When the USS Destroyer Escort Samuel B. Roberts, affectionately nicknamed “Sammy B,” sank in 1944, she had the idea of being lost forever, but thanks to one of the world’s most prolific explorers, she realized it. The wreck led through Victor Vescovo, Caladan Oceanic observer, who, in combination with EYOS Expeditions, piloted DSSV Pressure Drop to search for the ship. It was noted that it rested on a slope at an intensity of 6,895 meters, making it the innermost shipwreck in the world.
Vescovo made incredible expeditions during his lifetime, adding that he was the first user to make a stopover in the innermost parts of Earth’s five oceans, but as a retired naval officer, this project was especially close to his heart. We talked to the explorer about the importance of discovery and the demanding situations of diving.
Congratulations on your mission. Why is this discovery so important?
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval war in history, and the action off the island of Samar in October 1944 was the final act of American victory. The war in which Samuel B. Roberts, or “Sammy B” as he is affectionately known in ancient circles, was the last genuine surface engagement of the Pacific War. It was one of the bravest and most maximum epic wars in naval history and the Sammy B, a small shipment compared to the giants he fought, set an example of courage. And, of course, it is now the innermost shipwreck ever discovered and studied. Some of my team members joked that she is so deep because she is looking to succeed at the very gates of hell, to keep fighting there as well.
How did you find out about the remains and why was it so important for you to locate them?
I first discovered the Sammy B while reading the naval tale when I was a U. S. Navy officer. UU. La story of her crew’s bravery is well known in military circles, but it has been identified that we would probably never locate her because she sank such unusually deep waters, just above the Philippine Trench, which is one of only 4 10,000-meter-deep trenches in the world. However, in recent years, my team and I have developed the first submersible capable of diving anywhere in the world. Seabed, continuously and reliably, so I felt it was a bit my duty to at least search to locate it, help give closure to the families of those who died in it and have the possibility to tell their story.
Why is a yacht the ideal base for such an expedition?
I never call my help envoy, DSSV Pressure Drop, a yacht. It was an old U. S. Navy Army shipment. It was used to hunt Soviet submarines in the Cold War. I have served a lot in U. S. Navy shipments. like that anything luxurious. She is almost Spartan in a way. But it’s ultra quiet through design, it has a world-class probe set, it’s a bit slow but very fuel efficient, and it’s the best shipment for my team and I to focus on the kind of ultra-deep missions we carry out. is a first-class ultra-deep study aid vessel, exclusive in its kind.
How did you prepare for the mission?
Last year we located and dived on the USS Johnston, which until this week is the innermost shipwreck ever discovered. We did a lot of old studies to narrow down the domain that we had to scan, because the ocean is very, very big. commissioned the development and structure of a traditional side-scan sonar that could trace far beyond the industry’s popular 6000-meter mark, which would help us locate the remains.
It takes a lot of quick preparation and technical progress to carry out a project like this. Doing anything in water deeper than a few thousand meters is incredibly difficult, as thousands of pounds of pressure, sub-zero temperatures, and corrosive salt water make life hell. all the mechanical gadgets they paint there. Also, the projects themselves last nine to ten hours, so it’s a physical endurance challenge as the pilot and sonar operator are on this little titanium ball all this time.
Tell us when you discovered the remains.
It’s an incredibly exciting time to stumble upon another shipwreck. We had some false starts: it wasn’t until the fifth dive that we discovered it. We saw a recoil of the hard sonar at right angles to the submarine, and nature doesn’t. make sharp right angles, so we would know we were in something. Then we glide closer and closer to the wreck and finally, out of the darkness, we can see the contours of a ship, no doubt. It’s an incredibly electric inner feeling. the submarine being there and having discovered the proverbial needle in a haystack.
But then we also had to be very, very careful because there was live ammunition in the shipment (we could probably see 40-millimeter cartridges in the weapons and underwater grenades still in their racks) and that amplified the tension in the submarine.
What will happen to the remains now?
We will send all the knowledge we have collected, adding location, video and images to the U. S. Navy. USA After all, it is his shipwreck. I will be happy to donate all the effects of our pro bono studies to organizations that will respectfully tell the story of the ship and its crew.
Do you have any other similar missions in the pipeline?
Yes. There are still a great many famous wrecks to be located all over the world, and I feel very lucky to be able to help find them and retell their stories. It is an oft-repeated saying that what we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. Well, if we can create more chances to tell these compelling historical stories, maybe we can help people learn some of the greater lessons.