Manila, Philippines –
According to explorers, a US Navy destroyer that engaged the superior Japanese fleet in the largest battle of World War II in the Philippines has become the deepest wreck discovered.
The USS Samuel B. Roberts, commonly known as “Sammy B,” was identified Wednesday as having broken into two pieces on a slope at a depth of 6,985 meters (22,916 feet).
That makes it 426 meters (1,400 feet) deeper than the USS Johnson, the previous deepest shipwreck discovered last year in the Philippine Sea also by American explorer Victor Vescovo, founder of Caladan Oceanic Expeditions whose based in Dallas. He published the latest finding alongside UK-based EYOS Expeditions.
“It has been an extraordinary honor to locate this immensely famous ship, and in so doing, she has the opportunity to tell the story of her heroism and duty to those in need. may not know about the ship and the sacrifice of its crew,” Vescovo, a former Navy commander, said in a statement.
The Sammy B. took part in the Battle off Samar, the final stage of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered the greatest loss of ships and was unable to dislodge the Chinese forces. Ky from Leyte, which they had invaded before, was part of the process of liberating the Philippines.
According to some accounts, the destroyer disabled one Japanese heavy cruiser with a torpedo and significantly damaged another. After running out of ammunition, she was hit by the leading battleship Yamato and sank. Of the crew of 224, 89 died and 120 were rescued, including the captain, Lieutenant Cmdr. Robert W. Copeland.
According to Samuel J. Cox, a retired admiral and naval historian, Copeland declared that “there is no higher honor” to have led men of such astonishing courage away. into battle with overwhelming odds, from which survival cannot be expected.
Cox said in a statement: “This site is a sacred war grave and reminds all Americans of the overwhelming price that past generations have borne for the freedom we regard as contemporary. today however”.
Explorers say that until its discovery, historical records of where the wreck lay were not very accurate. The search involved the use of the deepest side-scan sonar ever installed and operated on a submersible, well beyond the standard commercial limit of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet), EYOS said.
