A groundbreaking underwater exploration has revealed the USS Stewart, a World War II destroyer with an amazing history of serving both American and Japanese forces during the Pacific War. The ship’s wreck was found off the California coast using advanced technology.
The ambitious search for the USS Stewart began on August 1, 2024, led by a collaboration of Ocean Infinity, the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, SEARCH, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and the Naval History and Heritage Command. The team pinpointed the location of the storied destroyer, long referred to as the “ghost ship of the Pacific.”
Ocean Infinity, renowned for its robotic marine survey expertise, played a critical role in the operation. The company deployed three HUGIN 6000 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), equipped with high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (HiSAS) and multibeam echosounder systems. These AUVs scanned the seafloor for 24 hours straight, eventually uncovering the unmistakable image of the USS Stewart resting 3,500 feet deep.
The sonar scans revealed the ship upright on the ocean floor, prompting a closer inspection with a camera-equipped remote-operated vehicle (ROV). This ROV provided a live video feed to shore, allowing officials to witness the exploration in real-time. The USS Stewart was found to be in a remarkable state of preservation, making it an invaluable find for historians and researchers interested in naval technology of the early 20th century.
Completed in 1920, the USS Stewart did not see action in World War I but was stationed in Manila at the outbreak of World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Stewart, along with other older warships, was tasked with retaliating against Japan. However, in a twist of fate, the destroyer fell into Japanese hands. The Japanese repaired the captured vessel and incorporated it into their fleet.
Reports from Allied pilots during the war mentioned sightings of “an old American destroyer” operating behind enemy lines, raising curiosity about the ship’s fate. After the war, the US Navy found the Stewart still afloat in Kure, Japan, and towed it back to California.
In its final service, the ship was used as a target during military exercises, enduring heavy fire for more than two hours before being ceremonially “buried at sea.”