ALLEN'S TEAM SCORES AGAIN - USS WASP

16 March 2019: We have brought you stories of several of the late Paul Allen's research team's discoveries in the past months, and this week, an announcement came from R/V Petrel (Allen's ship) that they have found and identified the wreckage of USS Wasp (CV-7), an American aircraft carrier lost in the Coral Sea during WWII. Here is their announcement, which while brief, includes some spectacular photographs: 
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The team aboard R/V Petrel found the Wasp (CV-7) wreck nearly 14,000 feet below the sea’s surface. Petrel is a research and exploration vessel used by Allen’s researchers to locate historically significant shipwrecks and explore underwater ecosystems. Wasp was found in January, but the discovery was not announced until today.

bridge of WASP

 On September 15, 1942, the carrier was hit by three Japanese torpedoes, according to the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
Wasp was supporting the effort to reinforce U.S. forces fighting on Guadalcanal when it was hit by the torpedoes. The carrier couldn’t be saved and was scuttled by USS Lansdowne (DD-486), according to the History and Heritage Command.

5" gun on WASP

Miraculously, the vast majority of Wasp’s crew survived. Five nearby destroyers, including Lansdowne, were able to save 171 officers and 1,798 enlisted men, while 26 officers and 167 men were killed, according to the History and Heritage Command.

 









During the past year, researchers aboard Petrel have located numerous World War II-era wrecks. Since last March, the team has found the wreckage of carrrier USS Lexington (CV-2), cruisers USS Juneau (CL-52) and USS Helena (CL-50), Japanese ship IJN Hiei, and USS Hornet (CV-8).

We are sure there will be more of these announcements going forward, and as possible, we will pass them on to our now 90,000 readers! 

Until next time, 
                                        Fair Winds, 
                                                Old Salt

RICHEST WRECK SITE FOUND

12 March 2019: Just because we are again publishing pieces about wrecks and underwater stuff don't think we are are hung up on it! Just that it's what is going on in the maritime history world right now...... So with that said, here's yet another wreck story. Don't rush to grab your SCUBA gear -- read the caveat at the end of the article!
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An anchor from a treasure-laden 17th-century shipwreck has been found off the coast of the U.K.

SWNS reports that the anchor, believed to be from the Merchant Royal, was brought up in a fishing vessel’s net 20 miles off Land's End, Cornwall. The merchant ship sank in 1641 carrying an estimated $1.5 billion of treasure.

Dubbed “the El Dorado of the seas,” the Merchant Royal was carrying 100,000 pounds of gold and 400 bars of Mexican silver, as well as almost 500,000 pieces of eight (Spanish dollars) and other coins when she sank.

Mark Milburn, co-founder of Cornwall Maritime Archaeology and owner of Atlantic Scuba, said the anchor matches the one from Merchant Royal. However, the location is too dangerous for those without specialist equipment to go hunting around the 300 feet deep site, he explained.

The site’s location within British waters means that finds will have to be reported to the Receiver of Wreck, an official body that administers law dealing with salvage rights in the U.K.

Other wrecks in U.K. waters have been revealing their secrets. Last year, for example, divers uncovered more fascinating artifacts from a treasure-laden ship that sank in the late 17th century. Described as one of Britain’s richest wrecks, the merchant ship President was carrying a cargo of diamonds and pearls from India when she sank during a storm in February 1684.

Initial remains of the ship, which sank within sight of land off the Cornwall coast, were discovered in 1988 and 1989 whStatsen 17 cannons and an anchor were found. Divers subsequently discovered 7 more of the ship’s cannons and another anchor.

The ship was said to be carrying cargo worth 8 million U.K. pounds in modern money, ($10.5 million). However, a local wreck expert warns that the ship went down in a treacherous location and amateur divers could be placing themselves in danger if they attempt to retrieve any of it.

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So there you have it! Wrecks seem to be popping up all over the place! And still more, I am sure, to be discovered! 

Until next time, 
                                Fair Winds, 
                                         Old Salt