CSS Snook

The CSS Snook was a Confederate States submersible during the Great War, commanded by Ralph Briggs. Briggs received the command after successfully escaping from an American POW camp where he was held after his previous submersible was sunk.

In late 1916, the Snook attempted to sink the U.S. destroyer Ericsson with a torpedo. The torpedo was spotted and the Ericsson turned towards its attacker. When the torpedo missed, the Ericsson was in position to drop depth charges. The Snook was damaged and forced to surface where the crew surrendered. Briggs remained below long enough to open the scuttling cocks and then exit the submersible at the last moment. He too surrendered as his boat sank.

Ironically, George Enos a Naval seaman who was involved in Briggs' first capture was also aboard the Ericsson and identified him.