Images from the three autonomous underwater vehicles used to explore the wreck show it is in remarkably good condition after more than 80 years under the waves.Image credit: Ocean Infinity
Posted on 10/11/2024 7:25:30 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Stewart started the war as a U.S. destroyer designated DD-224 and was ordered to Borneo in November 1941, shortly before the U.S. entered World War II. It served as an escort vessel with other American warships in the first months of the Pacific War, but it was badly damaged by gunfire from Japanese warships near Bali in February 1942, during the Battle of Badung Strait.
The Stewart managed to return to Surabaya on the island of Java. But the port came under Japanese attack, so the vessel was scuttled — deliberately sunk — by its own crew, who set off explosives in its hull. A year later, however, Japanese raised the sunken warship and it served as a patrol boat for the Imperial Japanese Navy until the war ended in 1945.
The ship again came under U.S. control when Japan surrendered on Sept, 2, 1945. The vessel was briefly recommissioned as DD-224 by the U.S. Navy, but by then it was in poor shape. It was finally decommissioned in May 1946 and then used for target practice.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Images from the three autonomous underwater vehicles used to explore the wreck show it is in remarkably good condition after more than 80 years under the waves.Image credit: Ocean Infinity
“the Battle of Badung Strait”
Don’t recall ever hearing about that one.
It’s usually called the Battle of BaddabingBaddabung Strait
bada-bing, bada-badung
DD-224 finally got its DD-214?
USS Stewart was part of the US Asiatic Fleet at the start of WW2. It was composed largely of old cruisers, destroyers, and submarines with faulty torpedoes and no aircraft except for Catalina flying boats. It had no chance against a modern Japanese fleet with aircraft carriers.
The fleet dissolved after the Philippines and Dutch East Indies fell.
It escorted my dad’s ship after the Battle of Makassar Strait.
“On 30 January, Stewart joined Marblehead and sortied with her from Bunda Roads on 4 February to intercept Japanese forces at the south entrance to the Macassar Strait. However, Marblehead was badly damaged by air attacks during the day, and Stewart escorted her back to the base at Tjilatjap, Java.
The marblehead-”She made Tjilatjap with a forward draft of 30 feet (9.1 m), aft 22 feet (6.7 m). Unable to be docked there, her worst leaks were repaired and she put to sea again on 13 February. Some of her wounded crew were taken off the ship to be cared for by Dr Corydon M. Wassell; he received the Navy Cross for protecting them from capture by the invading Japanese. When the ship left Tjilatjap it was on the first leg of a voyage of more than 21,589 miles (34,744 km) in search of complete repairs.”
A more complete history and pictures can be found at navsource.org .
correct.
Final Days of USS Houston, the Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast
Feb. 29, 2016 | By Sam Cox (Rear Adm. USN, Ret.), Director, Naval History and Heritage Command
An old WWI four stacker.
:-)
If you want to read a superb book on the USS Houston, read “Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR’s Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors” by James Hornfischer. Actually, I recommend all of his WWII books. They are simply unparalleled in their historical content and superbly well written.
(Just my $.02)
:^)
Thanks all!
The herculean tasks done in the Pacific by the US services throughout 1942, using the tools then available, laid the groundwork for the final victory and shortened the war by perhaps a year. They went to war with the Navy they had, and that meant the people, and they got it done. I very much doubt that the Japanese had any idea that they’d encounter that much fight.
Um, aren't there ream upon ream of of information and tons of blueprints still around on U.S. warships and their design available?
Evidently not, or, they’re still classified.
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