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The USS Samuel B. Roberts was recently found by a team led by Victor Vescovo who also found the USS Johnston. Both Ships were lost in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It lies at a depth of 6,895 meters (22,621 feet), in the Philippine Sea. By comparison, Mount Kilimanjaro's peak is 5,896 meters, while the highest permanent settlement in the world, La Rinconada in the Peruvian Andes, is 5,100 meters (16,700 feet). Previously, the deepest wreck ever identified and surveyed was the USS Johnston, found last year by Vescovo. That lies at 6,469 meters.

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....

While armed services often crave “gold-plated” weapon systems, Kaiser’s cheap jeep carriers showed how simple, affordable and numerous platforms well-suited to operational requirements can prove to be of greater value. The Casablanca class’ finest hour came in the Battle of Samar, when sixteen CVEs and their escorts covering the amphibious landing at Leyte Gulf single-handedly took on a Japanese battlefleet consisting of four battleships and nineteen cruisers and destroyers. In a frantic few hours, the carriers’ combined air wings and self-sacrificing destroyer escorts managed to sink three cruisers and persuade Admiral Takeo Kurita to withdraw. “Mass-production” isn’t a term one...

If you a fan of WW II history, specifically Naval History in the Pacific, you might recognize the name of the USS Johnston, a Fletcher Class Destroyer led by Commander Ernest Evans who turned and charged directly toward a superior Japanese Naval force led by the Battleship Yamato...Admiral Halsey had pulled his task force away to chase Japanese Aircraft Carriers leaving the Macarthur's flank exposed...the Johnston put up one helluva fight and saved countless American ships and lives..... Here's a CBS Morning Show story about the Johnston as well...

The world's deepest known shipwreck, a World War II US Navy destroyer, has been fully mapped and filmed by a US-based crew. The Johnston was captained by Cmdr. Ernest Evans, a Native American from Oklahoma. Along with two other US destroyers and four smaller destroyer escorts, Evans led the Johnston in attacking a far superior Japanese force ... ...After two-and-a-half hours of fighting, the Johnston was without power and surrounded by Japanese ships....

A few days past the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Samar, researchers from Vulcan Inc.’s research vessel R/V Petrel believe they’ve found wreckage from the engagement’s famed Fletcher-class destroyer, USS Johnston (DD-557). Images of twisted metal, a destroyed deck gun, a propeller shaft and other less recognizable debris were posted to Petrel’s Facebook page Wednesday, with a video narrated by Rob Kraft, Vulcan’s director of subsea operations, and Paul Mayer a submersible pilot with the team started by the late billionaire and philanthropist Paul Allen. “This wreck is completely decimated,” Kraft says in the video. “It is just debris....

As enemy ships fled the Battle of Surigao Strait at daybreak on 25 October 1944, the powerful Japanese Center Force slipped through San Bernadino Strait. It steamed along the coast of Samar directly for the American invasion beachhead at Leyte, hoping to destroy amphibious shipping and American troops on shore. JOHNSTON One of the pilots flying patrol after dawn alert of 25 October 1944 reported the approach of Japanese Center Force. Steaming straight for “Taffy 3” were four battleships, seven cruisers, and at least 12 destroyers. Johnston’s gunnery officer later reported, “We felt like little David without a slingshot.” In...

Re-Broadcast Times for "Dogfights" episode of "Death of The Japanese Navy" are EASTERN time: Tuesday January 16 11:00 PM Wednesday January 17 03:00 AM (from a "Dogfights" webpage) In one of the most amazing yet lopsided naval battles in history, a mighty Japanese fleet led by the Yamato, the biggest battleship in the world, versus Taffy 3, a small U.S. task unit of tin can destroyers and baby flat-tops. The U.S. fleet is made up of ships too weak to fight and too slow to run. David battles Goliath in a fight for survival, with the lives of thousands of...

FREDERICKSBURG — Adm. William Halsey has been blamed unfairly for his actions during World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf, scholars said Sunday at a symposium marking the battle's coming 60th anniversary. The symposium at Fredericksburg High School featured authors and survivors of the four-day battle, the largest ever fought at sea. Despite the problems often cited, the Navy on Oct. 23-26, 1944, finished the Imperial Japanese Navy as an effective fighting force. Halsey, commander of the 3rd Fleet, and Adm. Thomas Kinkaid, commander of the 7th Fleet, were under a divided command structure that sowed confusion, Sunday's scholars said....

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

Dear Lord, There's a young man far from home, called to serve his nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep him safe, we pray You keep him strong, we pray You send him safely home ... for he's been away so long. There's a young woman far from home, serving her nation with pride. Her step is strong, her step is sure, there is courage in every stride. We pray You keep her safe, we pray You keep her strong, we pray You send her safely home...