Rediscovering the USS Harder: A Historic Submarine Sunk by Japanese Forces in World War II”.

After 80 years, the wreckage of the USS Harder, a legendary US Navy submarine, has been discovered in the South China Sea. The USS Harder vanished on August 24, 1944, with 79 sailors on board and was found off Luzon island in the Philippines with the help of Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea and the Lost 52 Project.

The USS Harder was known for its impact on World War II naval warfare, having sunk more Japanese warships than any other submarine under Cmdr. Sam Dealey’s command. The wreckage of the submarine lies at a depth exceeding 3,000 feet and is relatively intact apart from depth-charge damage. The search for the USS Harder involved historical research and the deployment of multiple autonomous robots to cover expansive search areas efficiently.

Commissioned in December 1942, the USS Harder completed six war patrols before its demise. Its fifth patrol was its most successful, sinking three Japanese destroyers and damaging two others. During its final patrol, the USS Harder, along with the USS Haddo, neutralized three escort ships off the Philippines province of Bataan. Japanese records later revealed that the Harder was sunk on August 24, 1944, during a depth charge attack.

After its service in World War II, the USS Harder received several honors including the Presidential Unit Citation and six battle stars. The discovery of this wreck has brought attention once again to honor and remember the valor of its crew.

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) expressed gratitude to Tim Taylor and his team at Tiburon Subsea for their help in locating this historic vessel. This discovery will allow researchers to study more about how submarines were used during World War II and how they contributed to military success.

This discovery also brings up questions about what happened during that fateful day when one of America’s most decorated submarines sank without a trace after being attacked by Japanese forces during a routine patrol mission near Bataan Province in Philippines. Further investigation into this incident may shed light on why it occurred or if there were any factors that could have prevented it from happening.

Overall this discovery marks an important milestone in military history as well as an opportunity to learn more about our nation’s past naval operations during World War II.