Hunley made her only attack against an enemy target on the night of 17 February 1864.
The target was USS Housatonic, a 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) wooden-hulled steam-powered sloop-of-war with 12 large cannons, which was stationed at the entrance to Charleston, about 5 miles (8.0 kilometres) offshore.

Desperate to break the naval blockade of the city, Lieutenant George E. Dixon, and a crew of seven volunteers  successfully attacked Housatonic, ramming Hunley's only spar torpedo against the enemy's hull.
The torpedo was detonated, sending Housatonic to the bottom in five minutes, along with five of her crewmen.

Years later, when the area around the wreck of Housatonic was surveyed, the sunken Hunley was found on the seaward side of the sloop, where no one had considered looking before.
This later indicated that the ocean current was going out following the attack on Housatonic, taking Hunley with her to where she was eventually found and later recovered.
Hunley made her only attack against an enemy target on the night of 17 February 1864. The target was USS Housatonic, a 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) wooden-hulled steam-powered sloop-of-war with 12 large cannons, which was stationed at the entrance to Charleston, about 5 miles (8.0 kilometres) offshore.
Desperate to break the naval blockade of the city, Lieutenant George E. Dixon, and a crew of seven volunteers  successfully attacked Housatonic, ramming Hunley's only spar torpedo against the enemy's hull. The torpedo was detonated, sending Housatonic to the bottom in five minutes, along with five of her crewmen.
Years later, when the area around the wreck of Housatonic was surveyed, the sunken Hunley was found on the seaward side of the sloop, where no one had considered looking before. This later indicated that the ocean current was going out following the attack on Housatonic, taking Hunley with her to where she was eventually found and later recovered.
H. L. Hunley (submarine)