US Warship 'Dancing Mouse' USS Edsall Found in Pacific Depths After 80 Years

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - March 6, 2023 - In a groundbreaking discovery, the wreck of the US warship USS Edsall has been found deep within the Pacific Ocean, nearly eight decades after it sank during the Second World War.

The USS Edsall, a destroyer that was nicknamed "the dancing mouse" due to its agility in battle, went down on March 1, 1942, off the coast of Australia. At the time, it was commanded by Lieutenant Joshua Nix, who led his crew valiantly against a heavily outnumbered and outgunned Japanese fleet.

According to US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, Lt. Nix and his crew fought bravely, evading over 1,400 shells from Japanese battleships and cruisers before being attacked by 26 carrier dive bombers. The ship took only one fatal hit during the intense battle.

The wreck was discovered using advanced hydrographic survey capabilities aboard the naval support ship MV Stoker, with assistance from officials at the US Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). Australia's chief of navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, praised the Edsall crew for their courageous efforts in protecting Australia during its early days in the Second World War.

According to Lt. Col. Samuel Cox, director of the NHHC account, the USS Edsall was spotted by a Japanese carrier-based plane around 200 miles south-southeast of Christmas Island. The presence of the US destroyer within striking distance prompted Japanese Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo to order an intercept.

Cox's account reveals that Lt. Nix took drastic action in his final moments as commander, pointedly directing his ship at the Japanese surface vessels before meeting its fate. The USS Edsall's demise was sealed when it came under fire from the Japanese warships' massive guns.

The discovery of the USS Edsall wreck provides a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served our nations during times of war. As Australia marks its place in history alongside other Allied forces, the bravery and determination displayed by Lt. Joshua Nix and his crew on that fateful day will be honored forever.