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USS Indianapolis found after 72 years

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    USS Indianapolis found after 72 years

    From BBC news this morning:

    Lost WW2 warship USS Indianapolis found after 72 years

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40991326


    The World War Two heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis has been found in the Pacific Ocean, 72 years after its sinking by a Japanese submarine. The warship was discovered 18,000 feet (5.5km) beneath the surface. The Indianapolis was destroyed returning from its secret mission to deliver parts for the atomic bomb which was later used on Hiroshima. Of the 1,196 men on board, just 316 were rescued - the largest loss of life in the history of the US Navy.

    Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who led the civilian search team, said the discovery was "truly humbling".

    The USS Indianapolis was destroyed on 30 July 1945 when, somewhere in the Philippine sea between Guam and Leyte, it was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine.

    Between 800-900 escaped the sinking ship. But no distress call was ever received, and by the time the survivors were found by chance four days later, just 316 were left alive in the shark-infested waters.

    #2
    illegal salvaging of WWII wreckage in Leyte

    "The USS Indianapolis was destroyed on 30 July 1945 when, somewhere in the Philippine sea between Guam and Leyte"

    Now that it's been found, and the location roughly given, it's only a matter of time before someone gets their "hooks" into it. Let's hope I'm wrong about this, though there is unfortunately a precedent.

    http://www.philstar.com/headlines/24...roup-asks-denr

    "Sixty per cent of shipwreck HMAS Perth gone after illegal scrap metal salvaging"

    http://www.smh.com.au/world/sixty-pe...05-gwkmhe.html

    Under threat, the wrecks of Subic Bay.


    http://scubatechphilippines.com/scub...-preservation/

    "Images reveal three more Japanese WWII shipwrecks torn apart for scrap"

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...part-for-scrap

    Comment


      #3
      More...

      "Illegal Salvage of War Ship Wrecks on the Increase in Asian Seas"

      https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war...sian-seas.html


      "More Illegal Wreck Salvaging — Japanese WWII Shipwrecks off Borneo"

      http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2017/02/i...ks-off-borneo/


      "Shipwrecks are China’s latest approach to claiming disputed territory"

      https://qz.com/152716/shipwrecks-are...ted-territory/


      And with the likelihood of China claiming more ocean territory, and it's insatiable need for cheap metal, the open salvaging of wrecks is only going to get worse, and who is going to stop them?

      Good luck with that.




      .

      Comment


        #4
        Hi,

        it should be so easy to create something similar to the International Ice Patrol in the Pacific, with the task of ID all the wrecks sunk during WWI and WWII (and other conflicts), and record their location so satellites can give an alert if a boat stay more than 24h over a wreck without any permission...

        See You

        Vince

        Comment


          #5
          18,000 Feet...That sounds like its not going to be touched.

          Comment


            #6
            .

            You know i watched an interview from a veteran who survived and he almost spoke right through the computer saying: "Make sure you get an education".....I have done just that on purpose now...

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOAg3wCkOkI

            Best regards,

            Pete
            Last edited by pete; 08-21-2017, 06:14 PM.

            Comment


              #7
              18.000 feet = more like 5 kilometeres underwater. O my gosh.

              Robert

              Comment


                #8
                The Titanic is at a depth of around 12,000 feet, to put things in perspective. Thus, I respectfully submit that any worries over the Indianapolis being salvaged for scrap metal (or any other purpose) are unfounded.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by pete View Post
                  You know i watched an interview from a veteran who survived and he almost spoke right through the computer saying: "Make sure you get an education".....I have done just that on purpose now...

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOAg3wCkOkI

                  Best regards,

                  Pete
                  Thanks for the video link Pete. Quite something.

                  I was running through the airport last summer and my peripheral vision caught an Indy hat..... I had the honor to meet one of the guys.
                  Makes me realize what a wussy I am.
                  Attached Files

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Hi,

                    the deep of the wreck explains why it was not found earlier.
                    However, hundred of sunk US, Allied and Japanese ships are in relative shallow waters, and they are clearly in danger... No matter the nationality, a grave is a grave.

                    See You

                    Vince

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Anyone found the Juneau yet? It's amazing that just about everybody knows the story of the Indy but only hardcore WW2 enthusiasts know about the Juneau.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by gadaru_kanaru View Post
                        Anyone found the Juneau yet? It's amazing that just about everybody knows the story of the Indy but only hardcore WW2 enthusiasts know about the Juneau.
                        I did not know about the Juneau. But I do now.

                        Thank you.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Hi,

                          the Juneau disaster is quite known in my opinion, basic books on the Pacific Campaign include the story.
                          As every single books on Guadalcanal.

                          http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/052/04052.htm
                          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sullivan_brothers
                          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_Survivor_Policy

                          It seemed that the wreck has still to be found.
                          The story of the around 100 survivors from which only 10 were found alive finally is just horrible... (317 of the around 900 survivors were found alive in the case of the USS Indianapolis).

                          See You

                          Vince

                          Comment

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