Posted on 06/25/2022 7:31:51 AM PDT by devane617
A US navy destroyer sunk during World War II has been found nearly 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) below sea level off the Philippines, making it the world's deepest shipwreck ever located, an American exploration team said.
The USS Samuel B Roberts went down during a battle off the central island of Samar on October 25, 1944 as US forces fought to liberate the Philippines—then a US colony—from Japanese occupation.
A crewed submersible filmed, photographed and surveyed the battered hull of the "Sammy B" during a series of dives over eight days this month, Texas-based undersea technology company Caladan Oceanic said.
Images showed the ship's three-tube torpedo launcher and gun mount.
"Resting at 6,895 meters, it is now the deepest shipwreck ever located and surveyed," tweeted Caladan Oceanic founder Victor Vescovo, who piloted the submersible.
"This small ship took on the finest of the Japanese Navy, fighting them to the end," he said.
According to US Navy records, Sammy B's crew "floated for nearly three days awaiting rescue, with many survivors perishing from wounds and shark attacks". Of the 224 crew, 89 died.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Some years back I read James Hornfischer’s “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors”. Since then my admiration for these guys on the destroyer escorts: Johnston, Hoel, Samuel B, Gambier Bay, etc, knows no bounds. These guys took on the biggest ships the japs had, as if they were Chamberlain doing the go-for-broke bayonet charge at Little Round Top. They didn’t know they were turning the tide of the whole war; but that is what they accomplished, by the grace of God. Oh, what sacrifice!
My uncle was on one of these—not sure which—and his ship went down intros series of battles. He was just a typical quiet unassuming guy that did his job and rarely ever mentioned it afterward.
Well, you have that heritage. Savor it and pass it on, yes?
Thats not Davey Jones’s locker but his bunker buster proof sub basement.
One CRAZY naval battle.
Brave American sailors on those 4 or 5 small ships.
Where is Taffy 3, the world wonders?
it’s NOT “Davoa” but Davao. Been to the Philippines multiple times, esp. Davao. Ever know that dude on the phone when you call Chase or Spectrum? The call centers are littered in Davao city.
Been to the Philippines, and a lot of expats I’ve spoken to who took deep dives near the Battle of the Philippine Sea aka The Marianas Turkey Shoot , says the floor bed is mostly littered with Jap ships and planes.
Taffy 3 bump
Yes, and all of us owe them a great debt.
Yes this ship was lost in the surface action detailed in Hornfischer's book.
That was one terrific book and an absolute “must read” for any American who wants to know what courage and sacrifice are all about. Hornfischer is a terrific author.
I read it several years ago. A great book.
Yep! And there’s no such island as “Samara” either. It’s Samar. (Been there). :-)
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