Unidentified WWII ‘Ghost Ship’ Discovered Intact Off the Coast of California

The recent rediscovery of the USS Stewart, an American destroyer captured by Japanese forces during World War II, represents a landmark advance in understanding the maritime history of the Pacific. Located at a depth of 3,500 feet off the coast of California through the joint efforts of Ocean Infinity and the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, this vessel is a unique testimony to the complexity of naval conflicts of the era.

Stewart, having served under both the American and Japanese flags, offers a rare perspective on technological and strategic exchanges between warring nations. The team of marine explorers, led by Jim Delgado of SEARCH Inc., in collaboration with NOAA, sheds light not only on the technical details of this wreck, but also on the symbolic importance of this discovery for the collective memory of veterans of the Pacific War.

A high-precision technological mission

The rediscovery of the USS Stewart was made possible thanks to a remarkably precise technological mission, orchestrated by several leading institutions. Among them, Ocean Infinity, a company specializing in marine robotics, and the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation played a central role in locating the wreck. To carry out this mission, autonomous underwater drones were deployed. They have the ability to map the seafloor over a vast area of ​​37 square nautical miles. And this in less than 24 hours.

These drones used high-resolution sonars, making it possible to capture a clear and detailed image of the ship resting at a depth of more than 1060 m. This type of technology made it possible to find the Stewart in an exceptional state of conservation after more than 80 years underwater. According to Jim Delgado, vice president of SEARCH Inc., this advancement marks a major milestone in the way we explore and understand our oceans.

The degree of preservation of the Stewart is rare for a ship of this type. Experts say it is probably one of the best preserved examples of four-piper destroyers from the early 20th century. In addition to its historical significance, the wreck provides a valuable opportunity to study the shipbuilding techniques of this era. Jim Delgado points out that the USS Stewart represents a unique window into prewar destroyer design, providing crucial data that could enrich our understanding of the evolution of military ships. This discovery thus opens the way to new studies on naval engineering and maritime history.

USS Stewart service under American flag

The USS Stewart, launched in 1919, was one of a series of destroyers designed at the end of World War I. Assigned to the American Navy, the latter mainly deployed this destroyer in the Pacific during the Second World War. As early as 1941, as the geopolitical situation in Asia worsened, the military stationed the Stewart in Manila, Philippines. After Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor in December of that year, the ship remained mobilized to combat Japanese forces in the area. He participated in several battles, including that of the Badung Strait in February 1942. There he suffered considerable damage under enemy fire.

This wide-spectrum sonar shows the wreck of the USS Stewart on the seafloor. © Ocean Infinity

Unable to continue fighting after this engagement, the American crew took a drastic decision to prevent the Stewart from falling into enemy hands. They scuttled the destroyer in the port of Surabaya, on the island of Java, prey to advancing Japanese troops. This operation aimed to destroy the ship in a controlled manner by setting off explosives in its hull. This strategic choice, common in times of war, allowed the crew to prevent the ship from becoming an asset for the enemy. Despite this, the story of the USS Stewart was far from over.

The USS Stewart under the Japanese flag

Against all odds, the Japanese discovered and recovered the wreck of the Stewart in 1943. In the middle of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided to rehabilitate this American destroyer. It becomes a patrol ship. They renamed it Patrol Boat No. 102. This reversal of the situation, where an American ship was fighting under enemy orders, constitutes a rare and surprising event. This situation contributed to creating the mystery around the Stewart. Notably when Allied pilots reported seeing an American destroyer operating behind Japanese lines. Hence its name “Ghost Ship of the Pacific”.

The stern of the USS Stewart. © Ocean Infinity

This Japanese operation remained mysterious until the end of the conflict, when Allied forces finally discovered the truth. It was not until 1945, after Japan's surrender, that the Americans recovered the ship at Kure, near Hiroshima. The ship was already badly damaged by its tumultuous history and the improvised repairs by the Japanese. The authorities briefly returned it to service under its original name. However, its condition no longer allowed it to be used for active military missions.

Return to the United States and end of service

In 1945, the USS Stewart was therefore returned to the United States, where it received the symbolic name of RAMP-224. It was an acronym meaning “Recovered Allied Military Personnel”, in tribute to released Allied prisoners of war. This return to American soil marked the end of a unique epic in the naval history of the Pacific. The Stewart had escaped destruction, fought under two opposing flags. He was finally back in his home country. Although the USS Stewart returned to American waters, she was a shadow of her former self. The repairs carried out by the Japanese and the years spent at sea had left irreversible marks.

In 1946 the ship used as a target exercise. © US Navy, National Archives

In May 1946, Stewart was officially withdrawn from active service. His last mission was as a target during a military exercise off the coast of California. According to witnesses at the time, it took more than two hours of intensive bombardment for the Stewart to finally surrender to the attacks. A symbol of his tenacity. This event closed a chapter in World War II history, where a ship changed flags in the middle of the war.

A symbolic heritage

The rediscovery of the wreck of the USS Stewart, almost 80 years after its disappearance, recalls the importance of this ship in the history of naval conflicts of the 20th century. Having served under both the American and Japanese flags, the USS Stewart became a symbol of the complexities of war in the Pacific. Alliances and oppositions could be played out on the same battlefield. Its recovery and preservation today offer a unique opportunity to better understand the evolution of military tactics.

Finally, the USS Stewart also bears witness to the human and material sacrifices made during World War II. The sailors who served aboard it, both under the American and Japanese banners, took part in one of the most devastating conflicts in history. Today, the wreck of the Stewart remains a reminder of this complex history and the memory of the men who sailed aboard her, whether allies or enemies.

Russ Matthews, president of the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, which helped search for the wreck, said: “ The Stewart is more than just a ship; to the sailors who served him, he was almost a companion. This rediscovery allows us to honor her memory and that of the men who sailed her “.