Explorers just discovered the deepest shipwreck on Wednesday, June 22. However, this wreck was no ordinary one. Instead, it is a historical artifact symbolizing a piece of what transpired during World War II.
Some additional photos from the Sammy B. The bow, the fallen mast, the gap between fore and aft where she was hit by a battleship round, and the aft turret . . . where the brave and mortally wounded GM3 Paul H. Carr died trying to place a final round into the broken breech. pic.twitter.com/3VcZoZyPo3
— Victor Vescovo (@VictorVescovo) June 25, 2022
According to the AP, the discovery is a U.S. Navy destroyer that fought a stronger Japanese fleet in the greatest naval battle of the Second World War in the Philippines.
Deepest Shipwreck Discovery Ever
On Wednesday, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, often known as the "Sammy B," was found in two parts on a slope at a depth of 6,985 meters or 22,916 feet. This means the wreck is 1,440 feet deeper than the USS Johnson, which formerly held the deepest wreck discovery. The ship was also uncovered by American explorer Victor Vescovo, head of the Dallas-based Caladan Oceanic Expeditions, last 2021 in the Philippine Sea.
Another video from the survey dive on the Sammy B. This one is from the starboard side near the bridge and forward gun mounts. We kept our distance because we spotted potentially live shells in the 40mm gun, and later towards the stern, depth charges still in their racks. pic.twitter.com/DY54o6Prpx
— Victor Vescovo (@VictorVescovo) June 26, 2022
Collaborating with the UK-based EYOS Expeditions, both explorers successfully uncovered the deepest shipwreck discovery.
Vescovo, a retired Navy commander, said that he is honored to discover this ship in hopes of conveying its narrative of "heroism and duty" to those who might not be aware of the ship and its crew's sacrifice.
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Sammy B's Heroism and Sacrifice
Sammy B fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, which included the Battle off Samar, the decisive fight in which the Imperial Japanese Navy experienced its greatest loss of ships and was unable to drive American forces out of Leyte - an island in the Philippines that they had earlier invaded for their liberation of the country.
According to the AP, records claim that the destroyer used a torpedo to paralyze a Japanese battlecruiser and severely damaged another. Sammy B was devastated by the leading battleship Yamato and sank after using nearly all of its ammunition.
The ship's captain Lt. Cmdr. Robert W. Copeland was among the 120 crew members who were saved out of a total of 224.
Navy historian and retired admiral Samuel J. Cox noted that Copeland said there was no greater honor than to have guided the troops who showed such tremendous bravery entering battle against insurmountable forces, where survival could not be expected.
Cox added that the location is a "hallowed war grave" and shows all Americans the heavy price paid by earlier generations for the freedom they are now enjoying.
What Technology Did the Explorers Use?
The explorers claimed that before the discovery, historical accounts about the ship's location were not very reliable. According to EYOS, the search required the utilization of the deepest side-scan sonar ever mounted and used on a submersible, which is much beyond the typical commercial restrictions of 6,000 meters or 19,685 ft.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
