Philippines: Ship discovered at 7000 meters depth of the sea

A US Navy warship sunk during World War II has been discovered at a depth of about 7,000 meters in the sea near the Philippines. It is the most deeply explored shipwreck.

An ocean search team from Texas-based subsea technology company Caladon Oceanic and EYOS Expeditions found the wreck during a series of dives over eight days this month. The team was looking for two ships that sank during World War II.

Divers found the wreckage of the USS destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413), also known as Sammy B, on June 22 at a depth of about 6,895 meters in the Philippine Sea.

The ship was found split into two parts lying on a slope on the sea floor. Photos taken by the US team show the ship’s pilothouse and three-tube torpedo launcher.

Sammy B was sunk on 25 October 1944 during a battle off the central island of Samar. In this battle, the US Navy defeated the Japanese fleet to end the occupation of the Philippines. The Philippines was an American colony at the time.

Victor Vescov, the explorer who managed to find the wreckage, told CNN that the ship ‘deftly fought against Japanese battleships and heavy cruisers despite being completely weakened. Wesco has previously completed expeditions to reach the world’s deepest points.

Vescov said: ‘The bravery of her captain and crew is legendary in the Navy and it is a great honor to find her final resting place.

‘I think it helps bring the story of the ship to an end for the families of those who went missing and who served on her. I think that a ship disappearing into the depths, never to be seen again, can give those associated with the ship a sense of emptiness.’

Previously, the deepest ocean wreck ever identified and surveyed was that of the USS Johnston. The ship was found last year at a depth of 6469 meters.