USS Stewart Wreck Discovered 78 Years After Sinking, Revealing Naval History and Advanced Technology

A group of researchers have announced their discovery of the wreckage of the USS Stewart, a United States Navy destroyer that was operational under both American and Japanese flags during World War II. The ship was subsequently intentionally sunk during a naval exercise in 1946. The USS Stewart, once referred to as the 'Ghost Ship of the Pacific,' was stationed in Manila as part of the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Fleet and was damaged in combat in February 1942. A mishap entangled the vessel in a repair drydock on Java, Indonesia, leading to its abandonment as Japanese forces advanced. Eventually, it was repurposed by the Imperial Japanese Navy as a patrol boat, earning its nickname when it was spotted in the Japanese fleet by Allied pilots.

USS Stewart's Journey and Final Days

The ship was later located in Kure, Japan after the war and was reintegrated into the U.S. Navy. It was towed back to San Francisco and used as a target ship in its final act of service. Despite being deliberately submerged, the location of the USS Stewart remained undisclosed for decades.

After 78 years since its sinking, a collaborative initiative involving the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Naval History and Heritage Command, the marine technology company Ocean Infinity, and the global maritime archaeology organization SEARCH successfully uncovered the ship's site. On August 1, 2024, Ocean Infinity deployed three autonomous underwater vehicles off the coast of Northern California to conduct the search.

The unmanned submersibles meticulously scoured the area for a full 24 hours. Upon reviewing the collected data, researchers were elated to discover a remarkable and unmistakable image of a submerged vessel located 3,500 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

Preservation and Importance of the Wreck

Sonar scans revealed that the USS Stewart is "largely intact," with its hull nearly upright on the seafloor. This indicates that it might be one of the best-preserved examples of its class of ship, offering valuable insights into naval architecture and technology from the era in which it was built and operated. Dr. James Delgado, senior vice president of SEARCH and former NOAA Director of Maritime Heritage, emphasized the significance of the USS Stewart, stating that it presents a unique opportunity to study a well-preserved representation of early twentieth-century destroyer design.