WWII-era ‘ghost ship’ that fought for both US, Japan located in deep sea

Undersea investigators have made a remarkable breakthrough by locating the wreck of the USS Stewart, a storied World War II destroyer. This discovery unveils an extraordinary wartime narrative, as the USS Stewart uniquely served both American and Japanese forces during the conflict, according to a recent press release.

Launching an ambitious mission to locate this legendary vessel, officials employed cutting-edge technology to test its capabilities. The landmark expedition kicked off on August 1, 2024, with the team aiming to find the Navy ship that had been deliberately sunk 78 years ago.

The search effort was spearheaded by Ocean Infinity in collaboration with the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, SEARCH, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and the Naval History and Heritage Command. Together, they pinpointed the historic “the ghost ship of the Pacific” in the area detailed in official wartime documents.

A high-tech recovery

Ocean Infinity, the world’s leading robotic marine survey company, played a crucial role in the discovery. To begin the search, Ocean Infinity deployed three HUGIN 6000 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

Equipped with high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (HiSAS) and multibeam echosounder systems, these AUVs scanned the seafloor for 24 hours. The collected data revealed a remarkable find. The data pointed to “the stunning and unmistakable image of a sunken ship” 3,500 feet deep off the coast of California.

Sonar scans revealed the ship sitting upright on the ocean floor. The primary goal of the expedition was to test new technology for recovering missing ships and aircraft. Following the initial sonar scans, the team conducted an additional high-resolution sonar survey. A camera-equipped remote-operated vehicle (ROV) was then used to inspect the site. A live video feed was transmitted from the seafloor to officials on shore via a virtual satellite link.

This technology allows for the real-time exploration of deep-sea wrecks, revolutionizing underwater archaeology.

The USS Stewart’s remarkable state of preservation makes it a particularly valuable find. Experts believe the wreck could be one of the best-preserved examples of its kind. It will offer unique insights into naval technology of the early 20th century.

USS Stewart: a powerful symbol of the complexity of the Pacific War

Completed in 1920, the USS Stewart did not see action in the First World War. Stationed in Manila, the Stewart was part of a fleet of “old, largely obsolete warships ” tasked with retaliating against Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In an unexpected turn of events, the Stewart fell into Japanese hands. The Japanese repaired the captured vessel and pressed it into service within their own fleet.

Allied pilots reported sightings of “an old American destroyer” operating behind enemy lines, raising questions and intrigue. At the end of the war, the US Navy found the Stewart afloat in Kure, Japan. The “battered veteran vessel” was then towed back to California.

It served its country one last time as a target ship, “absorbing fire from aerial rockets, machine guns, and naval guns for more than two hours before sinking.” In an emotional ceremony, the war vessel was “buried at sea.”

The USS Stewart’s unique history has captivated historians, naval enthusiasts, and archaeologists, fueling a desire to recover the wreckage. Almost treated as a “living thing,” the USS Stewart symbolizes the complexity of the Pacific War, the press release concludes .