The old logo. This one was obviously drawn before the recovery and appears to have been based on historical information that has since been proved wrong.

perp_spar.jpg
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My original idea of a perpendicular spreader providing lateral support for a torpedo spar configuration deployed at departure time.

Raising the Spar.jpg
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RaisingSpar2.jpg
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Possible ways to raise and lower the spar. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

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Possible ways to raise and lower the spar.Image by Bruce Kinsey

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An interpretation of the Chapman painting with a perpendicular spar. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

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A perplexing artifact. It appears to be a piece of nautical hardware called a "pad eye." What could have it's purpose? Being directly underneath a diving plane, it couldn't have been used for lifting the boat out of the water. Could it have been used to stabilize the boat while on land? I think it provided a place to mount a guy wire for lateral spar support.

spar_wire_anchor_point1_closeups.png
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A closeup of the pad eye under the port diving plane. Perhaps someone with access to the lab can get some better closeups.

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The artifact from a slightly different angle.

SparCloseup.jpg
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Details of a hypothetical lower spar mounted torpedo. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

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A closeup view of a possible mechanism for raising and lowering the spar. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

SparCloseup2Large.jpg
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A closeup view of a possible mechanism for raising and lowering the spar. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

SparSketches.jpg
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Possible spreader spar locations. Image by Bruce Kinsey.

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I can't remember who drew this one. Isn't the position of the little black X relative to the pad eye interesting? (See perp_spar_mount.png)

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