World War II Destroyer Dubbed ‘Ghost Ship of the Pacific’ Found Off California Coast

A team of researchers say they have found the wreck of the USS Stewart, a US Navy destroyer that served under the American and Japanese flags during World War II before it was intentionally sunk during naval exercises in 1946.

The USS Stewart, once nicknamed the “Ghost Ship of the Pacific,” served on the front lines of World War II. She was stationed in Manila as part of the U.S. Navy’s Asiatic Fleet and was damaged in combat in February 1942, according to a press release detailing her discovery. A freak accident trapped her in a repair drydock on Java, an island in Indonesia, and the ship it was abandoned as Japanese forces approached. She was then commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as a patrol boat. Allied pilots reported seeing the ship in the Japanese fleet, earning it its nickname.

The ship was later recovered after the war in Kure, Japan, and re-commissioned in the United States Navy. According to the press release, the ship was towed home to San Francisco and used as a target ship in its final act of service.

Even though the ship was deliberately sunk, its location remained a mystery for decades. Now, 78 years after the sinking, the destroyer has been found thanks to a joint effort of the Air/Maritime Heritage Foundation, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Naval History and Heritage Command, the marine technology company Ocean Infinity, and the global maritime archeology organization SEARCH.

On August 1, 2024, Ocean Infinity deployed three autonomous underwater vehicles off the coast of Northern California. Unmanned submarines spent 24 hours searching the area, and after reviewing the data, researchers were shown a “stunning and unique image of the sunken ship 3,500 m.” feet below the surface” of the Pacific Ocean.

Sonar scans showed the ship was “largely intact” with its hull standing almost vertically on the seabed. According to a press release, it may be one of the best-preserved examples of a ship of its class and provides valuable information about the architecture and maritime technology of the period in which it was built and operated.

“The USS Stewart provides a unique opportunity to study a well-preserved example of early 20th century destroyer design,” said SEARCH Senior Vice President Dr. James Delgado, previously NOAA’s director of maritime heritage. “His history, from service in the United States Navy to the capture of Japan and back, makes him a powerful symbol of the complexities of the Pacific War.”

Following the discovery of the vessel, search teams conducted a further survey and examination using live video from a remotely operated submarine. This search allowed the discovery team to examine the wreck in real time and learn more about the bombing that sank the Stewart more than seventy years ago.

Data collected during the research will also be used by NOAA’s Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary to support environmental assessments in the area and learn more about the habitats and marine life in this part of the ocean.

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