The search for the wreck of the American destroyer USS Stewart began on August 1, 2024. Unmanned drones were used to scan the area off the coast of California. The remains of the destroyer were found at a depth of approximately 1,067 meters in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, about 90 kilometers northwest of San Francisco.
USA Discovers the Wreck of USS Stewart
An underwater drone equipped with a camera was then sent toward the wreck. The footage revealed that the USS Stewart is largely intact, with its hull resting vertically on the seabed.
"The USS Stewart presents a unique opportunity to study a well-preserved example of early 20th-century destroyer construction. Its history, from serving in the U.S. Navy to being captured by Japan and returned to the U.S., makes it a powerful symbol of the complexities of the Pacific War," commented Dr. James Delgado, a representative of SEARCH, the archaeological organization that participated in the search, along with Ocean Infinity and American historical foundations.
USS Stewart Was Captured by Japanese Forces
The USS Stewart, also known as the "Pacific Ghost Ship," served in the U.S. fleet during World War II. In 1942, the ship was damaged and abandoned in Java, after which it was captured by the Empire of Japan and used to patrol Japanese waters.
In 1945, the ship was bombed by American forces and later reclaimed from the Japanese. On May 23, 1946, it was decommissioned, and the following day it was deliberately sunk during naval exercises, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.
