### Lost WWII Submarine Discovered: What They Found Inside Shocked the World
For 75 years, the USS Grayback lay hidden in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, a silent tomb for eighty sailors who vanished without a trace. The Navy searched, historians speculated, and families were left with unanswered questions. Then, in 2019, a team of explorers made a groundbreaking discovery that would rewrite history. What they found 1,400 feet below the waves was not just a submarine; it was a frozen moment in time that shocked everyone.
The USS Grayback was commissioned in 1941, built in Groton, Connecticut, as one of the most advanced submarines of its time. This Tambor-class submarine was nearly 300 feet long, equipped with torpedoes, and designed to hunt enemy ships in the Pacific. Over the course of her service, Grayback completed nine war patrols, sinking fourteen enemy ships and earning eight battle stars, establishing herself as one of the most successful submarines in the U.S. Navy.
On January 28, 1944, Grayback departed Pearl Harbor for her tenth war patrol, tasked with hunting Japanese vessels in the East China Sea. The mission was perilous, with enemy planes and destroyers actively searching for submarines. The crew of eighty men, bonded like brothers, accepted the risks of their dangerous profession. However, on February 25, 1944, Grayback sent her last radio message, reporting her position and confirming her kills before falling silent.
When the submarine failed to return by March 7, the Navy initiated a search operation, but no trace was found. On March 30, 1944, the USS Grayback was officially declared lost with all hands. For decades, families of the sailors were left to mourn, haunted by the unknown fates of their loved ones.
The mystery surrounding Grayback’s disappearance sparked countless theories. Some suggested she may have struck a mine in the heavily mined East China Sea, while others speculated about mechanical failures or unrecorded enemy attacks. More outlandish theories included secret missions and friendly fire incidents, but without evidence, these remained speculative.
In 2018, Japanese systems engineer Yutaka Iwasaki stumbled upon military records detailing an attack on an American submarine, which he realized could be Grayback. Noticing a discrepancy in the coordinates due to a mistranslation, he corrected the error, which shifted the presumed location of Grayback by over 100 miles. This revelation reignited interest in the search for the lost submarine.
In June 2019, Tim Taylor, the founder of the Lost 52 Project, led an expedition to the newly identified coordinates using advanced underwater exploration technology. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with sonar scanned the ocean floor, revealing a large metallic anomaly. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was deployed to investigate further.
As the ROV approached, the team was met with an emotional moment: the hull of the USS Grayback emerged from the darkness, intact and identifiable. The builder’s plate confirmed the submarine’s identity, marking a monumental find after 75 years of searching.
The discovery was not just about locating a wreck; it provided answers to the families who had spent decades without closure. The wreck revealed signs of battle, including a massive wound in the hull consistent with a bomb hit, confirming the circumstances of her sinking. The Grayback had gone down fighting, and the sailors had perished in a tragic final moment.
Today, the USS Grayback rests on the ocean floor, protected as a war grave and transformed into an artificial reef, teeming with marine life. The story of Grayback is a poignant reminder of sacrifice and the enduring quest for truth in the face of uncertainty. As explorers continue their mission to uncover the stories of lost submarines, hope remains alive for the families waiting for answers.
