The U.S. Navy confirmed the discovery of the USS Edsall, a World War II-era destroyer lost during a fierce battle with Japanese forces in 1942. The ship, which went down with over 200 crew members, was located at a depth of more than 18,000 feet in the Indian Ocean, south of Christmas Island, by the Royal Australian Navy’s MV Stoker last year. Positive identification of the vessel was completed by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command earlier this month.
Built in 1919 and commissioned in 1920, the 314-foot USS Edsall served in convoy protection in the early days of the Pacific War. On March 1, 1942, the Edsall encountered an overwhelming Japanese force led by Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo, known for his role in the Pearl Harbor attack.
The Edsall’s crew fought back valiantly, evading Japanese battleships and cruisers for more than an hour, even earning the nickname “the dancing mouse” for its evasive maneuvers, according to NHHC historian Samuel J. Cox. Japanese forces fired over 1,300 shells, but the Edsall ultimately succumbed to dive bomber attacks and sank, marking the loss of nearly all aboard.
The discovery honors the legacy of the Edsall’s crew, who are memorialized as the wreck is considered a “hallowed site” by the U.S. Navy. Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia, emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifice of the fallen sailors, pledging to preserve the site as a tribute.
The shipwreck was found using advanced robotic and autonomous technology typically used in hydrographic surveys, according to Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. Identification efforts faced challenges, as the site’s depth and condition required careful analysis to distinguish it from other vessels lost in the area, notably the USS Pillsbury, which was sunk under similar circumstances a day later.
