Battle of Leyte Gulf: Sunken USS Johnson reached in world’s deepest shipwreck dive

The destroyer was found over 21,000 feet down. 

“We located the front 2/3 of the ship, upright and intact, at a depth of 6456 meters. Three of us across two dives surveyed the vessel and gave respects to her brave crew.” Only 141 of the ship’s 327 crew survived, according to US navy records.

Not really mentioned in the article – the incredible engagement the ship had with the most massive battleships in the world –

the powerful Japanese Center Force slipped through San Bernardino Strait and into the Philippine Sea heading toward Leyte Gulf. It steamed along the coast of Samar directly for Johnston's little task unit and the American invasion beachhead at Leyte, hoping to destroy amphibious shipping and American troops on shore.

The story is very well told in  Sea of Thunder which I read about 14 years ago. The ship's captain, Ernest Evans, was 75% Native American (nickname Big Chief) and was awarded the medal of honor. He did not survive the battle. I reviewed this book on amazon and posted the review on my blog Latest Read: Sea of Thunder in January, 2007.