The world’s deepest known wreck, a WWII US Navy destroyer, was fully mapped and filmed by a US-based crew. The ship, USS Johnston, sits at a depth of 21,180 feet in the Philippine Sea. Its location is known, but this is the first time that a crew has been able to map and film the entire wreckage site. Caladan Oceanic, a private US-based company focused on oceanic expeditions, gets credit for reaching the wreck on March 31. Its research vessel, the DSV Limiting Factor, was able to inspect the wreck, which was over 100 feet deeper than previously believed, resting in the dark more than four miles below the surface of the Pacific. The founder of Caladan Oceanic is Victor Vescovo, a former Commander of the United States Navy who has a long-standing passion for visiting some of the world’s most difficult-to-reach places. He holds the record of being the first person in history to reach the top of all the continents of the world, the two poles and the bottom of all its oceans.With the investigation of the USS Johnston, Vescovo reached another step – the completion of the deepest wreck dive in history. He was in charge of the limiting factor for the entire process, which took place in two eight-hour segments over two days. Sunk during the Battle of Samar The USS Johnston was sunk by the Japanese Navy on October 25, 1944, during the Battle of Samar. It was one of four naval battles that included the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the greatest battles in the history of naval warfare and engagement that spelled the end of the Japanese navy during the WWII, according to US Naval History and Heritage. Command (NHHC). Sam Cox, director of the NHHC, said the new images of the wreck of the Johnston help the Navy shine a light on the heroism and history of its crew. The Johnston was commanded by Cmdr. Ernest Evans, a Native American from Oklahoma. Along with two other US destroyers and four smaller escort destroyers, Evans led the Johnston in attacking a far superior Japanese force of four battleships, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and 11 destroyers, according to the NHHC account of the battle. Initial encounter, Johnston’s fire knocked out a Japanese cruiser, but the American destroyer was heavily damaged and its ammunition depleted. Evans himself was seriously injured. Unperturbed, Evans regrouped her crew and the Johnston attacked the Japanese ships again, firing fire from a nearby American aircraft carrier. After two and a half hours of fighting, the Johnston was without power and surrounded by Japanese ships. Evans ordered the crew to abandon the ship, which overturned and sank. Two of the three ships that followed the Johnston into the Japanese battle line also sank, said Carl Schuster, a former sea captain and instructor at the University of the Pacific in Hawaii. “The discovery of the USS Johnston is yet another reminder of the heroism and sacrifice of that day in the Gulf of Leyte 77 years ago,” he said. Of the Johnston’s 327-man crew , 186 died, including Evans. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first Native American in the US Navy to receive his country’s highest military honor, according to the NHHC. USS Johnston was a very personal mission, so we came full circle, ”he said in a statement. “The Johnston and our own ship were built in the same shipyard and both served in the US Navy. As a US Navy officer, I am proud to have helped clarify and close the Johnston, her crew, and the families of those who fell there. ”
The world’s deepest known wreck, a WWII US Navy destroyer, was fully mapped and filmed by a US-based crew.
The ship, USS Johnston, sits at a depth of 21,180 feet in the Philippine Sea. Its location is known, but this is the first time that a team has been able to map and film the entire wreckage site.
Caladan Oceanic, a private US-based company focused on oceanic expeditions, is credited with reaching the wreck on March 31. His research vessel, the DSV Limiting Factor, was able to inspect the wreckage, which was more than 100 feet deeper than before. believed, sitting in the dark more than four miles below the surface of the Pacific.
The founder of Caladan Oceanic is Victor Vescovo, a former commander of the United States Navy who has a long-standing passion for visiting some of the world’s most difficult to reach places. He holds the record of being the first person in history to reach the top of all the continents of the world, the two poles, and the bottom of all of its oceans.
With the study of the USS Johnston, Vescovo took a new step: the completion of the deepest wreck dive in history. He was in charge of the limiting factor for the entire process, which took place in two eight-hour segments over two days.
Sunk during the Battle of Samar
The USS Johnston was sunk by the Japanese Navy on October 25, 1944, during the Battle of Samar. It was one of four naval battles that included the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the greatest battles in the history of naval warfare and engagement that spelled the end of the Japanese navy during the WWII, according to US Naval History and Heritage. Command (NHHC).
Sam Cox, director of the NHHC, said the new footage of the wreck of the Johnston was helping the Navy shine a light on the heroism and history of its crew.
The Johnston was commanded by Cmdr. Ernest Evans, a Native American from Oklahoma. Along with two other American destroyers and four smaller escort destroyers, Evans led the Johnston in the attack of a far superior Japanese force of four battleships, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and 11 destroyers, according to the account of the NHHC battle.
In a first encounter, Johnston’s fire knocked out a Japanese cruiser, but the American destroyer was heavily damaged and its ammunition wasted. Evans himself was seriously injured.
Unfazed, Evans regrouped her crew and the Johnston attacked the Japanese ships again, firing fire from a nearby American aircraft carrier.
After two and a half hours of combat, the Johnston was without power and surrounded by Japanese ships. Evans ordered the crew to abandon the ship, and it tipped over and sank.
Two of the three ships that followed the Johnston into the Japanese battle line were also sunk, said Carl Schuster, a former sea captain and instructor at the University of the Pacific in Hawaii.
“The discovery of the USS Johnston is yet another reminder of the heroism and sacrifice of that day in the Gulf of Leyte 77 years ago,” he said.
Of the Johnston’s 327-man crew, 186 died, including Evans. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first Native American in the US Navy to receive his country’s highest military honor, according to the NHHC.
For Vescovo, being able to reach the USS Johnston was a very personal mission.
“In some ways we have come full circle,” he said in a statement. “The Johnston and our own ship were built in the same shipyard and both served in the US Navy. As a US Navy officer, I am proud to have helped clarify and close the Johnston, her crew, and the families of those who fell there. “
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