USS Juneau, warship that sank with 600 aboard, discovered 4km down in Pacific

Guardian News ^ | 20 Mar 2018 | Eleanor Ainge Roy

[US Navy Vet]

An expedition in the South Pacific ocean funded by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen has discovered the wreckage of a famous US warship that was attacked by the Japanese during the second world war, claiming more than 600 lives.

The billionaire’s personal search team located the remains of the USS Juneau off the coast of the Solomon Islands on St Patrick’s Day.

The Juneau was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in November 1942, claiming the lives of 687 men, including five brothers known as the Sullivans from Waterloo, Iowa. The men became navy heroes and had a destroyer named after them.

[Does so]

WWII Japanese torpedoes were excellent.

US' WWII torpedo development suffered from spending cuts in Defense; which otherwise, would have shortened the war considerably. US' WWI torpedoes were actually better.

[Does so]

Not just a DD named for the Sullivan brothers, but an early commemorative stamp, first-day cover, and a movie: Background:

https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=16867

[Doogle]

.....had a uncle (Bill) on board that
day, my mother’s brother, who’s military photo was always there on
the wall of my grandparents dining
room wall. I learned very early in life about respect,honor,and how much
he was loved from my grandfather who was also a veteran.

[Jacquerie]

Between the land and sea battles, more sailors than marines were KIA in the Guadalcanal campaign, about 4,500 to 1,500.

History can thank the CNO Admiral Earnest King for taking the USN to war in the Pacific so soon. Under the “Europe First” strategy, Churchill and FDR were willing to give up Australia, NZ and India if necessary to beat Hitler first.

Admiral King didn’t get the memo.

[Doofer]

My fathers ship, the US Monssen (DD-436) was sunk in that battle. His brother was killed and went done with ship. The old man never talked about it to me or my mother.

[rexthecat]

The ship is a tomb, not an amusement attraction for rich men. Let it be so the men can rest in peace.

[FES0844]

Saw the movie when I was a kid. Saddest movie ever. I don’t know how people with such unbearable grief ever get out of bed. RIP

[Aloysius88]

The O’Sullivans.

[Aloysius88]

Wrong. The Sullivans. Memory must be going.

[Nailbiter]

ping

[stockpirate]

PING of honor

[Spacetrucker]

Paul Allen has been completely respectful during these discoveries. If I remember correctly, as they are war graves, he keeps the precise location secret.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks .US Navy Vet

[SunkenCiv]

Wartime poster -- one of these is in the local museum. Their mother continued to volunteer as a cook throughout the war. BTW, there was a rule against having siblings aboard the same vessel, but it was bent because they didn't want to be separated. That rule is no longer bent as a consequence.

From left to right: Joseph Eugene Sullivan, Francis Henry Sullivan, Albert Leo Sullivan, Madison Abel Sullivan, and George Thomas Sullivan

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks sp.

[Sam_Damon]

He’s the least of the problems.

Saw a report where Chinese companies want the low-background steel made before atomic bombs started exploding. The major source of that these days: sunken warships.

Here’s one report on the subject.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/worlds-biggest-grave-robbery-asias-disappearing-ww2-shipwrecks

[SunkenCiv]

There was never any doubt that the US would fight the Japanese (almost typed "Japs" there) -- George Marshall wanted an early second front in Europe, was resisted by the UK every step of the way, but the US threat (not usually veiled, either), was that the US needed all the resources it could raise to fight alone in the Pacific. After V-E day, there was resistance from the US command structure to allow the British Navy to join the action in Okinawa.

[SunkenCiv]

Such pirate vessels should be tracked and sunk, and any survivors left for the sharks.

[csvset]

Re the torpedos. Thanks to the efforts of Charles “Swede” Momsen, the problem plauging US torpedos was resolved. From Wikipedia:

During World War II, Momsen served as Commander, Submarine Squadron 2 (ComSubRon 2) and Commander, Submarine Squadron 4 (ComSubRon 4). While Momsen was ComSubRon 2 in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, captains under his command reported their Mark 14 torpedoes were not functioning properly. When fired from the preferred perpendicular angle of impact, the torpedoes did not always explode.

However, when fired to hit at acute angles, the torpedoes usually exploded. When officers of Momsen's own squadron complained, he decided to find out why. He took torpedoes to the shallow waters and sheer cliffs of the Hawaiian Island of Kahoolawe and fired until he got a dud. Then, risking his own life, he dove into the water to find the unexploded torpedo.

With help, he recovered the dangerous live torpedo and brought it on board.

A small problem with the firing pin inside the primer cap of the warhead was causing the duds: it was becoming crushed, rather than firing the warhead.

Momsen was an interesting man, he had a storied Naval career.

I can recommend. The Terrible Hours: The Greatest Submarine Rescue In History