Remains of the USS Juneau, a light cruiser that was hit by a Japanese torpedo during the battle of Guadalcanal in World War II, was discovered by explorers from on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel on March 17.
The USS Juneau had only been commissioned for less than a year prior to its sinking in 1942. Six hundred and eight-seven men were killed. Among them were the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, who later became the subject of a 1944 Hollywood movie, “The Fighting Sullivans.”
According to a press release from the website of philanthropist Paul G. Allen, whose company Vulcan Inc. is funding the expeditions of the R/V Petrol, the ship was found at the depth of 2.6 miles in the South Pacific, near the Solomon Islands.
This footage taken two days later by the R/V Petrol’s remotely operated underwater vehicle, shows a portion of the wreckage, and crew controlling the vehicle can be heard identifying the ship’s name. Credit: Paul G. Allen via Storyful