The RV PETREL has taken on the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over the past few weeks they have made many discoveries of both American and Japanese vessels. Their Facebook page has photos and video of all their discoveries for anyone with an account to view. Eventually their main page (RV PETREL ) will be updated with the new discoveries. For those who do not have Facebook accounts, I wanted to post a few photos and some information about some of the vessels they located.
From the Battle of Midway they discovered the flagship for the Japanese fleet, the IJN Akagi, an aircraft carrier. Akagi was found most recently and due to equipment malfunction of the ROV, there are no close up photos or video. Perhaps they can find the time to remedy that situation when they return to the South Pacific, but for now we do have the sonar imagery. Akagi was heavily damaged during the battle and scuttled on June 5th, 1942.
From the Battle of Midway they discovered the flagship for the Japanese fleet, the IJN Akagi, an aircraft carrier. Akagi was found most recently and due to equipment malfunction of the ROV, there are no close up photos or video. Perhaps they can find the time to remedy that situation when they return to the South Pacific, but for now we do have the sonar imagery. Akagi was heavily damaged during the battle and scuttled on June 5th, 1942.
The IJN Kaga, also an aircraft carrier was an especially poignant find. Kaga was involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Planes from the USS ENTERPRISE aircraft carrier were responsible for the damage done to Kaga, so severe that this ship was also scuttled on June 4th, 1942. Below is a short video of the find.
Next to the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Japanese vessel IJN Maga, a battle cruiser. The Maya was torpedoed on October 23, 1944 by the USS DACE. Also found was the IJN Mogami, a heavy cruiser damaged enough in the battle to be scuttled on October 25th, 1944.
Next to the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Japanese vessel IJN Maga, a battle cruiser. The Maya was torpedoed on October 23, 1944 by the USS DACE. Also found was the IJN Mogami, a heavy cruiser damaged enough in the battle to be scuttled on October 25th, 1944.
The American vessel found was the USS ST. LO, an escort carrier. The ST. LO was first laid down as the CHAPIN BAY, then underwent the first name change to MIDWAY in April of 1943. She carried that name until October 10th of 1944. Shortly after, she was lost by a kamikaze attack on October 25th, 1944. I don't have any images of ST. LO. To view the video of the ship, click here: ST. LO.
For more information, access their Facebook page if you can, or watch for the updates on the RV PETREL website. Also check out the page connected to Paul G. Allen’s website.
PETREL plans to return to the South Pacific next year to cover wrecks from the Battle of Samar. We look forward to the discoveries to come!
All photos and video courtesy of Paul G. Allen, Vulcan, Inc. and the crew of the RV PETREL.
-Tammi
For more information, access their Facebook page if you can, or watch for the updates on the RV PETREL website. Also check out the page connected to Paul G. Allen’s website.
PETREL plans to return to the South Pacific next year to cover wrecks from the Battle of Samar. We look forward to the discoveries to come!
All photos and video courtesy of Paul G. Allen, Vulcan, Inc. and the crew of the RV PETREL.
-Tammi
RSS Feed