An international team of scientists has completed one of the most detailed surveys ever of historic shipwrecks from World War II, revealing new details about some of the most famous naval battles in the Pacific.
The expedition, led by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, spent 22 days at sea exploring Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands — a stretch of ocean named for the many ships and planes that sank there during the 1942 battles of Guadalcanal.
The team mapped and examined 13 shipwrecks, including four that had never been seen before in such detail.
Two wrecks — the bow of the USS New Orleans and the Japanese destroyer Teruzuki — were discovered for the first time.
They also conducted new high-resolution surveys of other historic vessels, including USS Vincennes, USS Astoria, USS Quincy, USS Northampton, USS Laffey, USS DeHaven, USS Preston, HMAS Canberra, USS Walke, the Japanese destroyer Yudachi, and a landing barge.
“It was wonderful to return to Iron Bottom Sound, where we discovered Japanese, Australian, and American warships over 34 years ago,” said Dr. Robert Ballard, president of OET.
“This time, we were able to film the sites with technology that simply didn’t exist back then, and share our work live with the world.”
The expedition used a combination of crewed and uncrewed technology. A remotely controlled surface vessel called DriX, operated from a land-based station in Honiara, mapped the seafloor to locate potential wrecks.
Once identified, the Nautilus deployed remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the sites in incredible detail, even at depths beyond 1,000 meters.
Iron Bottom Sound lies between Guadalcanal, Savo, and Nggela islands. Between August and December 1942, it was the scene of five major naval battles that cost the lives of more than 20,000 sailors, destroyed 111 ships, and downed 1,450 planes. Many wrecks still remain undiscovered.
This expedition mapped over 1,000 square kilometers of the seafloor, producing the most detailed maps of the area to date.
Dr. Larry Mayer from the University of New Hampshire, which operates the DriX, said the combination of continuous mapping with the uncrewed vessel and ROV dives from the Nautilus greatly increased the efficiency of the mission.
“This was one of the most rewarding expeditions I’ve ever been part of, blending technological achievement with historical significance,” he said.
The surveys not only documented the current condition of these wrecks after more than 80 years underwater but also brought their history to life for a new generation.
All ROV dives were livestreamed via NautilusLive.org, giving the public and families of veterans a rare chance to see these historic sites and honor those who served.
Naval History and Heritage Command Director Samuel J. Cox, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, emphasized the human cost behind the discoveries. “Sailors don’t start wars, but they do their duty. In Iron Bottom Sound, they did so with extreme tenacity. The end of that war brought freedom not only to the Allies but also to Japan.”
OET Chief Scientist Dr. Daniel Wagner said the mission also highlights how much of our deep ocean remains unexplored. “These discoveries show that there are still extraordinary things hidden beneath the waves, waiting to be found.”
