প্রকাশ: 28/06/2022
A US Navy destroyer
escort that engaged a superior Japanese fleet in the largest sea battle of
World War II in the Philippines has become the deepest wreck to be discovered,
according to explorers.
The USS Samuel B Roberts, popularly known as the
"Sammy B," was identified on Wednesday broken into two pieces on a
slope at a depth of 6,985 meters (22,916 feet).
That puts it 426 meters (1,400 feet) deeper than the USS
Johnston, the previous deepest wreck discovered last year in the Philippine Sea
also by American explorer Victor Vescovo, founder of Dallas-based Caladan
Oceanic Expeditions. He announced the latest find together with UK-based EYOS
Expeditions.
"It was an extraordinary honor to locate this
incredibly famous ship, and by doing so have the chance to retell her story of
heroism and duty to those who may not know of the ship and her crew's
sacrifice," Vescovo, a former Navy commander, said in a statement.
The Sammy B. took part in the Battle off Samar, the final
phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, in which the Imperial
Japanese Navy suffered its biggest loss of ships and failed to dislodge the US
forces from Leyte, which they invaded earlier as part of the liberation of the
Philippines.
According to some records, the destroyer escort disabled a
Japanese heavy cruiser with a torpedo and significantly damaged another while
battling the group led by the command battleship Yamato. After having spent
virtually all its ammunition, it was critically hit by the battleship Kongo and
sank. Of a 224-man crew, 89 died and 120 were saved, including the captain, Lt.
Cmdr. Robert W Copeland.
According to Samuel J Cox, a retired admiral and naval
historian, Copeland stated there was "no higher honor" then to have
led the men who displayed such incredible courage going into battle against
overwhelming odds, from which survival could not be expected.
"This site is a hallowed war grave, and serves to
remind all Americans of the great cost born by previous generations for the
freedom we take for granted today," Cox said in a statement.
The explorers said that up until the discovery, the
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 limitations of 6,000 meters
(19,685 feet), EYOS said.
– AP/UNB
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