Deepest Known Shipwreck Discovered: WWII US Navy Destroyer Sinks 22,600 Feet Below the Philippine Sea

The USS Destroyer Escort Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), sometimes known as the Sammy B, is the deepest wreckage ever discovered on a new continent.

Together, they discovered the wreck on June 22. Victor Vescovo is an explorer who has performed trips to some of the world's lowest locations.

CNN said the shipwreck was located in the Philippine Sea at 22,621 feet (6,895 meters). The highest permanent habitation in the world, La Rinconada in the Peruvian Andes, is 5,100 meters above sea level. However, Mount Kilimanjaro's peak is 16,700 feet (5,896 meters) higher.

The USS Johnston, discovered by Vescovo last year, was previously the deepest wreck ever found and inspected at the height of 6,469 meters.

World's Deepest Wreckage Found Thousands of Feet Below Philippine Sea

The world's deepest wreckage, a WWII US Navy destroyer, is located more than 22,600 feet below the surface of the Philippine Sea - facing the Pacific Ocean, Daily Mail reported.

The ship was damaged by Japanese fire and sank during the Battle Off Samar in the Philippine Sea in October 1944.

But Texas millionaire Victor Vescovo, who owns a deep-diving submarine, found the Sammy B, not the scientists.

The Allied navy forces were moving west and away from the enemy fire line when the Japanese launched one last desperate attempt to engage them off the coast of the Philippines on Oct. 15.

Sammy B, on the other hand, was one of the last US ships still in the fleet and was renowned for its valiant resistance against the Japanese, according to BBC.

Before locating the Sammy B, Vescovo, the exploration business Caladan Oceanic's founder made six dives.

He and his colleagues initially saw some debris, which turned out to be a three-torpedo launcher that could only have come from the Sammy B.

Vescovo said to CNN As far as military ships go, Sammy B is a little one. Vescovo noted that the team wasn't sure that they would be able to locate the ship in the vast and incredibly deep ocean where it went down.

Vescovo eventually located the ship and provided a fantastic opportunity to tell an extraordinary narrative thanks to persistence, some excellent historical study, a lot of deep ocean equipment, and hard work.

About Sammy B's Story

Robb Report said the team was nevertheless able to correctly identify Sammy B despite the shipwreck being split into two parts spaced apart by around 33 feet.

The 306-footer engaged in the Battle off Samar alongside a small group of US warships against a more formidable Japanese fleet.

The flotilla played a significant role in the American victory in the wider Battle of Leyte Gulf, regarded as the most extensive naval engagement in history.

According to historical reports, Sammy B fought off two heavy cruisers and three enemy battleships.

Sammy B was dubbed "The destroyer escort that fought like a battleship" for the said reason.

Around 120 of the 224 crew members, including the ship's captain Robert W. Copeland, were saved, while 89 died.

"In difficult times, it's important to reflect on those who sacrificed so much, so willingly, in even more difficult times to ensure our freedoms and way of life," Vescovo said in a statement obtained by CNN and Robb Report. "I always remain in awe of the extraordinary bravery of those who fought in this battle against truly overwhelming odds-and won."

Check out more news and information on Ocean in Science Times.