Explorers Discover The World’s Deepest Shipwreck 22,621 Feet Below The Surface

When many of us think about the final frontier, we often look to outer space. There are many people, however, including some scientists who feel that we know more about space than we do about what is under our own oceans.

Many parts of the ocean have yet to be explored and even those that have been explored still have many secrets to yield. Perhaps that is why some explorers are so intent on looking underneath the surface and seeing what the ocean has to offer.

This includes a billionaire named Victor Vescovo. He is the founder of EYOS Expeditions and Chaldean Oceanic. Recently, he worked along with Jeremie Mirizet, a sonar specialist to see what they could find at the bottom of a deep part of the ocean. As it turns out, they found something unexpected.

According to a press release, beneath the waters of the Philippine Sea, they found a shipwreck that was 22,621 feet down on the ocean floor. It was what is remaining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, which sank in 1944.

According to USNI News, the USS Samuel B. Roberts was built in 1943 and commissioned in 1944. It was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort and was 306 feet long. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, it was defending aircraft convoys but it was sunk when it came face-to-face with the Imperial Japanese Navy flotilla. When the Japanese ship struck, it tore large holes in the side of the ship and it sank into the depths.

120 of those who were on the ship remained on life rash for up to 50 hours before they were rescued. Unfortunately, 90 of the crew members never made it out and went down with the ship. Since they didn’t have the sophisticated GPS systems that we do today, nobody was sure where the ship went down.

In order to find the remains of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, submersible vessels were used along with sonar. 6 dives took place between June 17-24 and they were eventually able to identify the ship on June 18, 2022.

They saw a three-tube torpedo launcher, which was unique to the ship. Although it was covered in sea life after being on the bottom of the ocean for all those years, they were still able to identify it. After looking into it further, they found that the ship was broken in half.

Although this may not be the deepest shipwreck that exists, at 22,621 feet, it is the deepest one that has ever been surveyed.

Check out the video of it below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfNNJQ0PBfJ/

In the press release, Vescovo said: “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.”

Check out the video below to learn more, coutesy of Inside Edition: