Lost US WWI submarine found ‘remarkably intact’ off the coast of San Diego

What submarine did the researchers find?

Known as the USS F-1, this class of submarine was based in the Pacific and served in Hawaii, as well as off the coast of California. However, the USS F-1 was sunk after an accidental collision on December 17, 1917, which led to the death of 19 crew members. The submarine sank rapidly, in around 10 seconds, and was found nearly 60 years later, according to the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Lost US WWI submarine found ‘remarkably intact’ off the coast of San Diego

The researchers have labeled the lost submarine 'remarkably intact' - as the images reveal. They were taken in February and March when researchers at the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) used something different than just robot. They used a human-occupied vehicle, named Alvin, as well as a robot – better known as Sentry the autonomous underwater vehicle – to travel down 1,300 feet below the Pacific  (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Bruce Strickrott, manager of the Alvin Group at WHOI and the sub’s senior pilot, said: ‘Once we identified the wreck and determined it was safe to dive, we were able to capture never-before-seen perspectives of the sub. As a US Navy veteran, it was a profound honor to visit the wreck of the F-1 with our ONR and NHHC colleagues aboard Alvin’  (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Who did the mission include?

The mission also had team members from the Navy, the Naval History and Heritage Command, and the National Science Foundation. The foundation has previously done surveys of the submarine using video cameras, imaging systems on Alvin and sonar systems on Sentry – which were used to produce maps of the wreck on the seafloor. Then, with Alvin’s images, researchers were able to construct a 3D model of the F-1 as well as models which measure the sub and the marine life it now supports (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Anna Michel, the co-lead of the expedition, said: ‘While these depths were well within the dive capability for Alvin and Sentry, they were technical dives requiring specialized expertise and equipment. We were careful and methodical in surveying these historical sites so that we could share these stunning images, while also maintaining the reverence these sites deserve’ (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

The dives were part of a planned training and engineering mission that aims to give pilots-in-training time to improve their skills and to allow for the development of new technology. After the dives, the team held a remembrance ceremony on the Atlantic, and rang a bell for each of the service members lost at sea. Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeologist Brad Krueger said: ‘History and archaeology are all about people and we felt it was important to read their names aloud. The Navy has a solemn responsibility to ensure the legacies of its lost Sailors are remembered’ (Picture: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)