USS Perch Discovered in 190 feet of Water

The USS Perch (SS 176) was discovered in about 190 feet of water in the Java Sea 60 years or so after the sub sunk in WWII. There has not been an official announcement from the Navy as of yet, but as you can see in the picture above there is little room for doubt that this is the boat. What is so special about the Perch from other subs that sunk in WWII? Well, read this and see that the Perch was not like most of the subs whose final hours are unknown but it is known that the sub was scuttled by the crew:

After a week of close contact with the enemy, obtaining information, Perch headed south searching for targets. In a night attack on a large merchantman off the eastern coast of Sulawesi (Celebes), Perch was hit in the superstructure, forward of the pressure hull of the conning tower, by a high explosive projectile which blew away the bridge deck, punctured the antenna trunk and temporarily put her radio out of commission. Efforts of her crew made repairs on deck at night in waters heavily patrolled by the enemy, and Perch headed for the Java Sea.

On the evening of 1 March 1942, Perch surfaced thirty miles (55 km) northwest of Soerabaja, Java, Netherlands East Indies, and started in for an attack on the enemy convoy that was landing troops to the west of Soerabaja. Two enemy destroyers attacked and drove her down with a string of depth charges which caused her to bottom at 135 feet (41 m). Several more depth charge attacks caused extensive damage, putting the starboard motors out of commission and causing extensive flooding throughout the boat. After repairs, Perch surfaced at two o'clock in the morning only to be again driven down by the enemy destroyers. The loss of oil, and air from damaged ballast tanks, convinced the enemy that Perch was breaking up and they went on to look for other kills, allowing Perch to surface.

With the submarine's decks awash and only one engine in commission, the crew made all possible repairs. During the early morning of 3 March, a test dive was made with almost fatal results. Expert handling and good luck enabled her to surface from that dive, only to find herself under the guns of two Japanese cruisers and three destroyers. As shells straddled the boat, the commanding officer ordered "abandon ship." With all hull openings open, Perch made her last dive. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 24 June 1942.

The entire crew was captured by a Japanese destroyer. Of the fifty-four men and five officers, only six, who died of malnutrition in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps, were unable to return to the United States after V-J Day.