I saw a piece on the news about the discovery. The Australians are very appreciative of the duty and sacrifice of the US Navy in the early days of WWII. The fact that the Japanese wanted to capture different cities along the coast were very real. The loss of Australia would have been devastating to the Allies. Many thanks for this episode reminding us of the actions of the US Navy in those early, dark days of the Pacific war. The heroism shown is remarkable!
The US Navy stopped painting it's warships white at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly after the Great White Fleet of 1907. Afterwards Warships were painted a Slate Gray called "War Color" until right after the end of World War I. From 1919 until 1941, US warships (including USS Edsall) were painted with #5 Standard Navy Gray (light Gray) on vertical surfaces, #20 Deck Gray (a very dark neutral gray) on steel decks and wood decks unpainted. What you see as white in video is probably the #5 Standard Light Gray Edsall would have worn until 1941.
The unidentified object mentioned from the sonar appears to be a motor whaleboat. Also, on the gun mount amidships, pointing forward, the sight yoke is clearly visible! Pretty amazing! Great video!
Edsells story reminds me a lot of the story of the USS Johnson. Both vessels had defiant captains who challenged the might of the Japanese navy. Both went down fighting to the end. The big difference was the lack of respect shown to the American crewmen ad their ships sank. Where Edsells crew was machine gunned in the water, Johnsons crew was saluted.
What gets me about the loss of Edsall was the circumstances under which she was intercepted. The day before her sinking, she had been directed to return to Java to delivery USAAF pilots tasked with taking delivery of P-40 fighter planes that had delivered there earlier; Java was practically lost at that point, but Nix didn't hesitate to obey orders. And then on that day of her loss, oiler Pecos was attacked by the SAME FORCE that did in Edsall and had sent out a distress signal; many historians agree that Edsall (the closest to Pecos at the time of that attack) was responding to the oiler in an attempt to render aid. It was two opportunities for the ship to simply head AWAY from known enemy activity, but Nix and his men did not shirk in their duty! One last note. Fellow DD USS Whipple also responded to the Pecos ditress call, arriving sometime after 1900 hrs, and was able to rescue some survivors. Some historians like to theorize that the last stand of Edsall irked Nagumo enough to depart the area, leaving the way open for Whipple to get through to the survivors. Maybe that's fanciful thinking, but it's a theory that I like to hold to my heart.
Actually some accounts, such as in "Blue Sea of Blood", note some Pecos survivors in water just before rescue reported distant explosions which were probably the attacks on Edsall which allowed Whipple to arrive and depart without being detected by Japanese being preoccupied with Edsall.
That's most likely what it is. If it was damaged during the shelling and fire, it would have been flooded and dragged down as Edsall sank. Probably drifted down in the water column with the main body of the reck and came to rest near it.
my great great uncle Elmer Charles Halverson (South Dakota) died on the Edsall. My grandmother is still alive and remembers her uncle fondly and is grateful they found the ship and has closer over the loss of her uncle.
@ Yes. Both my Great Uncles fought in Burma under General Slim and one still suffered from malaria at 85 the year before he died. All British P.O.W.’s who survived their horrendous treatment by the Japanese were forced to sign a document before their repatriation stating that they would not claim damages. Great Power Politics in operation. Beheadings, torture, starvation, medical experiments etcetera. 👍🏻🏴
The mosaic is fascinating; it took a bit to read this as an overhead view as the port side is so obscured it looked like she was lying on her side and almost buried. She’s absolutely been burned and swept clean.
would be my guess. damaged as edsall was the boats would have likely been U/S; this one was possibly holed or just dragged down below the crush depth of any buoyancy tanks
WOW!! I figured nobody would bother the Edsall and finding her. She has been a mere footnote in the Navy and the pacific war..a shame considering her and her crews last fight.
The "bit in the corner" could be a ships boat. It is roughly the right shape and size for the portside boat located between the two sets of torpedo tubes on the port side. Look at the Clemson (US Tier 4 DD) in World of Warships.
14:42 What’s kind of strange to me is that on the mosaic it looks like the gun house has collapsed flat onto the deck; yet in this photo, it’s complete intact including the gunwales forward. It seems like they missed a few photos while putting the mosaic together.
10:53 The Clemson-class had skylights over the engine rooms, which is what I think this is the remains of (you can see similar holes where the forward skylights would be). You can also see the other davits are mostly in place, and just think the searchlight that was on the tower is sitting on the deck but it’s hard to tell.
I've heard that Yamamoto was worried that US carriers wouldn't come out and fight so he devised the Midway campaign. Considering that most of the Asiatic fleet fought to the very end and most of the sailor and officers died doing so , why would anyone think they wouldn't fight?
I appreciate your increased use of arrows to point out areas of interest. In many of your earlier videos, I found myself confused at what you were referring to since I’m not as well versed in naval terminology
The mystery item @8:17 looks like a fishing boat! I thought for a second it was the missing stern section, but it doesn't appear to be right scale, or profile. It really looks like a small vessel.
I have a book called A Sea Of Blue Blood about this ship. I was maybe 10 years old and the grainy footage of the ship sinking horrified me when I saw it. Amazing it was found.
8:17 To me it looks like one of the destroyer's lifeboats/Whaleboat. It must have sunk along with the USS Edsall and may have detached along with the torpedo launchers, since both were located close to each other.
8:04 I’m thinking this set of tubes is standing partially vertically with the back buried, as on the other can they cast a distinct shadow while the other set doesn’t
And interesting video compilation. Kudos! However, I would be interested to know how the author reconciles the fact that the two supposed sets of torpedo tube mounts are dramatically different in size both in length, and especially width? While there is the possibility as suggested that one set may have been shortened by damage (the smaller set located abeam amidships) the other ‘inverted set’ is almost twice the width! Yet both seem to show three ‘tubes’, so the width should be very similar. But they are not even close. How to account for this marked difference in size then?
Edsall fought right to the end, frustrating the best of the Japanese Navy. She holds a special place in Naval history. It’s nice that she has been found.
My 1st Cousin 2x removed was on this Ship never in a million years think they would ever find this ship...this brings some closure to knowing if this ship would be found. My cousin was WT2C Verlin James Crosley...RIP ...Shipmate...your Your Cousin Retired Machinery Repairman 1st Class Petty Officer (SW) Cindy Crosley-Carrasco 🫡⚓️🇺🇸❤️
8:18 I’m not an expert but I believe this may be the bow of one of the motor lifeboats on the Clemson and Wickes Class Destroyers. I have found several photos online which look to match.
My father serviced on her sister ship, the USS John D. Ford DD228. Both were attached to the Asiatic Squadron. The Ford made it to Australia and fought through the war.
In the summer of 1941, the Pacific Fleet and Asiatic Fleet began repainting their ships according in preparation for the oncoming war. The dark streaks shown on the hull ware probably what's left of the paint acquired in the Philippines to comply since Cavite did not get stocks of the new paint in time and only had Standard Light Gray in storage. This would have been the Asiatic version of Camouflage Measure 1. Measure 1 called for vertical surfaces up to the top of stacks to be painted 5-D Dark Gray and 5-L Light Gray above the stacks (Mostly masts and upper superstructure). The new paint quickly weathered in service and later on the sea floor, thus accounting for the dark patches on the light colored hull.
8:14 honestly looks like a ships boat, from what i've seen, clemsons had loads of those next to the torpedos, and they were similar in size to the launchers My theory is it was destroyed and flung off with those launchers, which also would explain why it looks like half of a boat
Looks like a fishing trawler, maybe one of the ship’s whaleboats. For some reason, it looks like it has some super structure on it like a cabin that’s why I’m thinking trawler.
Another destroyer in the tradition of the Fletcher class USS Johnston and the Samual B Roberts. Not hesitating to fight against impossible odds. While Nix did his job I feel like your job as a commander is to keep your ship safe for as long as you can.
One of the tops of one of the funnels? Perhaps? Over to the far right of looking. She was attacked by dive bombers and the force of those bombs exploding there probably blew off the rear funnel! It's my own best guess! I could be wrong.
L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology, claimed to survive the Edsall sinking as its only survivor, or that he was on some super secret, behind enemy lines, one-man operation and was the last man off the ship before it sank. Depends on what time of the day you ask him. As his story, as with his other stories, change constantly. Either way, chalk it up to one of his many lies. A captain like Nix and his crew deserve more attention and accolades. To put up a fight against a superior force, would be worthy of the Navy Cross at least. So far they have nothing.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
The story of the Edsall always amazes and saddens me. We need to honor the memory of the bravery of its crew.
I can see two stacks and a torpedo tubes on deck
Finding Edsall was really fortuitous. Between her, Stewart, and HMS Hawke, we've had a good year of finding long-lost shipwrecks.
I’m hoping for Shinano, Shokaku and Taiho as well as Oklahoma, New York and Pennsylvania
@@natebartels1444 what about zuikaku or was she Illegally scrapped for metal
Don't forget the submarines USS Harder and HMS Trooper
A valiant ship and crew that deserves to be remembered.
I saw a piece on the news about the discovery. The Australians are very appreciative of the duty and sacrifice of the US Navy in the early days of WWII. The fact that the Japanese wanted to capture different cities along the coast were very real. The loss of Australia would have been devastating to the Allies.
Many thanks for this episode reminding us of the actions of the US Navy in those early, dark days of the Pacific war. The heroism shown is remarkable!
This could be a case where such as one of the detached torpedo tube mounts should be recovered for an appropriate landslide memorial.
At a depth of 18,000 feet, nearly 7,500 feet deeper than the Titanic, highly unlikely.
Be all rust
I look forward to seeing a more detailed video of this wreck! Considering the fate of her brave crew we definitely need to remember this brave vessel!
The US Navy stopped painting it's warships white at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly after the Great White Fleet of 1907. Afterwards Warships were painted a Slate Gray called "War Color" until right after the end of World War I. From 1919 until 1941, US warships (including USS Edsall) were painted with #5 Standard Navy Gray (light Gray) on vertical surfaces, #20 Deck Gray (a very dark neutral gray) on steel decks and wood decks unpainted. What you see as white in video is probably the #5 Standard Light Gray Edsall would have worn until 1941.
The unidentified object mentioned from the sonar appears to be a motor whaleboat. Also, on the gun mount amidships, pointing forward, the sight yoke is clearly visible! Pretty amazing! Great video!
That was my thought, too
Def. not a part of the Edsall. Looks to be a newer whaler boat, the pilot house can even be seen. Prob. sank within 20 years or so.
You have to admire a captain who drives an Edsel like a Ferrari.
Car-Craft-magazine said="An Edsel-looks like an "Oldsmobile-sucking-a-Lemon" !!
Edsells story reminds me a lot of the story of the USS Johnson. Both vessels had defiant captains who challenged the might of the Japanese navy. Both went down fighting to the end. The big difference was the lack of respect shown to the American crewmen ad their ships sank. Where Edsells crew was machine gunned in the water, Johnsons crew was saluted.
Great comment.
At least Johnston and Robert’s had a ghost of a chance
The Captain of the Jhonston, served in a Asiatic Fleet DD IIRC the USS Alden, one of the few Asiatic Flee DDs to survive.
What gets me about the loss of Edsall was the circumstances under which she was intercepted. The day before her sinking, she had been directed to return to Java to delivery USAAF pilots tasked with taking delivery of P-40 fighter planes that had delivered there earlier; Java was practically lost at that point, but Nix didn't hesitate to obey orders. And then on that day of her loss, oiler Pecos was attacked by the SAME FORCE that did in Edsall and had sent out a distress signal; many historians agree that Edsall (the closest to Pecos at the time of that attack) was responding to the oiler in an attempt to render aid. It was two opportunities for the ship to simply head AWAY from known enemy activity, but Nix and his men did not shirk in their duty!
One last note. Fellow DD USS Whipple also responded to the Pecos ditress call, arriving sometime after 1900 hrs, and was able to rescue some survivors. Some historians like to theorize that the last stand of Edsall irked Nagumo enough to depart the area, leaving the way open for Whipple to get through to the survivors. Maybe that's fanciful thinking, but it's a theory that I like to hold to my heart.
Actually some accounts, such as in "Blue Sea of Blood", note some Pecos survivors in water just before rescue reported distant explosions which were probably the attacks on Edsall which allowed Whipple to arrive and depart without being detected by Japanese being preoccupied with Edsall.
Nagumo wasn’t that great of an admiral, so him running off the first moment he could holds up
I'm wondering if the piece of unidentified debris on the bottom was the remnants of the ship's 26' motor whaleboat.
I believe you are correct, that does look very much like a destroyer's motor whaleboat.
@@robertf3479 It certainly matches the restored whaleboat on USS Slater (DE-766).
That's most likely what it is. If it was damaged during the shelling and fire, it would have been flooded and dragged down as Edsall sank. Probably drifted down in the water column with the main body of the reck and came to rest near it.
I've crewed a few of them in my Navy career. 😆
That’s what I’m thinking
I really appreciate how you can present so much information in such a short video. Keep up the great work. I want to thank you for your videos.
my great great uncle Elmer Charles Halverson (South Dakota) died on the Edsall. My grandmother is still alive and remembers her uncle fondly and is grateful they found the ship and has closer over the loss of her uncle.
Despicable treatment of the survivors. Bravo men should be honoured.
The Japanese were very sadistic towards pow's. Partially out of racism towards Europeans and partially out of their bushido code.
@ Yes. Both my Great Uncles fought in Burma under General Slim and one still suffered from malaria at 85 the year before he died. All British P.O.W.’s who survived their horrendous treatment by the Japanese were forced to sign a document before their repatriation stating that they would not claim damages. Great Power Politics in operation. Beheadings, torture, starvation, medical experiments etcetera. 👍🏻🏴
Finally found!! Great job on this one! Just like all of your other vids!!! This is truly one of the best subjects to be found.
The mosaic is fascinating; it took a bit to read this as an overhead view as the port side is so obscured it looked like she was lying on her side and almost buried. She’s absolutely been burned and swept clean.
At 10:22 you can see a propeller guard, the semicircular frame used to fend against docks.
8:18 could that piece be one of Edsall's boats that hung from the davits?
would be my guess. damaged as edsall was the boats would have likely been U/S; this one was possibly holed or just dragged down below the crush depth of any buoyancy tanks
I agree. stern to the left, open well and seats on either side, and it looks like the shelter is at least partly there.
Logical guess. Certainly looks like one.
Great video I watch these all the time when you release them Have a great day!😊
8:23 Might be one of the small boat aboard the Clemson class between the 4 torpedo tubes. idk if Edsall had one though.
WOW!! I figured nobody would bother the Edsall and finding her.
She has been a mere footnote in the Navy and the pacific war..a shame considering her and her crews last fight.
Great job on this.Thank you for producing the video.
The "bit in the corner" could be a ships boat. It is roughly the right shape and size for the portside boat located between the two sets of torpedo tubes on the port side. Look at the Clemson (US Tier 4 DD) in World of Warships.
14:42 What’s kind of strange to me is that on the mosaic it looks like the gun house has collapsed flat onto the deck; yet in this photo, it’s complete intact including the gunwales forward. It seems like they missed a few photos while putting the mosaic together.
10:53 The Clemson-class had skylights over the engine rooms, which is what I think this is the remains of (you can see similar holes where the forward skylights would be). You can also see the other davits are mostly in place, and just think the searchlight that was on the tower is sitting on the deck but it’s hard to tell.
"Extremely Manuerverable" for a Clemson? The Captain must've been good, since they are well known for having a very poor turning circle.
Been waiting for this one.
I've heard that Yamamoto was worried that US carriers wouldn't come out and fight so he devised the Midway campaign. Considering that most of the Asiatic fleet fought to the very end and most of the sailor and officers died doing so , why would anyone think they wouldn't fight?
Not sure if I had to guess they might have guessed we would be too busy consolidating our forces in Pearl Harbor to want to really challenge them.
I appreciate your increased use of arrows to point out areas of interest. In many of your earlier videos, I found myself confused at what you were referring to since I’m not as well versed in naval terminology
Excellent job, as usual! Very gkad you chose to go ahead and cover this.
@8:21 I believe that to be a ship's boat.
The mystery item @8:17 looks like a fishing boat! I thought for a second it was the missing stern section, but it doesn't appear to be right scale, or profile. It really looks like a small vessel.
the piece off to the side in question is the back of the ship that broke off the buck when she went down
For further learning about the Edsall,I suggest reading the excellent book 'A Blue Sea of Blood'
I have a book called A Sea Of Blue Blood about this ship. I was maybe 10 years old and the grainy footage of the ship sinking horrified me when I saw it. Amazing it was found.
8:17 To me it looks like one of the destroyer's lifeboats/Whaleboat. It must have sunk along with the USS Edsall and may have detached along with the torpedo launchers, since both were located close to each other.
8:04 I’m thinking this set of tubes is standing partially vertically with the back buried, as on the other can they cast a distinct shadow while the other set doesn’t
The bit in the right margin looks to me as if it could be part of the stern itself, or at least the upper deck of the stern.
Young long object that you have in the picture is one of her motor wheel boats
And interesting video compilation. Kudos! However, I would be interested to know how the author reconciles the fact that the two supposed sets of torpedo tube mounts are dramatically different in size both in length, and especially width? While there is the possibility as suggested that one set may have been shortened by damage (the smaller set located abeam amidships) the other ‘inverted set’ is almost twice the width! Yet both seem to show three ‘tubes’, so the width should be very similar. But they are not even close. How to account for this marked difference in size then?
Most likely answer is the sonar perspective being slightly different. I make no claims to be an expert in sonar imagery, though.
Edsall fought right to the end, frustrating the best of the Japanese Navy. She holds a special place in Naval history. It’s nice that she has been found.
Those Joshua's have some brass balls Nix and Chamberlain, I wonder if the USN ever had another ship named Edsall or Nix?
Could you do a video on the USS Biscayn
My 1st Cousin 2x removed was on this Ship never in a million years think they would ever find this ship...this brings some closure to knowing if this ship would be found. My cousin was WT2C Verlin James Crosley...RIP ...Shipmate...your Your Cousin Retired Machinery Repairman 1st Class Petty Officer (SW) Cindy Crosley-Carrasco 🫡⚓️🇺🇸❤️
The thing on the right side of the sonar looked a bit like those wings at the end of the ship.
Not bad for a WW1 four stacker, proof positive for "You can kill what you can't hit".
8:18 I’m not an expert but I believe this may be the bow of one of the motor lifeboats on the Clemson and Wickes Class Destroyers.
I have found several photos online which look to match.
that object in the second sonar scan looks like one of her boats.
My father serviced on her sister ship, the USS John D. Ford DD228. Both were attached to the Asiatic Squadron. The Ford made it to Australia and fought through the war.
In the summer of 1941, the Pacific Fleet and Asiatic Fleet began repainting their ships according in preparation for the oncoming war. The dark streaks shown on the hull ware probably what's left of the paint acquired in the Philippines to comply since Cavite did not get stocks of the new paint in time and only had Standard Light Gray in storage. This would have been the Asiatic version of Camouflage Measure 1. Measure 1 called for vertical surfaces up to the top of stacks to be painted 5-D Dark Gray and 5-L Light Gray above the stacks (Mostly masts and upper superstructure). The new paint quickly weathered in service and later on the sea floor, thus accounting for the dark patches on the light colored hull.
Definitely a motor whaleboat lying past the torpedo tubes. You can see the engine top casing, the seating in the bow, and even the tiller.
Pictures are great
Could that mystery piece be part of the broken off stern. It kind of has that shape to it.
The unknown piece about halfway through looked like their shuttle launch
Was the unknown piece the motor whale boat?
8:14 honestly looks like a ships boat, from what i've seen, clemsons had loads of those next to the torpedos, and they were similar in size to the launchers
My theory is it was destroyed and flung off with those launchers, which also would explain why it looks like half of a boat
My thoughts are that the unidentified object at 8:10 is the stern, blown off.
The mother of all DD shenanigans.
Looks like a fishing trawler, maybe one of the ship’s whaleboats. For some reason, it looks like it has some super structure on it like a cabin that’s why I’m thinking trawler.
Too small. It's the ship's whaleboat.
If it is the motor whale boat,The superstructure looking thing would actually be the 'motor'
@@getoffenit7827 Look up pictures of the motor whaleboat from the USS Slater (DE-766). It is almost an exact match for the one in the sonar scan.
It doesn't seem that she lost very much of her stern since it looks like her starboard prop guard looks visible to me. I may be wrong.
Uss edsall “the dancing mouse” there’s a video of her from a jap cruiser of her literally being blown out of the water
Has the wreck of USS SIMS has been found?
The little anomaly appears to be a fishing boat.
Has the wreck of the USS SIMS ever been found?
Another destroyer in the tradition of the Fletcher class USS Johnston and the Samual B Roberts. Not hesitating to fight against impossible odds. While Nix did his job I feel like your job as a commander is to keep your ship safe for as long as you can.
8:11 could it be a lifeboat?
One of the tops of one of the funnels? Perhaps? Over to the far right of looking. She was attacked by dive bombers and the force of those bombs exploding there probably blew off the rear funnel! It's my own best guess! I could be wrong.
God bless
Looks like they found two different ships
3:50 ROYAL Australian Navy thank you!!! 😡😡
L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology, claimed to survive the Edsall sinking as its only survivor, or that he was on some super secret, behind enemy lines, one-man operation and was the last man off the ship before it sank. Depends on what time of the day you ask him. As his story, as with his other stories, change constantly.
Either way, chalk it up to one of his many lies.
A captain like Nix and his crew deserve more attention and accolades. To put up a fight against a superior force, would be worthy of the Navy Cross at least. So far they have nothing.
A lifeboat maybe?
To not get emotional reading about this ship tells me you have no soul.
Idiot
Terrible comment. Does Drachinifel cry? Toughen up pumpkin.
The unknown debris is one of whale boats.....😂
It bugs me when ships with male names are referred to as she and her
that's a long naval tradition except in the ORC navy. it ORC's tradition to refer to them as male
@@hirisk761 The German and Russian also refer to their warships as male.