The wreckage of a long-lost submarine that sank during World War II has been identified as the USS Albacore SS-218, according to a press release by the US Navy.
The submarine was lost in action with all 86 crew members aboard during its third patrol in November 1943.
KEY LARGO, FL - JULY 12: In this handout photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, divers swim at the shipwreck Spiegel Grove in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary July 12, 2005 in Key Largo, Florida. Since it was fully scuttled June 10, 2002, the decommissioned Navy Landing Ship Dock has rested on its starboard side.
Historic Shipwrecks in the Pacific
The discovery was made by researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of Delaware during a mission to locate and document historic shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean.
The research team employed advanced sonar and imaging technology to generate detailed maps of the underwater site.
"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," NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, a retired rear admiral of the US Navy said in a statement.
"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."
The USS Albacore, a Gato class submarine, successfully finished two patrols in the Pacific before it vanished. The submarine participated in several pivotal battles throughout the war, most notably the Battle of Midway.
The uncovering of the wreckage offers closure to the families of the crew who died in the tragedy. It also helps to record the service and sacrifice of the World War II submarine.
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Nine Battle Stars
Launched in January 1942, the USS Albacore conducted two missions in the Pacific before sinking. The submarine's participation in multiple clashes with Japanese forces gave it nine battle stars and four Presidential Unit Citations.
The research team photographed the wreckage and gathered information on the local marine species that will be used to analyze how the shipwreck has affected the underwater environment.
The US Navy intends to collaborate with the University of Delaware and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography to conduct further research on the area and pay respect to the USS Albacore crew.
The team will create a comprehensive history of the submarine's service and destruction with the date they acquired.
The US Navy and its partners have been searching and cataloging historic shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean, and finding the USS Albacore's remnants is part of that endeavor.
The project is geared toward spreading awareness of the area's past and preserving the legacies of those who served in the US Navy during World War II.
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