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The wreck of the ‘legendary’ American submarine that sank the most Japanese warships during Second World War has been found, 80 years after she was lost.
USS Harder was discovered 914m below the surface, off the island of Luzon, in the Philippines, earlier this summer.
Launched in August 1942, the Gato-class submarine, which sailed under the motto ‘Hit ’em Harder’, went on to become one of the most famous underwater vessels of the war.
During her fifth and most successful patrol, in the early summer of 1944, Harder sank three Japanese destroyers and severely crippled two others over the course of just four days.
This forced the beleaguered Japanese Navy to redraw its plans and ultimately contributed to American victory in the Battle of the Philippine Sea that June.
But just two months later, on 24 August 1944, almost exactly two years after her launch, Harder met her fate. She was reportedly sunk by a depth charge from a Japanese escort ship. Her crew of 79 sailors all perished.
Harder was subsequently awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her six successful war patrols, with her commander Samuel D Dealey posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration.
The find was made in May this year by the Lost 52 Project, which aims to trace the wrecks of the many American submarines lost during the Second World War. According to marine archaeologists, Harder was found sitting upright and was in a relatively intact condition.
‘Harder was lost in the course of victory,’ retired Admiral Samuel J Cox, director of Navy History and Heritage Command, said in a statement. ‘We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom.’
‘We are grateful that Lost 52 has given us the opportunity to once again honour the valour of the crew of the “Hit ’em Harder” submarine that sank the most Japanese warships – in particularly audacious attacks – under her legendary skipper, Commander Sam Dealey.’
Image: Lost 52 Project
