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98-565: RV Petrel , or R/V Petrel (IMO: 9268629, MMSI: 235102789), is a 76.45 m (250.8 ft) research vessel sailing under the UK flag and owned by the United States Navy and once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen . The ship is named after the petrel , a sea bird. The ship was completed by Brattvaag Skipsverft, Norway in 2003 as the deepwater offshore inspection vessel Seaway Petrel for service with Stolt Offshore . She

196-522: A kamikaze , had been discovered on 25 May. She lies at a depth of 15,538 feet (4,736 m) on the edge of the Philippine Trench off the coast of Samar . She sits upright relatively intact, with notable battle damage. She is the first escort carrier to have been found. On 18 October 2019, Petrel announced they had discovered the wreck of the Japanese aircraft carrier  Kaga , off

294-433: A towed structure , for example, air cannons used to generate shock waves that sound strata beneath the seabed , or mounted on the keel , for example, a depth sounder . In practice, hydrographic survey vessels are often equipped to perform multiple roles. Some function also as oceanographic research ships. Naval hydrographic survey vessels often do naval research, for example, on submarine detection. An example of

392-649: A Japanese destroyer with a loss of 168 of her crew. The Royal Australian Navy 's submarine HMAS  AE1 , which was lost at sea with all hands on 14 September 1914, and only discovered in December 2017 on the seafloor off the Duke of York Islands in Papua New Guinea (PNG), was visited by Petrel ' s ROV. Petrel ' s crew devised a close-up camera to view details inside the torpedo tube and engine telegraph. This exploration published on 23 April 2018,

490-442: A Japanese surface force, including transports, lay off Buna, Papua New Guinea . On the following day, Japanese troops went ashore at Lae and Salamaua , New Guinea, and secured those places by noon. Three days later, Yorktown and Lexington launched air strikes against the newly established Japanese beachheads at Lae and Salamaua. The attack took the enemy by surprise. The planes from the two American flattops came in from over

588-631: A US Navy team aboard, located and mapped the wreckage of a Grumman C-2 Greyhound aircraft that crashed into the Philippine Sea en route to USS  Ronald Reagan on 22 November 2017. On 4 March 2018, Petrel explored the Coral Sea and discovered the wreck of the aircraft carrier USS  Lexington , which sank during the Battle of the Coral Sea . On 17 March 2018, Petrel located

686-437: A condition to be freed. Depth charges were double checked and reported set on safe. At 00:42 the ship disappeared stern last. The bow, detached, remained afloat. At 00:43, an unknown number of WALKE's depth charges exploded, killing and seriously injuring many of the men in the water. The crew was organized in the water and seriously injured being placed on the rafts. At approximately 02:00 an enemy submarine surfaced close to

784-603: A convoy to Iceland , reaching Reykjavík on 6 August and turning toward Norfolk the same day, her charges safely delivered. The destroyer subsequently returned to those northern climes in mid-September, after local operations in the Newport-Boston area — reaching Hvalfjörður on 14 September. She operated in Icelandic waters into late September, before she put into NS Argentia , Newfoundland , on 11 October, en route to Casco Bay, Maine . Walke began an overhaul at

882-567: A depth of 22,621 ft (6,895 m). On 19 December 2019, it was announced that Petrel had located and surveyed the wrecks of the Philippine ferry, MV  Doña Paz and the oil tanker MT  Vector . Both wrecks were found 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) apart at a depth of 500 metres (1,600 ft) in the Sibuyan Sea . Both wrecks sit right side up and are in good condition. On 24 December 2019, news came out that Petrel and

980-459: A heavy explosion occurred in the vicinity of frame 45 to starboard. WALKE had been straddled twice by gunfire immediately prior to this explosion caused by torpedo whose wake was observed. Following initial explosion, WALKE was struck by an apparent cruiser salvo. Shell hits were reported in the Radio Room, on the foremast, below the gig davits and in the vicinity of gun three. The explosion blew

1078-434: A hydrographic survey vessel is CCGS Frederick G. Creed . For an example of the employment of a survey ship see HMS  Hydra . Oceanographic research vessels carry out research on the physical , chemical , and biological characteristics of water , the atmosphere , and climate , and to these ends carry equipment for collecting water samples from a range of depths, including the deep seas, as well as equipment for

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1176-523: A major incident shortly thereafter. Several specialist medical and rescue teams mobilised during the operation including HM Coastguard , NHS Lothian medical personnel and two Scottish Air Ambulances . Winds gusting between 38 and 44 miles per hour (61 and 71 km/h) were recorded around the time of the incident. A few weeks later, Petrel was successfully righted and refloated. [REDACTED] Media related to IMO 9268629 at Wikimedia Commons Research vessel The research ship had origins in

1274-630: A number of standard Navis floats (2000-m profiles), and deep SOLO floats (6000-m profiles). As part of the Deep Argo project, a multiyear partnership between the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (NOAA PMEL) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the project aimed for a final deployment of Deep Argo floats aboard Petrel . Thousands of these floats are freely drifting around the globe to measure

1372-466: A number of swimming survivors and seriously injuring others. As the battle went on ahead of them, the able-bodied survivors placed their more seriously wounded comrades on rafts. Walke ' s survivors were, at one point, in two groups; some clinging to the still-floating bow section and others clustered around the two rafts that ship had been able to launch. During the harrowing night, they were twice illuminated by enemy warships but not molested, before

1470-437: A number of these explorations to try to find sunken warships. We try to do these both as really exciting examples of underwater archaeology and as tributes to the brave men [who] went down on these ships". Petrel ' s other mission profile included hosting scientific projects under Allen's mother company, Vulcan Inc. Petrel explorations were coordinated with organizations around the world. For United States Navy wrecks,

1568-627: A period of repairs and alterations that lasted into May. She touched briefly at Norfolk between 10 and 13 May before reaching Newport, her base for the better part of the year, on the following day. Walke then patrolled off the Atlantic coast between Norfolk and Newport well into June 1941 as the Atlantic Fleet 's neutrality patrols were steadily extended eastward, closer to the European war zone . She departed Newport on 27 July and screened

1666-462: A rapid barrage at what probably was Nagara . After checking fire within a few minutes, the lead destroyer opened up again at a Japanese destroyer 7,500 yards (6,900 m) to starboard (likely either Ayanami or Uranami ) and, later, at gunflashes off her port side near Guadalcanal. Report of Action USS Walke (DD-416) 15 November 1942 (dated 30 November 1942 from Senior Officer Present - W.J Collum, Jr., Lieut. USN) 1. Task Force 64 engaged

1764-479: A return call to Buenos Aires before rendezvousing with Quincy and Wichita on 15 August. Walke took on board mail, freight, and embarked passengers from Wichita before getting underway and steaming via Bahia and Guantanamo Bay to the Boston Navy Yard where she arrived on the morning of 4 September. Walke underwent post-shakedown repairs for the rest of that month and all of October before she joined

1862-760: A role in seeing that this unfortunate development would never take place. After fueling at San Juan on 6 December, the destroyer got underway on the afternoon of the following day on "Caribbean Patrol" in company with O'Brien . Rendezvousing with Moffett and Sims off Fort-de-France , Martinique , Walke and O’Brien patrolled the approaches to that port, keeping an eye on the movements of Vichy French warships Barfleur , Quercy , and Béarn , through 14 December. Walke then visited Castries , British West Indies , on 15 December and embarked Comdr. Lyman K. Swenson, Commander, Destroyer Division 17, who hoisted his pennant in her that day. Walke put into Guantanamo Bay on 19 December 1940, and remained there into

1960-400: A salvo of shells from Nagara , Ayanami , and Uranami hurtled down upon the hapless destroyer, a deluge of steel that struck home with devastating effect in the radio room, the foremast, below the gig davits, and in the vicinity of mount 53, on the after deckhouse. Meanwhile, the torpedo had blown off the bow of the ship; and fire broke out as the forward 20-millimeter magazine blew up. With

2058-399: A team from University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology (UH-SOEST) located and successfully recovered the latter's lost ROV named Luu'kai north of Oahu at a depth of 4,720 m (15,490 ft). The drone had broken its tether and was lost on the ocean floor on 20 July 2019. To retrieve Luu'kai , the team lowered a lift elevator and Petrel ' s ROV worked on

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2156-466: A torpedo attack from dead ahead. Again, a heavy volume of antiaircraft fire from Walke and the other destroyers peppered the skies. Five bombers splashed into the sea, and no torpedoes found their mark on the Allied ships. Later, 19 high altitude bombers passed over, dropping sticks of bombs that splashed harmlessly into the water. Antiaircraft fire proved ineffective, due to the high altitude maintained by

2254-462: Is a vessel designed to conduct hydrographic research and survey . Nautical charts are produced from this information to ensure safe navigation by military and civilian shipping . Hydrographic survey vessels also conduct seismic surveys of the seabed and the underlying geology . Apart from producing the charts, this information is useful for detecting geological features likely to bear oil or gas . These vessels usually mount equipment on

2352-584: Is about a 120 square kilometers and that took us the course of a couple of months. It was about 26 days of searching". The Indianapolis wreck is upright with her hull and armaments intact and well preserved in the depth. Her bow number 35 was seen by the ROV. Rusticles or oxidized wrought iron were found by the crew emerging from one of the main guns of the ship. After discovering USS Indianapolis , Petrel sailed to Surigao City in October 2017 to participate in

2450-519: Is common with contemporary research vessels, Endeavour also carried out more than one kind of research, including comprehensive hydrographic survey work. Some other notable early research vessels were HMS Beagle , RV Calypso , HMS Challenger , USFC Albatross , and the Endurance and Terra Nova . The names of early research vessels have been used to name later research vessels, as well as Space Shuttles . A hydrographic survey ship

2548-515: Is pending confirmation by ROV exploration. The remaining 12 wreck locations were not identified during the expedition and require further study. After several years of searching, the same team discovered the Japanese battleship  Musashi in March 2015. In August 2015, the team recovered the bell of HMS  Hood after obtaining license from the UK Ministry of Defence . The recovery of

2646-516: The Antarctic , where they function also as polar replenishment and supply vessels to the Antarctic research bases. Examples of polar research vessels include USCGC Polar Star , RSV Aurora Australis and RSV Nuyina . Oil exploration is performed in a number of ways, one of the most common being mobile drilling platforms or ships that are moved from area to area as needed to drill into

2744-657: The Japanese cruiser  Jintsū 's wreckage was discovered by Petrel near the mouth of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands. The broken cruiser rests in 900 m (3,000 ft) of water. Her bow section is lying on its port side and the stern section is upright. On 6 February 2019, the discovery of the Japanese battleship  Hiei was announced, the first Japanese battleship sunk in World War II. According to Petrel , Hiei now lies upside down in 900 m (3,000 ft) of water northwest of Savo Island in

2842-614: The NOAAS Ronald H. Brown and the Chilean Navy Cabo de Hornos . A fisheries research vessel requires platforms capable of towing different types of fishing nets , collecting plankton or water samples from a range of depths, and carrying acoustic fish-finding equipment. Fisheries research vessels are often designed and built along the same lines as a large fishing vessel , but with space given over to laboratories and equipment storage, as opposed to storage of

2940-727: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . Walke was laid down by the Naval Shipyard at Boston in Massachusetts on 31 May 1938, launched on 20 October 1939 by Mrs. Clarence Dillon, grandniece of Rear Admiral Walke and commissioned on 27 April 1940. Following fitting-out and engineering trials, Walke took on board torpedoes, warheads, and exercise warheads at the Naval Torpedo Station , Newport, Rhode Island , on 25 June and sailed for Norfolk, Virginia , on

3038-695: The New Guinea area, as part of the force put together to check Japanese expansion in that area. By that time, the enemy advance to the southward, in the New Guinea- New Britain area, had gained considerable momentum with the occupation of Rabaul and Gasmata , New Britain; Kavieng , New Ireland ; and on sites on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands and in the Louisiades . By the end of February 1942, it seemed probable that

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3136-771: The Owen Stanley Mountains and inflicted damage on ships, small craft, and shore installations, before they retired. Walke remained at sea with the Yorktown task force into April. Detached to escort Ramsay and Sumner , the destroyer reached Suva , in Fiji , on 19 April and got underway the next day, bound for the Tonga Islands . Reaching Tongatapu on 22 April, Walke fueled from Kaskaskia before she underwent boiler repairs and loaded depth charges prior to her return to TF 17. Detached from

3234-670: The Yamato Museum . The project crew was aboard Allen's Octopus operating the megayacht 's crewed-submersible Pagoo , Argus 3000 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and Bluefin 12D autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The 20 civilian marine crew and 10 project crew worked on 12-hour shifts aboard Petrel . The project crew consisted of Kraft the expedition leader, Mayer as lead researcher, four ROV pilots and technicians, one AUV specialist, one multibeam surveyor, one videographer, and one systems support engineer. For each expedition, local historians, scientists, and observers complemented

3332-580: The Yūgumo -class destroyers found in 2017. Based on the 127 mm (5 in) guns and armament configuration, she was identified to be Hamanami . The identification also validated the final resting places of the other ships of the lost Japanese convoy TA-4: the destroyers Shimakaze , Wakatsuki and Naganami . The convoy was attacked by aircraft from Task Force 38 in the Battle of Ormoc Bay . Petrel and Octopus also dove their crewed submersible Pagoo on USS Cooper. In February 2018, Petrel , with

3430-471: The hydrographic sounding of the seabed, along with numerous other environmental sensors. These vessels often also carry scientific divers and unmanned underwater vehicles . Since the requirements of both oceanographic and hydrographic research are very different from those of fisheries research, these boats often fulfill dual roles. Recent oceanographic research campaigns include GEOTRACES and NAAMES . Examples of an oceanographic research vessel include

3528-538: The "Support Force" ( Australia , Hobart , Farragut and Perkins ) to protect the southern mouth of the Jomard Passage . On the afternoon of 7 May, Japanese Aichi D3A Val dive bombers attacked the formation, but the heavy antiaircraft fire thrown up by the ships caused the enemy to retire without scoring any hits. An hour after the Vals departed, however, Japanese twin-engined bombers appeared and made

3626-517: The 73rd commemoration of the Battle of Surigao Strait . In November 2017, after gaining approval from the Philippines' National Museum, Petrel surveyed Surigao Strait and discovered the wrecks of the Japanese battleships Yamashiro , Fusō , and the destroyers Michishio , Yamagumo , and Asagumo . Each one was investigated by the ship's ROV and an onboard local historian confirmed

3724-588: The Atlantic Ocean, giving detailed bathymetry readings from 400 to 4,800 m (1,300 to 15,700 ft) depths. On 11 June 2020, the Petrel ' s Facebook page announced that the vessel was going to be moored indefinitely. The announcement read: The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has changed the world for the long term in ways that we never could have imagined. As a result of operational challenges from

3822-688: The Boston Navy Yard on 25 November 1941 and completed it on 7 December 1941, the "day of infamy" on which Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and thrust the United States into war in the Pacific. Departing the yard on that day, Walke reached Norfolk on 12 December, via Casco Bay, and remained there until 16 December when she sailed for the Panama Canal and the Pacific After reaching San Diego, California , on 30 December, Walke sailed with

3920-623: The Italian Regia Marina World War II destroyer Artigliere in March 2017. Petrel found USS  Indianapolis in August 2017. Indianapolis was located on 19 August 2017 at a depth of 5,500 m (18,000 ft) in the Philippine Sea. The discovery introduced Petrel as Paul Allen's newest addition to his expedition fleet. Kraft said of the elusive Indianapolis , "We did 18 search grids, each one

4018-610: The Japanese were planning to mount an offensive in early March. TFs 11 and 17 were dispatched to the area. Vice Admiral Wilson Brown , in overall charge of the operation, initially selected Rabaul and Gasmata, in New Britain, and Kavieng, in New Ireland, as targets for the operation. Walke then screened Yorktown as she launched air strikes on Tulagi in the Solomons on 4 May 1942 and later separated from that carrier with

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4116-604: The Solomon Islands. Hiei is the fourth Japanese battleship found by Petrel ' s crew. The Japanese battleship  Musashi was found in March 2015, and the Fusō -class battleships Fusō and Yamashiro were found in November 2017. Petrel was also able to survey another Kongō -class battlecruiser , Kirishima , in a separate mission. Lead researcher Paul Mayer said that Hiei lies 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) away from Kirishima . On 12 February 2019,

4214-582: The United States Fleet as a unit of Destroyer Division 4, Destroyer Squadron 2, Patrol Force. In mid-November, she served as the vehicle for degaussing tests under the auspices of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory at Solomons Island, Maryland . Returning to Norfolk upon the conclusion of those tests, Walke set her course southward on 2 December, bound once more for Guantanamo Bay. Walke ' s active service had begun in

4312-540: The United States Navy wrested the initiative in the war from Japan by landing marines on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. In ensuing months, the armed forces of the two nations struggled mightily for control of that island chain. The contest soon developed into a logistics race as each side tried to frustrate its opponent's efforts to reinforce and supply his forces fighting on Guadalcanal while doing all in his power to strengthen his own. Walke ' s future

4410-479: The aid of boats and cruiser aircraft at 14:00. 151 survivors were landed on Tulagi, where six died of wounds received in action. Total killed or missing in action were six officers and seventy-six enlisted. 4. During the action, the USS WALKE expended approximately 300 5inch anti-aircraft common projectiles. Gun three stood by throughout the action for illumination by star shells. 5. The courage and coolness of

4508-611: The bell was performed upon the request of the HMS Hood Association. Only three of HMS Hood ' s crew survived and it was the wish of one of them to recover ship's bell as a memorial to shipmates. The bell from HMS Hood was unveiled by the Princess Royal on 24 May 2016 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Royal Navy 's largest loss of life (1,415 sailors) from a single vessel. While on board Octopus ,

4606-579: The catch. An example of a fisheries research vessel is FRV Scotia . Naval research vessels investigate naval concerns, such as submarine and mine detection or sonar and weapons trials. An example of a naval research vessel is the Planet of the German Navy . Polar research vessels are constructed around an icebreaker hull, allowing them to engage in ice navigation and operate in polar waters. These vessels usually have dual roles, particularly in

4704-520: The coast of Midway Atoll . She lies right side up, but with heavy battle damage, 5,400 metres (17,700 ft) below the surface. She is the first Japanese aircraft carrier to have been found. On 20 October 2019, the director of undersea operations Rob Kraft and Naval History and Heritage Command historian Frank Thompson aboard Petrel identified the wreck of the Japanese aircraft carrier  Akagi using high-frequency sonar. Located 1,300 miles (2,100 km) north west of Pearl Harbor , Hawaii, Akagi

4802-551: The collection of ocean data and science". After a drydocking in Florida , Petrel sailed for Leith , Scotland, on 16 August 2020 and arrived on 3 September to be laid up. In October 2022, Petrel was purchased by the United States Navy for its Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC), to be operated by the American company Oceaneering International . The ship, plus associated spare parts,

4900-403: The crew announced they had located the wreck of the aircraft carrier USS  Hornet at a depth of more than 17,700 ft (5,400 m) off the Solomon Islands. She is in remarkably good condition. She sits right-side up with her island still in place. A portion of her flight deck has collapsed due to the fire that raged on her decks during the battle. A portion of her stern is torn away, but

4998-694: The damage they actually caused was not as great as reported; and, outside the boost they gave to American morale, the attacks were only a minor nuisance to the Japanese. Nevertheless, the American Fleet had finally taken the war to the enemy. Returning to Hawaiian waters on 7 February 1942, Walke trained in the Hawaiian area until 27 February, when she sailed for the Ellice Islands . She later exercised with TF 17 off New Caledonia in early March before she sailed, again screening Yorktown , for

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5096-466: The destroyer sailed on 26 June for Bora Bora in the Society Islands . With the dissolution of TG 12.1 on 11 July, Walke then reported for duty to Commander, TG 6.7, the commanding officer of Castor . She then escorted Castor to San Francisco, California , arriving there on 2 August. On 7 August, while Walke was undergoing repairs and alterations at the nearby Mare Island Navy Yard ,

5194-524: The destroyers were diverted to the mouth of the Surinam River, where Walke took on board an appendicitis patient from Wainwright for passage to Paramaribo for medical attention. After transferring the patient, Pvt. Lawrence P. Coghlan, USMC, ashore, Walke got underway for Pará , Brazil, where she fueled before pushing on for Rio de Janeiro. Walke and Wainwright reached Rio on 19 July. Walke then transferred her marine passengers, half of

5292-426: The detonation of her depth charges and lies in a compact debris field that includes the ship's boilers, propellers, and wheelhouse. On 13 March 2019, the crew announced they had located the wreck of the aircraft carrier, USS  Wasp resting at a depth of 13,800 feet (4,200 m). The ship sits upright, though appears to have broken in two places, just forward and just aft of the island, apparently on impact with

5390-645: The early voyages of exploration. By the time of James Cook 's Endeavour , the essentials of what today we would call a research ship are clearly apparent. In 1766, the Royal Society hired Cook to travel to the Pacific Ocean to observe and record the transit of Venus across the Sun . The Endeavour was a sturdy vessel, well designed and equipped for the ordeals she would face, and fitted out with facilities for her "research personnel", Joseph Banks . As

5488-532: The enemy off Savo Island on the night of 14-15 November. US Forces formed in a column in the following order: WALKE, BENHAM, PRESTON, GWIN, WASHINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA, under the command of USS WASHINGTON. 2. The wind was slight. Conditions of visibility were in general poor due to the enemy position close against shorelines of Salvo and Guadalcanal Islands. Radar ranges accurately obtainable only when enemy drew away from close island backgrounds. 3. Estimated order of events follows as all logs and records went down with

5586-461: The entire crew was excellent throughout the action and the difficult period in the water. Morale and cooperation was so high on the part of all the officers and men that is it impossible to cite any individual above the group for exceptional heroism. //signed WJ Collum Jr., Lt. USN// Japanese shells straddled Walke twice, and then a "Long Lance" torpedo slammed into her starboard side at a point almost directly below mount 52. Almost simultaneously,

5684-572: The first offensive blow to the enemy, only eight weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Walke served in the antisubmarine screen and plane-guarded for the Yorktown as that carrier launched air strikes on suspected Japanese installations on the atolls of Jaluit , Makin , and Mili Atolls . Although Admiral Chester Nimitz , the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CinCPAC), considered the raids "well-conceived, well-planned, and brilliantly executed",

5782-399: The flotsam and jetsam of battle, she briefly noted Walke ' s plight and that of Preston , which had also gone down under in a deluge of shells. At 0041, just a minute or so before Walke sank, life rafts from the battleship splashed into the sea for the benefit of the survivors. Although the destroyer's depth charges had apparently been set to "safe", some depth charges went off, killing

5880-509: The following day. She reached Norfolk on 27 June and there embarked Second Lieutenant Donald B. Cooley, USMC, and 47 enlisted marines for transportation to Wichita , then in South American waters. Later that same day, in company with Wainwright , Walke got underway for Cuba. After fueling at Guantanamo on 4 July, Walke got underway for Rio de Janeiro , Brazil, at 0658 on 6 July, again in company with Wainwright , En route,

5978-438: The forecastle and a section of the superstructure desk completely off as far aft as the bridge. Fires broke out throughout the forward section and the forward 20mm magazine exploded. The bulkhead of the forward fireroom was buckled, as was the main deck amidships. All engines were ordered to stop immediately and the commanding officer gave the order to abandon ship, which was sinking fast by the head. Only two life rafts were left in

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6076-527: The group because of a damaged starboard reduction gear, Walke headed to Australia for repairs and reached Brisbane on 12 May. Upon completion of the work on 29 May, the destroyer ran trials in the Brisbane River before being pronounced fit for service and sailed for New Caledonia on 9 June. Arriving at Nouméa on 13 June, Walke fueled there before proceeding via Tongatapu to Pago Pago, American Samoa , Samoa. Assigned to Task Group 12.1 (TG 12.1),

6174-459: The heavy cruiser's marine detachment, to Wichita while Wainwright transferred hers to Quincy . Due to unsettled conditions in the area, the two cruisers were in South American waters, "showing the flag" and evidencing strong American interest in the "good neighbors" south of the border. Still operating in company with her sister ship, Walke visited Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil; Buenos Aires , Argentina ; Santos and Bahia , Brazil, and made

6272-400: The hull remains mostly intact. Several aircraft are scattered among the wreck. On 26 February 2019, the crew announced they had located the wreck of the destroyer USS  Strong , resting at a depth of 1,000 ft (300 m). She rests in pieces, the largest of which is the heavily damaged forward section of the ship lying on its port side. The rest of the ship was largely fragmented by

6370-532: The identity of the wreck. In December 2017, Petrel explored Ormoc Bay and discovered the wrecks of the American destroyers USS  Ward , USS  Cooper , the Japanese destroyer  Shimakaze , and what is believed to be two Yūgumo -class destroyers. The discovery of the wreck of USS Ward was a central theme for the 76th commemoration of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December. In early January 2018, Petrel returned to Ormoc Bay and dived one of

6468-520: The information available in dispatches, the commander of the American task force, Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee , knew of the presence of three groups of enemy ships in the area, one of which was formed around at least two battleships. Proceeding through the flat calm sea and disposed in column formation with Walke leading, the American ships approached on a northerly course about nine miles (17 km) west of Guadalcanal. Lee's ships continued making their passage, picking up Japanese voice transmissions on

6566-440: The light cruiser Atlanta . Eleven wrecks were "tentatively" identified to be the Japanese destroyers Ayanami , Yūdachi and Fubuki , and the American destroyers USS  Walke , USS  De Haven , USS  Laffey , USS  Monssen , USS  Barton , USS  Cushing , USS  Little , and USS  Preston . The identification using the sonar imagery with vessel measurements and historical records

6664-510: The main part of the wreck, which is upright and the bridge is about 2,000 ft (610 m) away. On 1 July 2019, it was announced that the wreck of the Japanese cruiser  Maya had been found off the coast of the Philippine island of Palawan . She is mostly intact, with the exception of her forward bow, which broke off and is lying upside down just astern of the rest of the ship. Her bridge and guns are also intact. She lies in 1,850 m (6,070 ft) of water. On 9 September 2019, it

6762-538: The new year, moored in a nest with Prairie , undergoing upkeep. In ensuing weeks, Walke operated in the Guantanamo Bay- Gonaïves , Haiti , areas, conducting battle and torpedo practices, engaging in a full slate of the training exercises assigned such ships in those areas. She then shifted to Fajardo, Puerto Rico , and operated from there through mid-March. Walke then sailed north and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina , on 20 March 1941 for

6860-631: The newly formed Task Force 17 (TF17), bound for the South Pacific, on 6 January 1942, screening Yorktown as she covered the movement of reinforcements for the Marine garrison on American Samoa. The convoy subsequently arrived at Tutuila on 24 January. However, TF 17 remained in Samoan waters for only a short time, for it soon sailed north for the Marshall – Gilbert Islands area to deliver

6958-500: The oiler Kankakee and escorted her from the west coast of the United States, via Nouméa, New Caledonia, to Tongatapu, arriving there on 9 September. The destroyer later escorted a convoy consisting of Kankakee , Navajo , and Arctic from Tongatapu to Nouméa, where she prepared for action in the Solomons. About sunset on 13 November 1942, the day after the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal began, Walke sortied with TF 64 which

7056-512: The pandemic, R/V Petrel will be placed into long-term moorage and she will not be deployed for the foreseeable future. We were tasked with a monumental mission — discover, educate, and honor — and we're hopeful we will eventually be back in service". Robert Kraft, subsea director, said, "I am proud of the successful Petrel missions that have brought information and closure to so many families and friends of WWII heroes. I am hopeful that Petrel will eventually be back in service, supporting

7154-519: The planes. However, the last group of planes were apparently American planes. The force commander, the Australian Rear Admiral John Crace , swore that the planes were B-26 Marauders ; Walke ' s commander, Commander Thomas E. Fraser , subsequently reported them to be B-17 Flying Fortresses . In any event, it was fortunate that the bombardiers were not too accurate. On 7 March, Allied intelligence learned that

7252-515: The primary mission of the ship, which was fully funded by Allen's estate, was to explore historically significant wrecks at challenging depths and conditions. A precondition set by Allen was for discovered wrecks to be respected as war graves and their locations kept secret, known to only national governments and museums. In the PBS documentary USS Indianapolis Live from the Deep , Allen said, "We've done

7350-629: The project crew deployed a Bluefin 12D AUV and mapped 630 km (243 sq mi) of seabed around Malta in September 2015. Sonar images of shipwrecks, several aircraft, torpedoes , and debris field were captured by the AUV. Following the Musashi discovery and the Hood expedition in 2015, Allen bought Petrel in 2016, refitting her as a dedicated research and exploration platform. Petrel found

7448-480: The project crew. The team, while on board Octopus , mapped 380 sq mi (980 km) of Ironbottom Sound in January 2015, identified 29 wreck locations, seven wreck debris fields, and several possible plane locations. Of the 29 wrecks located, six were positively identified and confirmed to be the heavy cruisers USS  Astoria , Quincy , Vincennes , Northampton , and HMAS  Canberra , and

7546-477: The radio while the ships' radar "eyes" scanned the darkness. At 0006 on 15 November, Washington received a report that indicated the presence of three ships, rounding the north end of Savo Island , headed westward. Almost simultaneously the flagship's radar picked up two ships on the same bearing. Ten minutes later, Washington opened fire with her 16-inch (406 mm) guns; and, within seconds, South Dakota followed suit. Walke opened fire at 0026, maintaining

7644-461: The rafts and illuminated all survivors for several minutes, but proceeded without incident. An enemy destroyer later illuminated survivors on the detached bow. There was much shouting from this vessel, but she also proceeded without taking action. Survivors were sighted and signaled at dawn by friendly aircraft. The USS MEADE was observed throughout the morning of 15 November firing on beached enemy transports. USS MEADE commenced picking up survivors with

7742-484: The recovery procedure. Luu'kai was recovered by the joint team on 29 August 2019. After finding Kaga and Akagi , Petrel crossed the Pacific in the fourth quarter of 2019 and stationed in the Atlantic Ocean to launch Deep Argo floats beginning January 2020. Through several weeks in January 2020, in the Brazil Basin of the Atlantic, Petrel and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deployed

7840-606: The seabed to find out what deposits lie beneath it. USS Walke (DD-416) USS Walke (DD-416) was a World War II-era Sims -class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy , named after Rear Admiral Henry A. Walke USN (1809–1896). Walke operated with the Neutrality Patrol in the Caribbean before World War II and fought in the Pacific Theater during the war before being sunk in

7938-403: The seabed. The island itself is still in place, though the funnel structure was ripped off during the sinking. Several aircraft were also found in the debris field, including Dauntlesses and Avengers. On 4 May 2019, the crew announced they had located the wreck of the Japanese heavy cruiser Furutaka at a depth of 4,600 ft (1,400 m). She lies in two sections, with the bow sitting near

8036-686: The ship. The formations as described steamed on course 150 True between Florida and Savo Islands until approximately 00:20, reducing speed from 23 to 17 knots in search of the reported enemy. At 00:20 turned to course 270 True. At 00:30 following action of WASHINGTON and South DAKOTA, WALKE opened fire to starboard on visible target believed to be a cruiser with a single raked stack. WALKE continued rapid fire on this target for two minutes with FOX DOG Radar range 11,000 yards. The target appeared to blow up under heavily concentrated fire. Our formation increased speed to 26 knots. At 00:32 checked fired and shifted target to apparent enemy destroyer bearing one point on

8134-466: The situation hopeless, Commander Thomas E. Fraser , Walke ' s commanding officer, ordered the ship abandoned. As the destroyer sank rapidly by the bow, only two life rafts could be launched. The others had been damaged irreparably. After the crew made sure that the depth charges were set on safe, they went over the side just before the ship slipped swiftly under the surface. As Washington , dueling with Kirishima and smaller ships, swept through

8232-686: The spring of 1940, when Germany was unleashing her military might in Norway and the lowlands of western Europe to turn the so-called Phony War into the blitzkrieg which swept across northern France, driving British troops off the continent and knocking France out of the war. The resulting establishment of a new government in that country, more favorable to Germany, aroused fear in Allied and neutral circles that French fighting forces, particularly French warships, might be placed in German hands. Walke would have

8330-554: The starboard bow. Resumed rapid fire at the rage of 7,500 yards by Radar. Apparent straddled clearly visible followed by heavy black smoke. Flames were reported on the target as she disappeared behind the northwest point of Savo Island. At 00:37 checked fire to shift target to port hand flashes of gunfire off Guadalcanal. Resumed rapid fire., Numerous gun flashes visible on starboard hand. At 00:37 USS PRESTON blew up astern of WALKE. At 00:39 attempted to shift torpedo battery from Curved Fire Ahead setup to Broadside Fire to Starboard when

8428-644: The team collaborated with the Naval History and Heritage Command . In the Philippines, the crew worked with the National Museum and the Battle of Surigao Strait Memorial Council. In 2018, Petrel worked with Australian National Maritime Museum to explore HMAS  AE1 . Robert Kraft, who served as subsea director for Allen, and Paul Mayer, Petrel ' s lead researcher, traveled to Japan to hand over ROV video of Imperial Japanese Navy wrecks to

8526-478: The temperature, salinity, and turbidity of the upper ocean, at depths down to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) and deeper to 6,000 m (20,000 ft). The Foundation committed $ 4 million to NOAA to help implement the Deep Argo effort. In June 2020, Petrel had a Kongsberg EM124 1°x2° full ocean MBES installed. A sub-bottom profiler, a Kongsberg SBP 29 6° system, was also installed on the ship. Both were tested in

8624-440: The wreck of the antiaircraft light cruiser USS  Juneau . Juneau was sunk by the Japanese submarine  I-26 in the aftermath of the first Naval Battle of Guadalcanal , sinking with the loss of 687 men, which included the five Sullivan brothers . On 11 April 2018, Petrel located the wreck of the light cruiser USS  Helena . Helena was sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf in 1943 by three torpedoes fired from

8722-488: The wreck was heavily damaged, her mast is still attached and complete. The find of Niizuki was noteworthy because she was credited for sinking USS  Strong with the longest torpedo shot ever, with estimates ranging from 7 to 11 nautical miles (13 to 20 km; 8.1 to 12.7 mi). Niizuki ' s discovery is also noteworthy as the photos of the wreck are the first photos of the ship to exist; no photos of her in service are known to have been taken. In February 2019,

8820-497: The year, the wreck of the Japanese cruiser  Chōkai on the edge of the Philippine Deep . She lies upright with her bow section torn off, 5,173 metres (16,972 ft) deep. On 30 October 2019, it was announced that the wreckage of a destroyer believed to be USS  Johnston had been located. She was believed to have been the deepest ever located shipwreck, estimated at 20,406 feet (6,220 m) deep. Her identity

8918-472: Was announced that the wreck of the Japanese cruiser  Mogami had been found in the Bohol Sea . She lies mostly intact, with the exception of her forward bow, which has been blown off, but lying nearby. She sits straight side up at a depth of 1,450 m (4,760 ft). On 10 October 2019, it was announced that the wreck of the escort carrier , USS  St. Lo , the first ship to have been sunk by

9016-452: Was built around Washington and South Dakota and, besides Walke , was screened by Preston , Gwin , and Benham . By late in the forenoon on 14 November, TF 64 had reached a point some 50 nmi (90 km) south-by-west from Guadalcanal. Sighted by the enemy, who reported them as one battleship, one cruiser, and four destroyers, the American warships spent most of the day on 14 November avoiding contact with enemy planes. From

9114-415: Was confirmed on 31 March 2021, when the submersible DSV Limiting Factor of Caladan Oceanic surveyed and photographed the deeper main wreck. The visible hull number, 557, confirmed the identity of the ship as Johnston . She sits upright and well-preserved at a depth of 21,180 ft (6,460 m). The record was broken when the wreck of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) was found the following year, lying at

9212-402: Was found at a depth of 18,011 feet (5,490 m). It is reported that the wreck is upright, on her keel, and is largely intact. Due to damage sustained by the ROV during recovery from the preceding survey of Kaga , and a number of other factors, Petrel was unable to conduct a photographic survey of Akagi . On 26 October 2019, the search team announced they had discovered, on 5 May earlier in

9310-483: Was later renamed Acergy Petrel , then Seven Petrel with Subsea 7 . In 2016, the ship was purchased by Allen, renamed Petrel and converted for deep-submergence research and archeology. Over two dozen wrecks were explored and recorded between 2017 and 2020, when the ship was laid up. In October 2022, she was purchased by the United States Navy's Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command , for operation under Oceaneering International management. Prior to 2020,

9408-471: Was purchased for $ 12,400,000. On 22 March 2023, whilst dry-docked at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, the vessel became dislodged from her holdings in strong winds and toppled over to an angle of 45 degrees. This resulted in 33 people being injured, with 21 taken to hospital and 12 treated at the scene. Police Scotland were alerted to the incident at 8:35am local time, with Scottish emergency services declaring

9506-822: Was supervised by Find AE1 Ltd in partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Royal Australian Navy, Curtin University , the Western Australian Museum , and the Submarine Institute of Australia. The approval for the survey was granted by Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery . Petrel found the wreck of the Japanese destroyer  Niizuki upright in 745 m (2,444 ft) of water in January 2019. While

9604-532: Was to be inextricably tied to the almost daily, and nightly, American air and naval attempts to best the Japanese in their thrusts down New Georgia Sound the strategic body of water which stretches between the two lines of islands which make up the Solomons chain and lead to Guadalcanal. Completing the yard work on 25 August, Walke ran her trials in San Francisco Bay and that day received orders to proceed to San Pedro, California , to rendezvous with

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