The very first sinking of a ship by a submarine occurred during the U.S. Civil War, in fact!
Both the Union and Confederacy operated submarines during the war.
The very first U.S. “submarine” was used during the Revolutionary War, but it was more of a one off novelty than a move forward in industrialized war like in the Civil War.
This also happened in conjunction with the rise of ironclads, with the first ironclad vs ironclad battle also occurring in the Civil War.
The very first sinking of a ship by a submarine occurred during the U.S. Civil War, in fact!
Both the Union and Confederacy operated submarines during the war.
The very first U.S. “submarine” was used during the Revolutionary War, but it was more of a one off novelty than a move forward in industrialized war like in the Civil War.
This also happened in conjunction with the rise of ironclads, with the first ironclad vs ironclad battle also occurring in the Civil War.