17 July 2022: Hi folks! We're baaaaaaack! Sorry for the hiatus last week - my family took me to the wilds of West Virginia's mountains to celebrate the conclusion of my 80th year! It was beyond memorable with some fun activities; but the best part was spending time with my sons, their wives, and the grandkids without the distractions of "life" (including writing a blog!) getting in the way! So, thanks for your understanding!
In today's post, we will tell you about the discovery of the deepest U.S. Navy shipwreck found thus far. A destroyer, USS Samuel B. Roberts sunk in battle in the Pacific. From Agence France Presse:
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A US navy destroyer sunk during World War II has been found nearly 7,000 metres (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.
Sammy B was one of four US ships sunk in the October 25 engagement.
The USS Johnston, which at nearly 6,500 metres was previously the world's deepest shipwreck identified, was reached by Vescovo's team in 2021.
In the latest search, the team also looked for the USS Gambier Bay at more than 7,000 metres below sea level, but was unable to locate it.
It did not search for the USS Hoel due to the lack of reliable data showing where it may have gone down.
The wreck of the Titanic lies in about 4,000 metres of water.
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Amazing searchers can find a wreck in such deep water. And how would you have liked to be one the survivors of the sinking floating in shark-infested waters for three days awaiting rescue! Puts one in mind of the Indianapolis sinking (see previous post). At least the water was more or less warm!
Until next time,
Fair Winds,
Old Salt
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