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8h ago

Researchers Confirm Identity of USS New Orleans Bow in Iron Bottom Sound

Analysis of paint fragments with an engraved anchor provided definitive proof of the nearly 100-foot section during the NOAA-funded deep-sea survey

A huge portion of the USS New Orleans' bow blew off after being struck by a Japanese torpedo in 1942.
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The nearly 100-foot long section of the USS New Orleans was found Sunday, July 6, as a remotely operated camera explored the seafloor 2,214 feet deep near Guadalcanal.

Overview

  • Ocean Exploration Trust’s ROV located the bow on July 6 at a depth of 2,214 feet near Guadalcanal, revealing a nearly 100-foot section of the USS New Orleans.
  • Positive identification was achieved using paint fragments and an engraved anchor, confirmed through live collaboration with hundreds of experts worldwide.
  • The find is part of a 21-day non-invasive archaeological survey of Iron Bottom Sound funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration, which runs through July 23.
  • Researchers have withheld precise coordinates to protect the site as a war grave honoring the 182 sailors lost when the bow was torn away in 1942.
  • The wreckage now supports deep-sea corals, anemones and other marine life while collecting modern debris, highlighting ocean ecosystem interactions.