Wreck of US Warship Known as ‘Ghost Ship of the Pacific’ Discovered in Remarkable Condition

Investigators have uncovered the wreck of a US Navy destroyer, famously called the “Ghost Ship of the Pacific,” off the coast of California. The USS Stewart, intentionally sunk during a naval exercise in May 1946, has now been located, according to a joint statement from the Air Sea Heritage Foundation and Search Inc., both of which were involved in the discovery.

The investigation utilized three autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), deployed by the marine survey company Ocean Infinity. These vehicles scanned the ocean floor in the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary off northern California for 24 hours beginning August 1. Using sonar and multibeam echosounder data, they found the Stewart resting 3,500 feet (1,036 meters) below the surface.

“Initial sonar scans show that the Stewart is largely intact, with its hull still looking sleek and imposing, nearly upright on the seafloor,” the statement reads. “This level of preservation is extraordinary for a ship of its age, making it potentially one of the best-preserved examples of a US Navy ‘fourstacker’ destroyer.”

The team also conducted an additional sonar survey and sent a remote-operated vehicle with a camera to visually inspect the wreck.

Commissioned in 1920, the USS Stewart had a storied history. It was damaged in a battle with Japanese forces in 1942 and was captured, becoming part of the Imperial Japanese Navy under the name Patrol Boat No. 102. The release notes, “Allied pilots soon began reporting the odd sight of an old American destroyer operating deep within enemy territory.”

The ship’s mysterious journey ended when it was found floating in Kure, Japan, at the war’s conclusion. It was then towed back to San Francisco and used as a target ship during a naval exercise, where it sank after taking fire for more than two hours.

In the decades that followed, the Stewart became the subject of interest for historians and naval enthusiasts, with the search for its wreck becoming a national priority. “Over 78 years passed before it was finally located,” the statement reveals.

Retired US Navy Admiral Samuel J. Cox, the director of Naval History and Heritage Command, commended the team that made the discovery. He emphasized, “Whether lost in battle or sunk during training, a warship remains sovereign property in perpetuity. It’s vital to know the location and condition of these wrecks to protect them from unauthorized disturbance under the US Sunken Military Craft Act.”

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