Scuba Geek

USS Lagarto found in Gulf of Thailand June 19, 2006

Posted by Andy Carroll in : News, WreckDiving , trackback

During the last months of World War II the USS Lagarto, an american submarine, was lost on a mission to attack a Japanese convoy. The US Navy now says that a wreck they have found at the bottom of the Gulf of Thailand, may be the lost sub.

From a report in the Timesleader;

“I have never in my life, unequivocally, felt such a high,” said Kenney, who was 2 years old when her father and the submarine did not return from their mission in May 1945.

“We can just feel a sense of relief and a sense of peace in knowing what happened and where they are,” said Kenney, of Lake Leelanau, Mich.

The Navy divers have recently completed a six day survey of the wreck, taking photos and video of the 311 foot submarine. They have found twin 5-inch gun mounts on the forward and rear parts of the sub, which is said to be unique to the Lagarto.

Eighty six submariners lost their lives when the USS Lagarto was alledgedly sunk by depth charges dropped by the Japanese minelayer, Hatsutaka.

“It was important to bring a sense of closure to these families and it was important to do it in a way that would honor our fellow submariners,” Davis said.

The Navy wouldn’t do anything with the ship even if it conclusively determined it was the Lagarto, considering the sea to be a proper final resting place for “our people who are killed in action,” he said.