I’m pretty sure a lot pf people knew where it sank. It’s not like it vanished without anyone looking. They just haven’t bothered to attempt to disturb the site. Until now.
Allen’s crews have been very respectful of the wrecks they have located in Ironbottom Sound.
No, not actually correct. Until today’s remote control robot submersibles, with their extremely long high-data cables and hovering abilities, their high-definition lights, sonars, and monitors, and the patience and accuracy of GPS satellites to maintain the survey vessel’s position overhead on the surface above the submersible, even IF you knew accurately the sunken vessel’s location accurately, you couldn’t search underwater at 15,000 - 20,000 feet deep and find it.
Takes a LOT of new technology to search, find, and maintain position above a sunken vessel. Kind of like driving a blimp at 20,000 foot altitude against the jet stream above a fog bank in a rainstorm while driving a drone through a circus tent while you take photo’s of the acrobats on trapezes.