Latest news with #Teruzuki
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Japan's WWII destroyer Teruzuki found in Pacific: See photos
Teruzuki -- a Japanese word meaning "shining moon" or "illuminated moon" -- was a 440 feet-long warship designed for screening aircraft carriers from aerial attacks. It was stationed off the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a nation in the south Pacific north of Australia, to protect supply ships before being attacked and sunk by American troops in December 1942, OET said. "I feel so lucky to see this ship. The fact that we have not seen Teruzuki in over 80 years underscores the importance of recording maritime heritage now," said Hiroshi Ishii, a member of the research team involved in the discovery, in the release. Photos: Sunken WWII destroyer found What happened to Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki? In the early hours of December 12, 1942, American patrol boats attacked the convoy, striking Teruzuki in the stern with a pair of Mk-8 torpedoes. The detonation broke the ship's rudder, disabling the ship and engulfing it in flames. Most of its crew were rescued or swam to shore, but nine men were killed as Teruzuki sank, according to OET. Through the discovery of the ship, researchers were able to piece together exactly what happened during the attack, OET said. A 62-foot segment of the ship's stern was found littered with depth charges, disproving a long-held theory that such weapons sealed the ship's fate, OET said. Instead, the broken rudder impaired the vessel and sparked fires, causing it to sink. How did crews find Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki? A group of scientists using remotely operated vehicles to explore an area of seafloor discovered the Teruzuki, OET said. Remotely operated vehicles are underwater machines used to scan ocean depths while being operated by someone at the water's surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to OET, because Japanese naval vessel plans were kept highly secret during the war, no historical images of Teruzuki exist. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Photos Reveal Sunken Warship Discovered Half a Mile Deep After 83 Years
Two researchers who helped discover an over 80-year-old Japanese warship say the experience was thrilling and galvanized two countries decades after World War II. On July 12, a team aboard the Ocean Exploration Trust's Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautiluslocated the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyerTeruzuki on the seafloor of Iron Bottom Sound, in a stretch of water at the southern end known as The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands. Teruzuki-meaning "Shining Moon" or "Illuminated Moon"-was a 134-meter Akizuki-class destroyer commissioned in 1942 and built to defend aircraft carriers from aerial attack. The destroyer, serving as a flagship to tactician Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka, was lost during surface combat operations in the Guadalcanal campaign. On December 12, 1942, Teruzuki was struck by two American Mk-8 torpedoes near Cape Esperance, disabling the rudder and igniting fires. Tanaka and most of the crew survived; however, nine sailors were killed before the ship ultimately sank. Researchers deem the vessel's sinking and discovery as a significant moment in maritime archaeology and World War II history. The wreck was found at a depth exceeding 800 meters, akin to approximately a half-mile or 2,625 feet, by using cutting-edge seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology. The target was initially identified by the University of New Hampshire's uncrewed surface vessel (USV) DriX, then visually confirmed by ROVs launched from E/V Nautilus. Dr. Larry Miller, director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire who is onboard leading the team conducting the uncrewed surface vehicle mapping, told Newsweek that during an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the crew came out to the area with some type of knowledge of the position of 10 to 15 of the wrecks that had been found before and surveyed before. They knew there were "many, many more," as many as 100 wrecks on the bottom. He explained how the Nautilus with the ROV can go down to a known target and get spectacular imagery, while at the same time, the DriX has a higher resolution sonar on it and independently maps many areas of Iron Bottom Sound that are verified by researchers. "So, we see what a known target looks like," Miller said. "We came first day and saw what a cruiser looked like from the DriX. And from that, keep it mapping, keep it mapping. "We have a series of now potential targets, and the Teruzuki was one of those targets that we had identified from the DriX. We didn't know what it was. It hadn't been identified before." The discovery also included a self-admitted "accidental find." After they finished surveying the vessel's main body, they moved away and, about 200 meters away from the main body, found the Teruzuki stern-which Miller called "super exciting." Teruzuki's discovery was extra special for Hiroshi Ishii, a Nautilus science team member and program-specific researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Area Studies at Kyoto University. He confirmed the destroyer's identification. He told Newsweek that he and others onboard were unsure whether the "massive" structure they found was an American ship, Japanese, or even Australian. "As a Japanese person, I appreciate that someone cares about this shared history between the U.S. and Japan," Ishii said. "Also, as a Japanese person, we don't know much about this battle. "I'm an archaeologist, so I know much, much more and focus on this part of the history, but in general, most of the Japanese know about the canal but don't know much about the naval battle in general." Miller said the discovery has brought "great excitement to our Japanese colleagues," with Ishii adding that historical tenets related to Teruzuki were essentially nonexistent. This is the first crew to knowingly find this vessel in over 80 years. "I feel like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ishii said. "This is a big team effort and I'm just lucky to be here and to identify this." Phil Hartmeyer, marine archaeologist for NOAA Ocean Exploration, in a statement: "The discovery of Rear Admiral Tanaka's flagship Teruzuki was made by a multidisciplinary, international team who together documented its remains, uncovering Teruzuki's significance to former combatant, and now allied, nations. Only by exploring our planet's unknown waters can these significant stories of sacrifice and human connection to our ocean be brought to light." Miller said that mapping in the region will continue, in part as a very exciting scientific program going on with another vessel that's using a higher resolution sonar to map a coral reef to formulate three-dimensional reconstructions of the reef structure. That continues until July 23 before new crews take to the seas for other similar missions in different regions. Related Articles Navy Ship Didn't Sink Because Captain Was a Woman: MinisterFrench Ship That Sunk in 1856 Discovered off Massachusetts CoastSunken South Korean Ferry Emerges Three Years After Disaster 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Photos Reveal Sunken Warship Discovered Half a Mile Deep After 83 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NOTE: ORIGINAL VIDEO NOT INCLUDED; WAITING ON VIDEO TEAM Two researchers who helped discover an over 80-year-old Japanese warship say the experience was thrilling and galvanized two countries decades after World War II. Why It Matters On July 12, a team aboard the Ocean Exploration Trust's Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki on the seafloor of Iron Bottom Sound, in a stretch of water at the southern end known as The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands. Teruzuki—meaning "Shining Moon" or "Illuminated Moon"—was a 134-meter Akizuki-class destroyer commissioned in 1942 and built to defend aircraft carriers from aerial attack. The destroyer, serving as a flagship to tactician Rear Admiral Raizō Tanaka, was lost during surface combat operations in the Guadalcanal campaign. A map shows where the Teruzuki was discovered. A map shows where the Teruzuki was discovered. Ocean Exploration Trust On December 12, 1942, Teruzuki was struck by two American Mk-8 torpedoes near Cape Esperance, disabling the rudder and igniting fires. Tanaka and most of the crew survived; however, nine sailors were killed before the ship ultimately sank. Researchers deem the vessel's sinking and discovery as a significant moment in maritime archaeology and World War II history. A photo of the remnants of the Teruzuki, found at a depth exceeding 800 meters using cutting-edge seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology. A photo of the remnants of the Teruzuki, found at a depth exceeding 800 meters using cutting-edge seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology. Ocean Exploration Trust What To Know The wreck was found at a depth exceeding 800 meters, akin to approximately a half-mile or 2,625 feet, by using cutting-edge seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology. The target was initially identified by the University of New Hampshire's uncrewed surface vessel (USV) DriX, then visually confirmed by ROVs launched from E/V Nautilus. The Ocean Exploration Trust's Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus located The Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki on the seafloor of Iron Bottom Sound on July 12, 2025. The Ocean Exploration Trust's Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus located The Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki on the seafloor of Iron Bottom Sound on July 12, 2025. Ocean Exploration Trust Dr. Larry Miller, director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire who is onboard leading the team conducting the uncrewed surface vehicle mapping, told Newsweek that during an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the crew came out to the area with some type of knowledge of the position of 10 to 15 of the wrecks that had been found before and surveyed before. They knew there were "many, many more," as many as 100 wrecks on the bottom. He explained how the Nautilus with the ROV can go down to a known target and get spectacular imagery, while at the same time, the DriX has a higher resolution sonar on it and independently maps many areas of Iron Bottom Sound that are verified by researchers. "So, we see what a known target looks like," Miller said. "We came first day and saw what a cruiser looked like from the DriX. And from that, keep it mapping, keep it mapping. "We have a series of now potential targets, and the Teruzuki was one of those targets that we had identified from the DriX. We didn't know what it was. It hadn't been identified before." Commissioned in 1942, Teruzuki—meaning 'Shining Moon' or 'Illuminated Moon'—was a 134-meter Akizuki-class destroyer built to defend aircraft carriers from aerial attack. Commissioned in 1942, Teruzuki—meaning 'Shining Moon' or 'Illuminated Moon'—was a 134-meter Akizuki-class destroyer built to defend aircraft carriers from aerial attack. Ocean Exploration Trust The discovery also included a self-admitted "accidental find." After they finished surveying the vessel's main body, they moved away and, about 200 meters away from the main body, found the Teruzuki stern—which Miller called "super exciting." Teruzuki's discovery was extra special for Hiroshi Ishii, a Nautilus science team member and program-specific researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Area Studies at Kyoto University. He confirmed the destroyer's identification. He told Newsweek that he and others onboard were unsure whether the "massive" structure they found was an American ship, Japanese, or even Australian. "As a Japanese person, I appreciate that someone cares about this shared history between the U.S. and Japan," Ishii said. "Also, as a Japanese person, we don't know much about this battle. "I'm an archaeologist, so I know much, much more and focus on this part of the history, but in general, most of the Japanese know about the canal but don't know much about the naval battle in general." The Teruzuki vessel is highlighted in the dark depths of the ocean. The Teruzuki vessel is highlighted in the dark depths of the ocean. Ocean Exploration Trust Miller said the discovery has brought "great excitement to our Japanese colleagues," with Ishii adding that historical tenets related to Teruzuki were essentially nonexistent. This is the first crew to knowingly find this vessel in over 80 years. "I feel like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ishii said. "This is a big team effort and I'm just lucky to be here and to identify this." What People Are Saying Phil Hartmeyer, marine archaeologist for NOAA Ocean Exploration, in a statement: "The discovery of Rear Admiral Tanaka's flagship Teruzuki was made by a multidisciplinary, international team who together documented its remains, uncovering Teruzuki's significance to former combatant, and now allied, nations. Only by exploring our planet's unknown waters can these significant stories of sacrifice and human connection to our ocean be brought to light." What Happens Next Miller said that mapping in the region will continue, in part as a very exciting scientific program going on with another vessel that's using a higher resolution sonar to map a coral reef to formulate three-dimensional reconstructions of the reef structure. That continues until July 23 before new crews take to the seas for other similar missions in different regions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Japanese warship used in WWII found on Pacific seafloor: See photos
A team of scientists discovered a Japanese naval destroyer for the first time since it was sunk by American troops in World War II. Researchers exploring islands off the coast of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki, the Ocean Exploration Trust organization announced in a press release July 12. Teruzuki — a Japanese word meaning "shining moon" or "illuminated moon" — was a 440 feet-long warship designed for screening aircraft carriers from aerial attacks. It was stationed off the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a nation in the south Pacific north of Australia, to protect supply ships before being attacked and sunk by American troops in December 1942, OET said. 'I feel so lucky to see this ship. The fact that we have not seen Teruzuki in over 80 years underscores the importance of recording maritime heritage now,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a member of the research team involved in the discovery, in the release. In the early hours of December 12, 1942, American patrol boats attacked the convoy, striking Teruzuki in the stern with a pair of Mk-8 torpedoes. The detonation broke the ship's rudder, disabling the ship and engulfing it in flames. Most of its crew were rescued or swam to shore, but nine men were killed as Teruzuki sank, according to OET. Through the discovery of the ship, researchers were able to piece together exactly what happened during the attack, OET said. A 62-foot segment of the ship's stern was found littered with depth charges, disproving a long-held theory that such weapons sealed the ship's fate, OET said. Instead, the broken rudder impaired the vessel and sparked fires, causing it to sink. A group of scientists using remotely operated vehicles to explore an area of seafloor discovered the Teruzuki, OET said. Remotely operated vehicles are underwater machines used to scan ocean depths while being operated by someone at the water's surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to OET, because Japanese naval vessel plans were kept highly secret during the war, no historical images of Teruzuki exist. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan's WWII destroyer Teruzuki found in Pacific: See photos
USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Japanese warship used in WWII found on Pacific seafloor: See photos
"I feel so lucky to see this ship. The fact that we have not seen Teruzuki in over 80 years underscores the importance of recording maritime heritage now," said a member of the research team. A team of scientists discovered a Japanese naval destroyer for the first time since it was sunk by American troops in World War II. Researchers exploring islands off the coast of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean located the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki, the Ocean Exploration Trust organization announced in a press release July 12. Teruzuki — a Japanese word meaning "shining moon" or "illuminated moon" — was a 440 feet-long warship designed for screening aircraft carriers from aerial attacks. It was stationed off the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a nation in the south Pacific north of Australia, to protect supply ships before being attacked and sunk by American troops in December 1942, OET said. 'I feel so lucky to see this ship. The fact that we have not seen Teruzuki in over 80 years underscores the importance of recording maritime heritage now,' said Hiroshi Ishii, a member of the research team involved in the discovery, in the release. Photos: Sunken WWII destroyer found What happened to Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki? In the early hours of December 12, 1942, American patrol boats attacked the convoy, striking Teruzuki in the stern with a pair of Mk-8 torpedoes. The detonation broke the ship's rudder, disabling the ship and engulfing it in flames. Most of its crew were rescued or swam to shore, but nine men were killed as Teruzuki sank, according to OET. Through the discovery of the ship, researchers were able to piece together exactly what happened during the attack, OET said. A 62-foot segment of the ship's stern was found littered with depth charges, disproving a long-held theory that such weapons sealed the ship's fate, OET said. Instead, the broken rudder impaired the vessel and sparked fires, causing it to sink. How did crews find Japanese WWII destroyer Teruzuki? A group of scientists using remotely operated vehicles to explore an area of seafloor discovered the Teruzuki, OET said. Remotely operated vehicles are underwater machines used to scan ocean depths while being operated by someone at the water's surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to OET, because Japanese naval vessel plans were kept highly secret during the war, no historical images of Teruzuki exist. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
