A long-lost section of the USS New Orleans, a U.S. Navy cruiser heavily damaged during World War II, has been discovered nearly 2,200 feet beneath the ocean surface in the Solomon Islands. The bow, separated during a deadly battle in November 1942, was located in an area known as Iron Bottom Sound.
The Ocean Exploration Trust, which led the search, confirmed the discovery through a global collaboration of marine scientists. Hundreds of experts analyzed real-time footage captured by a remotely operated underwater vehicle. The wreck, covered in marine growth and surrounded by debris, was identified by paint traces, its structure, and the ship’s anchor.
The USS New Orleans was struck by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Tassafaronga. The explosion detonated the ship’s forward magazines, severing nearly one-third of the vessel and instantly killing over 180 crew members. Three sailors later died trying to keep the ship afloat and were awarded Navy Crosses for their bravery.
Despite massive damage, the crew managed to save the ship. They patched it using coconut logs and sailed it to Tulagi Harbor, then eventually back to the U.S. for full repairs. Naval historians say the ship’s survival was extraordinary, with one official calling it the most severely damaged U.S. cruiser to survive the war.
This find comes just a year after another American WWII warship, the USS Edsall, was discovered decades after it was sunk in combat with Japanese forces.
