#projectGATO

Short feature taken on the May 2019 visit to the USS Robalo wreck site, located by the Sea Scan Survey team.
See our projectGATO Facebook page:
projectgato
Project Partners:
ProTech Philippines (www.protech-ph.com)
Sea Scan Survey (www.seascansurvey.com)

[@jimk990]

Arthur Flanagan, gunner's mate, was my grandmother's sister's boy. He was only 19 when he perished. I recall my grandmother really only saying two things about him, as it was clearly a sad chapter for the family, and one not easily discussed. One was that her sister never got over it, something only a parent can understand. The other was that "he was such a nice boy". The simple words of a caring aunt about a boy still just a teenager when he died. And I guess that's the part to remember, that most of the men and women who lost their lives will never make the history book. They'll never be famous. They were just ordinary people, thrust into extraordinary situations, displaying quiet bravery. How terrible that a boy couldn't come home to his family and the chance to grow up and live life. May the world experience more peace and less war, somehow.

[@BRatigan]

So glad they finally found her. My grandfather went down with her. John O'brien. It does bring some closure.

[@john-paulnagel2732]

I’m sorry 😐 God Bless You and All American Veterans That Did Not Come Home 🏡

[@onceANexile]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnproseus8053]

My dad, Reginald John Proseus, was a Naval Academy graduate and 4th officer on the Robalo. She was lost 7 months, to the day, after my birthday...........

[@thomthumbe]

This is a sad moment to see this. It "magically" popped up in my suggested list. I remember attending a local submarine meeting some years ago, with my parents when they read off a list of GATO class boats, and the ones that were lost. My Dad was president of the local sub group that year. He served on the GATO and finished the war, part of her final mission before being removed from service. The men in the meeting that day stood and saluted those who had perished, fully realizing it could have just as easily been them. I'm grateful my father came home and began our family, but I feel the incredible sadness for those who were lost, giving their all to make possible our freedom. God bless those who serve today!! You cannot imagine the respect I have for you all!!

[@lisayoung167]

My Grandfather, Wallace Lamont Downey, was one of Robalo's seamen.

[@tarastephens8124]

Wallace Lamont Downey was my Grandfathers first cousin. Lisa we should catch up.

[@tarastephens8124]

Robert John Downey was my grandfather, Timothy Madison Downey is my father.

[@pennybattaglia9035]

My Uncle was Floyd Laughlin, he was one of the four that swam to Palawan Island, but was captured in July of 1944. It is great that the submarine has been found. great work by the Sea Scan Survey team.

[@john-paulnagel2732]

My Condolences I Read their Fate I’m sorry 😐 God Bless You Love ❤️

[@al48701]

My uncle Frederick P Vogel TM3 went down with her. I have always wanted to know where she lies. Sadly mother nor her siblings ever knew what happened. Thank you for finding her.

[@para1324]

In the day of the Lord they will rise. Much respect. 🇺🇸

[@johncooper446]

My Grandfather, Walter Sonemann was an RM3 on board the Rabalo. John Proseus, like you my Mother was only 2 months old when she lost her Dad on the Rabalo. They never met. She passed away in 2006 but would be grateful to know that her father was found. Thanks to the folks at Sea Scan who did the amazing work to give the crew of the Rabalo a final resting place for the world to know. .

[@workculturepro]

My uncle, Joe Van Deurzen, was a 22 year old motor machinists mate in the USS Robalo, he died in the sub. My prayer is that he died quickly as a result of the possible explosion and did not suffer as a result of drowning. Joe was the only KIA out of the men in my family who served, my Uncle Leo received a Bronze Star and my Dad likely received a Purple Heart (injured in battle and flown out of Germany) although we can't prove it because his records burned in St. Louis. So very proud of Uncle Joe, Uncle Leo, and my Dad, proud of what Manitowoc, Wisconsin contributed to the war effort. Good, hard-working, freedom loving people fighting for what is right. Sailor, rest your oar!

[@ericcohen9399]

Just awesome. As a retired submariner, this was hard to watch, but well done Sea Scan Team.

[@john-paulnagel2732]

God Bless You Love ❤️

[@jefferyindorf699]

The use of the theme from "Das Boot" was brilliant.

[@gpelston]

My uncle Warren Lefebvre was an electrian's mate on the Rabalo.. My mother missed him terribly..It is good to know the last resting place has been located. May they rest in peace.

[@charlesmckinney3560]

Thank you from the namesake nephew of TM2 Nyle Milton Jackson.

[@amandacackowski3259]

He's my great uncle! Would love to connect the dots in how we're related if you see this message!

[@charlesmckinney3560]

@@amandacackowski3259 Nyle was my mother's brother. My mom was Mable Jackson McKinney.

[@charlesmckinney3560]

@@amandacackowski3259 MY middle name is Nyle.

[@skye1212]

She lies down at 230 ft. Found in other comments. Supposedly Nimitz once said the submarines were perhaps the most important factor in winning the war in the Pacific from a Navy point of view.

[@lindapeyser4037]

My uncle Ciro Robert Virga was a member of the Robalo crew. Sadly, my grandparents are not alive to know that the boat was finally found. Now I am trying to write about him for my family as an homage to his sacrifice.

[@69Applekrate]

Nice job, well put together. I found the subtitles showing where on the boat you were- very helpful in understanding. again, nice job- thank you for this

[@BMan100]

wow, I remember watching the Fletchers looking for this sub, bit of a goose chase in the doc I watched...the Das Boat music always haunts me.

[@53bigmikejones]

Rest east shipmates, we have the watch DBF. USS Clamagore, SS 343

[@johnstringer4439]

Japanese laid a minefield in Balabac Strait in April 1944. Consequently, two submarines, Robalo and Flier, were lost in July and August 1944 to mines in area, not far from one another. Some of Flier's crew survived and were later rescued from Brooke's Point, Palawan Island by submarine Redfish.

[@majormattmason8408]

Actually it was the Redfin (not Redfish--a different sub) that picked up the Flier crew. My father served on the Redfin.

[@sequoiasemperviren427]

Amazing discovery and fantastic video. You can see the ocean creatures guarding the ship now, the sea takes care of its own.

[@gunsaway1]

Rest in Peace brothers

[@fw1421]

It’s amazing that in shallower waters they degrade so much worse than in very deep water.

[@davidfricker1208]

My uncle was the cook on this submarine

[@davidfricker1208]

John fricker

[@adampackard3561]

Peace to all

[@craftpaint1644]

Don't let the scrappers take it away 🥺

[@stephenchangary7179]

my dad is on the uss robalo I would love more info on their findings how do I do this?

[@cody8754]

stephen changary my great uncle Wallace Martin was a signalman who made it to shore and got captured

[@Arizonadivesubic]

Take a look at the Project GATO Facebook Page.

[@ChasPapa1]

Message to relatives of the men lost with USS Robalo: Please contact us at [e-mail] . We maintain family contacts listings for official announcements. Charles R. Hinman, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, www.OnEternalPatrol.com

[@daver9594]

28; Manitowoc's 28 Freshwater Submarines The Manitowoc-built submarines have become known as Freshwater Submarines since we were the only freshwater port to build subs. Of the 28 submarines built here, 25 were built in time to see action during the war. Together they sank 132 Japanese ships. My current and hometown!

[@majormattmason8408]

The Minitowoc submarines had a great reputation! Four were lost in the war. My father served on the Redfin for all 7 of her patrols.

[@looneylozzer]

👍

[@chuckaddison5134]

You need to give us slow readers a chance to finish before moving on.

[@amandacackowski3259]

My great uncle Nyle Milton jackson was on this

[@deepred5461]

On eternal patrol.

[@garydoyle7155]

would like to see more history on the ship than credits about the background music plus the history of your search for the ship and what put you onto where it was finally found - - I assume from the gear I see in the video you were on mixed gases considering the depth so perhaps a little detail on your (I assume ) nitrox gear for us old divers. I've been down on the U 853 and other wrecks in New England and a few in the Florida keys so I'm keenly interested in the details. I was going to get nitrox certified so I could do the Doria but something always came up and never did so I do the deep stuff vicariously through videos like yours - - once you have the bug it never leaves you. Great job on the vid

[@karlhurwood7267]

There are a lot more details of the wreck and similar details to what you mentioned on the Facebook page link found in the video details section. The wreck is a little over recreational diving limits but isn't too deep, with a bottom depth of just over 70m/240ft and the top of the wreck conning tower at around 55m/180ft. Dives in the video were done using mixed gas CCRs, the depth is fairly easy to do with open circuit but as the wreck location is well off the beaten track the logistics for gas fills become a problem - rebreathers just let us do much longer bottom times rather than been limited to open circuit times.

[@garydoyle7155]

@@karlhurwood7267 thanks for the info being as our group was very experienced we sometimes bumped our bottom times using the Navy tables rather than PADI tables. We have friends who are mixed gas trained which was why I was interested in the training. When four of us took a trip to the keys from up here in New England the dive master on one of our trips looked at all the gear we had and said " what do you guys normally dive in - - mud ?? " - - the vis down there was something we only dream about up here. 240 is about the depth of the Doria up here which a couple of the guys I dive with have been on years back using doubles and a pony but they had to put in almost an hour safety hang using bottles attached to the mooring lines before they could surface - - another reason the new stuff appeals to me. Now comes the but - - due to my advanced years I think I will be restricted to sport diving depths if I can find someone to retrieve my walker after I get in the water : )

[@Pooh68]

My Uncle, TM3 Harley Hood, was on the USS Robalo

[@Pooh68]

I sailed on the USS Skate SSN-578, one of the first five converted from diesel boats to nuclear. 77-79.

[@962momo]

I'm no expert but this sub looks like it has alot more damage than just the aft battery section. May they rest in peace.

[@johnwrigley1624]

Not much left,I surprised the thieving scrappers haven't cut it up entirely.BTW,music is from "Das Boot".

[@Arizonadivesubic]

We believe there has been zero salvaging on the Submarine. Having been one of the very fortunate divers to visit the USS Robalo I can say she appears very intact minus the damage from hitting the sea mine.

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Unfortunately, those scrappers got the Perch and maybe the Tang (though Tang may have also been accidentally depth charged during the Cold War)

[@rickyiglesias5384]

What's the depth in feet? I didn't see it mentioned.

[@southronspirit]

would have be really nice if you had said how deep the water was '

[@karlhurwood7267]

Hi - there should be a link to a Facebook group in the video details with all details about the wreck itself, she rests at around 73m, although the upper parts of the conning tower are at around 55m.

[@chargerbox]

How deep is the water its laying in???

[@karlhurwood7267]

The Robalo lays at just over 70m / 240 ft of water

[@joelthomas8877]

70 meters, protech-ph.com/projectgato

[@drucifer00]

Tragic.

[@diving-bled]

depth?

[@karlhurwood7267]

Its just over 70m to the hard bottom

[@darrellcrawford4946]

My dog Wolfe was a sea dog class 2 on that sub and went down without a bark!

[@amandacackowski3259]

Pretty rude comment. These men were in their early 20s and never returned to our families

[@TheDevilinThePaleMoonlight]

​@@amandacackowski3259 Some people just have ZERO respect for the men who secured their freedoms with their lives. Sadly it's just getting worse and worse, the internet has taught these weirdos that they can say anything they want without fear of consequences. I bet this idiot wouldn't have said that dumb shit if he stood infront of ANY vet who served in combat. My grandpa (RIP) was a combat infantryman who served in Sicily in WW2 and his scars alone would've put this clown in his place had he disrespected ANY servicemen in his presence. RIP to ur relative and all the men who served and sacrificed in the Silent Service. May they feel the sun on their skin and the mist of the sea on their faces as they stay ever vigilant on the Eternal Patrol🫡

[@Junkyardnedreck]

Video is great, music sucks