World War II US Destroyer 'Dancing Mouse' Wreck Found in Pacific

In a remarkable discovery, the long-lost wreck of the USS Edsall, a US warship that sank during World War II, has been found in the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

The historic destroyer, which earned the nickname "dancing mouse" due to its agility in combat, went down off the coast of Australia in March 1942. The ship, under the command of Lieutenant Joshua Nix, was engaged in a fiercely contested battle with Imperial Japanese Navy forces when it met its fate.

According to US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, who made the announcement on Monday, Lieutenant Nix and his crew fought valiantly against overwhelming odds. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned by 1,400 shells from Japanese battleships and cruisers, they were able to evade attack for almost an hour before suffering a fatal hit.

In a remarkable display of defiance, Lieutenant Nix ordered the ship's bow towards the Japanese surface ships in its final act of resistance. "It was like the famous cartoon of the little mouse flipping the bird at a huge screaming eagle," said Samuel Cox, director of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.

The wreck of the Edsall was discovered using advanced hydrographic survey capabilities by officials aboard the naval support ship MV Stoker, led by Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. The Australian chief of navy praised the bravery of the Edsall crew for their crucial role in protecting Australia during its early years of World War II.

At the time of its sinking, the Edsall was an outdated vessel with limited firepower compared to the Japanese fleet. Despite this, Lieutenant Nix and his crew managed to withstand a series of intense attacks from carrier dive bombers, taking only one fatal hit.

The discovery of the wreck is a significant find for historians and war enthusiasts alike, offering a glimpse into the brutal and unpredictable nature of World War II combat.