Navy submarine sunk during World War II discovered

(WAVY) — The final resting place of the U.S. Navy submarine that sank the most Japanese warships during World War II has been found more than 80 years after it sank.

The USS Harder was discovered in the South China Sea, more than 3,000 feet below the surface, off the northern coast of the island of Luzon, Philippines, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. The submarine, with its crew of 79 men, was sunk during a battle in 1944.

It was data collected and provided by Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea and the Lost 52 project, that made it possible to find the sunken submarine. Previous submarines found by Project Lost 52 include the USS Grayback, USS Stickleback, USS R-12, USS S-26, USS S-28, and USS Grunion.

The first USS Harder was commissioned on December 2, 1942, with Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey in command. It now stands upright and is relatively intact.

The NHHC said the excellent state of conservation of the site and the data collected allowed it to confirm that it was indeed the wreck of the USS Harder.

The first USS Harder (SS 257) was commissioned on December 2, 1942, with Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey in command. She was lost at sea with 79 souls on board on August 24, 1944.

“Harder was lost during the victory. We must remember that victory has a price, as does freedom,” said NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, Rear Admiral (Ret.) U.S. Navy. “We are grateful that Lost 52 has given us the opportunity to once again honor the bravery of the crew of the ‘Hit ’em Harder’ submarine that sank the most Japanese warships – during particularly daring attacks – under the leadership of its legendary skipper, Cmdr. Sam Dealey.

Harder completed six patrols before being sunk, with the fifth being the most successful, according to the NHHC, sinking three Japanese destroyers and heavily damaging or destroying two others in four days. Its last known location was in the South China Sea, off the coast of Luzon, during its sixth and final war patrol.

Japanese records later revealed that Harder fired three torpedoes at his ship CD-22, the NHHC said.

“The Japanese ship evaded the torpedoes and launched a series of depth charge attacks, (with) the fifth depth charge attack sinking the Harder and her crew,” the NHHC said.

USS Harder received the Presidential Unit Citation for her first five patrols, six Battle Stars for her service in World War II. Dealey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor “for his outstanding contribution to the war effort during Harder’s Fifth Patrol.”