World War II Database

On 1 Mar 1942, American destroyer USS Edsall was sunk by overwhelming Japanese force in the Indian Ocean. She was first attacked by a powerful surface force of two battleships and two cruisers, suffering one or two hits, then was attacked by 26 carrier aircraft, suffering one bomb hit and one near miss. Finally, she was sunk by gunfire at 1731 hours local time about 320 kilometers or 200 miles east of Christmas Island. All aboard were never seen again.

In the summer of 2023, USS Edsall's wreck was found by Royal Australian Navy auxiliary naval vessel MV Stoker by chance during a hydrographic survey. The wreck sat at a depth of more than 5,400 meters or 18,000 feet. The announcement was delayed until the American Veterans Day holiday and Australian Remembrance Day holiday in Nov 2024.

For more information: NPR: The USS Edsall, sunk by Japanese forces in World War II, has been found