Complicating factors
Despite the significant findings from the concretion removal, Clemson University acknowledges that the mystery surrounding the Hunley’s sinking is far from resolved. The discovery of the pipe breach, while noteworthy, raised more questions than answers. The university pointed out that the gap in the pipe was relatively small and could potentially have been sealed off with something as simple as a cloth.
However, a crucial observation was that the crew did not activate the equipment designed to pump water out of the submarine. This finding suggests that either the crew was incapacitated or unaware of the breach, adding another layer of complexity to the puzzle of the Hunley’s final moments.