E/V Nautilus WWII Discoveries

[AWP]

With the demise of RV Petrel (we have a thread: RV Petrel's (Paul Allen's Ship) Wreck Discoveries), E/V Nautilus has "picked up the torch" so-to-speak. Partnered with Robert Ballard (he discovered the Titanic) the org has a number of expeditions a year, one of which is usually dedicated to finding WWII wrecks. They also survey ocean life and locations which make for some pretty cool highlight videos.

Nautilus Live | Ocean Exploration Trust

Anyway, they have an expedition in Ironbottom Sound right now with live feeds, chatting with the crew, new stories, history, etc. The live feeds are really interesting as you'd expect. They've already found the missing bow to the USS New Orleans which is pretty badass.

USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Wikipedia

Enjoy the time sink!

 

[AWP]

7 days in and they've imaged 9 wrecks.

 

[Devildoc]

That's amazing. Ironbottom Sound is not very big, but it is very deep.

 

[AWP]

Watching the live feed this morning has been amazing. Most of it was on the USS Walke. The first "item" found was the forward superstructure and bridge. Nearby there was a whole warhead for a MK 14 torpedo. You could even see the crater formed when the warhead hit the sea floor.

Walke had its bow blown off and they showed the devastation. Massive. The stern is also missing which wasn't previously reported. The wreck has torpedoes still in their launchers, a sound powered telephone cable still coiled up and hanging, simply amazing images.

Their Yoube channel already has some videos posted of the USS Astoria and the New Orleans' bow section.

Walke is mangled.

ETA: one of the torpedo racks has a 5-inch shell sitting between the tubes.

 

[AWP]

They have preliminarily ID'ed a previously undiscovered wreck as IJN Teruzuki. It took two torpedoes from PT boats which started a fire, detonating the depth charge magazine. That removed the entire stern aft of the last main gun mount. The ROV "flew" to the last turret and then nothing but black.