Submarine mystery solved: USS F‑1 wreckage found after 106 years

• The USS F-1 wreck was found off the coast of San Diego.
• The submarine sank in 1917 following a collision with another vessel.
• An expedition by WHOI and the US Navy discovered the wreck at a depth of over 400 metres.

Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the United States Navy have made an extraordinary discovery off the coast of San Diego. On the seabed, they located the wreckage of the American submarine USS F-1, which sank in 1917 during exercises, alongside a Navy training aircraft that crashed in 1950.

As reported by Live Science, the USS F-1 sank due to a collision with another US Navy submarine. In this tragic accident, 19 crew members perished, and three were rescued. The wreck lies at a depth of over 400 metres, which makes human diving impossible. The investigation was carried out using the underwater vehicles HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry.

Bruce Strickrott from WHOI highlighted that the combined capabilities of both underwater vehicles greatly enhanced the advancement of oceanographic research. "These two important oceanographic tools work extremely well together," Strickrott stated in an interview with Live Science.

During the expedition, the wreck of a Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft, which crashed in the vicinity in 1950, was also investigated. Due to the latest research, the US Navy was able to confirm that no lives were lost in the crash.

The USS F-1 wreck is currently regarded as a memorial site for the sailors who tragically lost their lives. WHOI and the US Navy have opted not to disturb its condition, preserving its historical value and honouring the memory of the fallen soldiers.

This discovery not only enriches our understanding of US Navy history but also demonstrates how modern technology can help unveil the mysteries of the past.