2. Dünya Savaşı’nda kaybolan bir denizaltı Japonya kıyısında bulundu

The wreck of an Americansubmarine from World War IIhas been found off the coast of Matsua Island, Japan. TheUSS Herring (SS-233)currently rests over 300 feet down in the Pacific Ocean, where it is sitting upright and “maintains a high degree of integrity,”according to United States Naval History and Heritage Command(NHHC). The discovery was announced exactly 82 years after the vessel sank, based on evidence collected from an international team of researchers.

TheHerringwas first launched from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine on January 15, 1942, and officially commissioned on May 4, 1942. The vessel completed eight war patrols in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during the war.Herringsank seven enemy ships, including four Japanese cargo ships during what would be the submarine’s final patrol.

Herringwas last seen by the crew of the USSBarbduring the evening of May 31, 1944.The submarines met to determine who would patrol areas off the Kurile Islands, an archipelago east of Japan. Early on June 1, 1944,Barb’screw recorded hearing the sound of weapons designed to attack a submarine from a ship or aircraft calleddepth chargesexploding in the distance.

Japanese historical records also confirm thatHerringwas struck in two direct hits during a counterattack by a shore battery. The strikes ultimately sankHerringand the vessel was presumed lost whenHerringfailed to report to Midway on July 13, 1944. The sinking killed all 83 crewmembers.

In 2017, a joint expedition between Russian Geographic Society (RGS) and the Russian Militaryreported a submarine wreck in the area. Based on its location and appearance, the RGS reported that the wreckage wasHerring. A subsequent joint expedition returned to the wreck in 2022 to document its status and honor the lost crew. The expedition team also placed a plaque on site. The data collected and shared by the RGS was analyzed by two U.S. volunteer researchers and one researcher in Japan. NHCC confirmed the wreckage on June 1, 2026-82 years to the day afterHerringis believed to have sunk.

Importantly, the wreckage shows battle damage around the submarine’sconning tower. This tower is a raised platform from which an officer canconn(conduct or control) a vessel. This damage, along with evidence of grounding at the submarine’s bow, correlates with the historical record of theHerring‘s sinking.

The wreckage is currently protected by U.S. law and under thejurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. The Navy allows some non-intrusive activities on sunken military craft, but any activity that may disturb the sunken vessel must be coordinated with NHHC.

“Most importantly, the wreck represents the final resting place of Sailors who gave their lives in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave,” the NHHC wrote in a press release.”