US World War II submarine lost for decades found off the coast of Japan
The USS Albacore was lost at sea in 1944 after stopping for fuel at Midway Island.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The wreckage of a lost U.S. submarine from World War II has been found off the coast of Japan.
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) confirmed Friday that a sunken craft off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan is the wreckage of the USS Albacore — a World War II-era U.S. submarine.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The wreckage was documented by Dr. Tamaki Ura with the University of Tokyo. Ura worked off contemporary records obtained through the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records mentioning the destruction of a U.S. submarine.
The U.S.S. Albacore submarine is shown Feb. 17, 1942, as she enters the water. (Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images)
"As the final resting place for Sailors who gave their life in defense of our nation, we sincerely thank and congratulate Dr. Ura and his team for their efforts in locating the wreck of Albacore," retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and NHHC Director Samuel Cox said.
The USS Albacore is credited with sinking at least 10 enemy vessels during its years active and received nine battle stars. It was lost at sea in 1944 after fueling up at Midway Island.
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A screenshot of the wreck site USS Albacore (SS 218). which was lost at sea Nov. 7, 1944. Indications of documented modifications made to Albacore prior to her final patrol such as the presence of an SJ Radar dish and mast, a row of vent holes along the top of the superstructure, and the absence of steel plates along the upper edge of the fairwater allowed Naval History and Heritage Command to confirm the wreck site finding as Albacore. (Screenshot captured from video courtesy of Dr. Tamaki Ura/University of Tokyo)
He continued, "It is through their hard work and continued collaboration that we could confirm Albacore’s identity after being lost at sea for over 70 years."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"The wreck of Albacore is a U.S. sunken military craft protected by U.S. law and under the jurisdiction of NHHC," the command said in its press release. "While non-intrusive activities, such as remote sensing documentation, on U.S. Navy sunken military craft is allowed, any intrusive or potentially intrusive activities must be coordinated with NHHC and if appropriate, authorized through a relevant permitting program."
The NHHC added, "Most importantly, the wreck represents the final resting place of Sailors that gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave."