US Warship Dancing Mouse Sunk During World War II Discovery Laid to Rest
Sydney, Australia - After decades underwater, the wreck of a US destroyer known as the "dancing mouse" for its slippery movements during a pivotal battle in World War II has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean. The USS Edsall, under the command of Lt. Joshua Nix at the time, sank off the coast of Australia in 1942, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and defiance.
According to US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, who announced the discovery on Monday, the crew fought valiantly against overwhelming odds, evading numerous shells from Japanese battleships and cruisers during the fatal battle. They were later attacked by carrier dive bombers, taking only one fatal hit.
Australian Navy officials, aided by advanced hydrographic survey capabilities aboard the naval support ship MV Stoker, made the stunning find. Vice Admiral Mark Hammond praised the Edsall crew for their crucial efforts in protecting Australia during its early days of World War II, before it sank on March 1, 1942.
Historical records reveal that the USS Edsall was spotted by a Japanese carrier-based plane around 200 miles south-southeast of Christmas Island. Japanese Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo soon ordered its interception, perceiving the presence of a US warship within striking distance as a threat to his forces.
However, the old Edsall's outdated design and lack of firepower proved no match for the powerful Japanese fleet with bigger guns and dozens of aircraft that could carry heavy bombs. Lt. Nix's position became hopeless from the moment he was sighted, according to US Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Director Samuel Cox.
As a last act of defiance, Lt. Nix chose to make the US destroyer fight on, with Cox noting that he pointed the bow of Edsall at the Japanese surface ships in his final gesture of resistance. Despite the crew's bravery, the ship ultimately sank under fire from the big guns of its pursuers.
The discovery brings closure to a chapter of Australian and American history, shedding new light on the bravery and sacrifice of those involved in one of the war's most pivotal battles.