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USS Johnston: Sub dives to deepest-known shipwreck


Sunk in 1944 in the Philippine Sea. Four miles down.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56608713

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6,500 meters down = 645 atmospheres = 9,491 pounds per square inch. Wow.

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The Titanic is 3840 meters down for comparison.

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That's scary. I wouldn't go down there if you paid me.

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From the article:
Victor Vescovo, who led the expedition and piloted the sub, said: “The wreck is so deep so there's very little oxygen down there, and while there is a little bit of contamination from marine life, it's remarkably well intact except for the damage it took from the furious fight.”

I remember years ago reading a book (can't recall the title) about the Titanic that had a chapter which covered theories concerning the condition of the wreck. At the time this book was written it was thought:
• The ship went down in one piece.
• The cold temperatures, no oxygen or sunlight, and lack of marine organisms at that depth meant the ship would be perfectly preserved.

Then Robert Ballard found the wreck in 1985 which disproved the whole thing.

It will be interesting to see if this applies to the USS Johnston. Time will tell if they were able to take clear close-up photos.

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indeed

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186 brave sailors lost

Pretty amazing they found it so deep

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