From March 18, 2011, The State (Columbia, SC).
Most know about the Confederate submarine Hunley, but it was not the only stealth weapon in the arsenal at Charleston. The CSS David was one of several small, steam-powered "torpedo boats" there.
The torpedo wasn't what today's folks consider a torpedo, but a explosive device attached to the bow of the vessel by way of a long spar (piece of wood). This ship was the design of Charleston chemist St. Julian Ravenal. They were privately-funded and built at Stoney Landing on the Cooper River.
Though they resembled submarines, they were not. They couldn't dive and had an open cockpit and were powered by a small steam engine. It would ram the 60-70 pound charge of gunpowder into a ship, detonate it and leave quickly.
On October 5, 1862, a David attacked the USS Ironsides, causing some damage, but not sinking it. However, it was the first successful torpedo attack in history.
Three of the crew, including its commander William T. Glassell, were captured after abandoning the ship when the David's boiler went out. Two other members were able to relight it and returned to safety.
There was one other attempt in the Stono River, but the torpedo did not explode.
Several other Davids were made, but no one is sure how many?
Confederate Stealth weapons. --Old B-Runner
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