"US Engages in Fierce Battle with Japan Occupying the Philippines, Losing 4 Destroyers"
Samuel B. Roberts, Wreck Discovered 'at the Deepest Point in History'
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] A US Navy destroyer that sank during World War II was discovered about 7,000 meters below the Philippine Sea after nearly 80 years.
On the 25th, AFP reported that Caladan Oceanic, a US marine technology company, succeeded in filming the damaged hull of the destroyer 'Samuel B Roberts' for eight days through a manned submersible exploration. A destroyer refers to a medium-to-large warship designed to hunt submarines.
The photos released by the company show the destroyer's pilothouse, triple torpedo launchers, and gun battery.
Victor Vescovo, founder of Caladan Oceanic, who personally operated the submersible at the time, said, "The destroyer was at a depth of 6,895 meters," adding, "It is the deepest shipwreck ever discovered in history." This is about 3,000 meters deeper compared to the Titanic passenger ship, which sank in the North Atlantic in 1912 and rests at about 4,000 meters underwater.
The Samuel B Roberts sank near Samar Island, located in the central part of the Philippine Archipelago, after being damaged during a battle with Japanese naval vessels on October 25, 1944. At that time, the US military was making every effort to drive out the Japanese forces occupying the Philippines.
The sunken Samuel B Roberts remained afloat for three days waiting for rescue teams. However, among the total crew of 224, 89 died due to injuries and shark attacks.
The US lost four warships, including the Samuel B Roberts, in battles with Japan at that time. Among them, the destroyer 'Johnston' was discovered last year near the seabed about 6,456 meters off the coast of Samar Island by Vescovo's exploration team.
Vescovo's team is currently searching for another warship, 'Gambier Bay,' around 7,000 meters underwater. The remaining one, 'Hoel,' has not been explored due to insufficient location data.
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