The Wreck of USS St. Lo - Victim of the Divine Wind

[@ThomasDrehfal]

Great report and analysis.

[@spoton906]

my father was a gunner on that ship . thank you for this post .my dad was a survivor of the St Lo he pasted away in July of 2023 may he r.i.p.

[@toemblem]

My grandfather was on the Gambier Bay when it went down. He passed away in 1971.

[@robertyoung3992]

passed

[@markmclaughlin2690]

My Father Kenneth McLaughlin WT/3 served on USS Gambier Bay, he crossed the bar in 1969 when I was 3. My hope is that one day they find Gambier Bay.

[@toemblem]

My grandfather, Olav H. Emblem M 1/c, also served on the Gambier Bay. I believe his job was refueling, repairing and rearming airplanes. You can see a picture of him on the Gambier Bay website with a group and the caption says "gas gang". He crossed the bar in 1971, two years before I was born.

[@matthewmarsh1072]

Likely not I'm afraid. USS Samuel B Roberts went down in 6800m in that same battle (deepest wreck ever found), USS Gambier Bay could be even deeper.

[@garymckee63]

Richard Boone, the actor was on the Gambier Bay if I remember correctly.

[@hattrick8684]

I really like this video series. It’s a good way to actually understand what these men went through. You hear “ship lost” “ship foundered” sunk etc etc. but it’s hard to actually imagine the punishment needed to force it below the waves.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

Hopefully you haven't contracted the most recent/84th variant of C19. It sounds as if you are fairly young, so if you have contracted it, you probably only have a 99.998% chance of remaining completely healthy..... Now, I'm no expert in percentages, but I'm _guessing_ that 99.998% means you'll probably still be doing naval videos well into the foreseeable future...... Good luck mate!😉

[@ThePTBRULES]

Not the Chinese Flu!!!

[@FlatBroke612]

sAfE aNd EfFeCtIvE

[@GuentherVanRaven]

So this ship sunk in WW2 and is today in such remarkable condition. Crazy!

[@iDuckman]

I knew a sailor on a jeep nearby when she sank. He said that she sank immediately, like a submarine in a full speed dive. Nose down engines driving.

[@jordanblackburn1155]

My grandfather served aboard the U.S.S. Dennis (DE-405). They picked up over 450 men from the St. Lo after she was hit.

[@Lockbar]

Well done and informative. The helmet blew me away. Don't see many personal items like that in deep wrecks. The leather jacket on the Bismarck wreck is another exception.

[@lLoveCarolCleavland]

Seeing personal items or signs like captain's cabin makes it, well, more personal. It's crazy how something the size of a behemoth doesn't effect one so starkly, but something so small as helmet or shaving kit brings it home and can hit you deep down.

[@jd-ku3iw]

May her crew Rest in Peace.

[@sterlinghunter9651]

Great video. ....(my hypothesis) Since she sank slowly, she probably would have filled completely with water. That so, there was probably no buoyancy at all to slow the decent down. The sheered guns from the mounts, the peeled metal, broken hull, and her being buried down by the bow so deep in the mud, would suggest she must have been screaming to the bottom. Wonder if any engineers or math brainiacs want to calculate how fast that might have been going when she hit bottom. Still with some places devastated and other not so.... More mystery of the Sea!

[@davhot4107]

I don't know the american protocol for ship evacuation in case of a devastating/cripling damage and the danger of beeing captured. But most of the crews in the world are order to leave the hatches, valves and doors complely open in order to the water to enter as fast as possible in order to sank the ship fast and not to get captured by the enemy forces. So yeah, it's possible it was a deliberate attempt to sank it quick.

[@taras3702]

I seriously doubt the descent was slow. Ships fall very rapidly once they go under. This one likely hit the sea floor at well over 30, even 40 mph, consequently it reached the bottom in five to ten minutes. Lighter debris would take longer, with the lightest debris taking hours to sink to the seabed.

[@HM2SGT]

*I believe I'm going to have to watch **_Men Of Honor_** now...* *Rear Admiral French: You swam out of the Saint Lo at Leyte Gulf. You held your breath for four minutes.* *Master Chief Billy Sunday: Five, sir.*

[@captainAlex258]

that ship should be remembered and explored more

[@thatwormhole1760]

I want you to make a video on the time USS Enterprise and USS Saratoga worked together.

[@twrecks4598]

I think a lot of the warped plates/decks/items are from the hydrodynamic forces created during the decent. While the ship may have sunk slowly, after it is fully submerged she will pick up speed. Titanic is thought to have hit the ocean floor at around 30mph and the "poop deck" was folded over onto itself from the hydrodynamic force. The rust corrosion will be more prevalent in areas where the paint was burned off by fire, explaining why there is rust in more areas than other. This wreck in many ways resembles the Titanic wreck in its depth and forces affecting it during its fast decent.

[@Glenn-em3hv]

I would never want to serve on a ship that has been renamed especially one that's been renamed twice!!! You would think that the higher ups would know better but I don't think they care!!!

[@jmantime]

I really hope they find the wreck of IKN Shinano the largest warship sunk in WWII, I imagine her wreck being in good condition.

[@alexh3153]

looks like there is a whole section of shaft missing not just the propeller, looks like the flange where the sections are bolted together, the propeller doesnt usually bolt on like that, usually a single large nut on a tapered shaft that is then welded over

[@kevinc.3579]

This whole wreck series is fantastic. I haven’t seen a cumulative presentation like this anywhere else on the Internet. Great job.

[@elennapointer701]

The thing about the rust patterns is that they are a reliable indicator of fire damage in a sunken ship. The paint was rust-proof and meant to protect the ship from the effects of seawater, as far as it could do. On warships that received heavy damage before sinking - the Bismarck and HMAS Sydney spring immediately to mind - the parts that are more heavily rusted are those that were heavily burned before sinking, with the fire consuming the paint that was meant to protect the metal. Thus, when you see a sunken warship that's heavily rusted in some places, but less so in others, that's generally an indicator of which parts of the ship became an inferno before it sank.

[@Straswa]

Great vid Skynea, wow what devastating damage. RIP to the lives lost aboard the USS St. Lo. o7

[@lLoveCarolCleavland]

Seeing these ships down there is in a way like looking at a sunken city. When you think about all the city-like, aspects it becomes more real. You had a hospital, a police force, an equivalent to a fire station as well as a post office and a jail. Kind of a market place or grocery store (galley), and even an airport. You had plumbers, electricians, surgeons and janitors. Of course, there was even a kind of self-government. Anyway, when I look at the empty decks it's like looking at empty streets to which I can't stop myself from picturing the hustle and bustle that once was a long time ago.

[@Backwardlooking]

My father’s generation. Absolutely terrible.

[@arlosanchez550]

I wish that they would do some of the Japanese warships.

[@aldenconsolver3428]

Very interesting. I would appreciate even more if you could add in a few minutes showing where the ship was hit, extent of fires and flooding and other information on the loss of the ship. I must admit I am sort of a damage control fan. These little escort carriers were tougher ships than one would think they would be, but St Lo went down really fast for these ships leaving me wondering why the excellent US damage control was not even able to slow the sinking. Still thank you for your tours and keep up the good work.

[@jima1878]

Another great video -- well-done! As a side note, the "cargo netting" you mentioned is likely the personnel safety net which are around decks used for flight operations, since regular stanchion-type railing cannot be used there.

[@ronbork684]

My Uncle George's Destroyer the U.S.S. Helm took a Kamikaze off Okinawa, but not a lot of damage. If I'm not mistaken, those young Japanese pilots were told that their sacrifice in behalf of the Emperor would gain their "immortal souls" an eternity in that special shrine in Tokyo, where the souls of all Japanese heroes resided. Seems a similar religious teaching motivated our Viking ancestors to fight to the death, but instead of a shrine, entrance into Valhalla, where they could feast, fight, and make love, till the Twilight of The Gods. Interesting that one never finds the words immortal and soul together in the Bible, but then again the clergy did not find the resurrection teaching as profitable as selling indulgences and praying to get souls out of purgatory. John 5:28,29 Acts 20:17,29,30

[@chrisjeffries2322]

Excellent, thank you for sharing.

[@alephalon7849]

Great video! For a ship that was considered cheap and despite the violence of her loss, St. Lo hasn't torn herself into multiple pieces during her descent to the bottom of the sea, such as what happened to Juneau. Admittedly, every incident of a ship sinking has unique circumstances, but St. Lo's relative intactness (torn-off flight deck aside) feels like an interesting outcome for me.

[@robertyoung3992]

The Juneau was caused by twin torpedo strikes in the same location ad subsequent explosion

[@aghostofrazgriz5137]

My Uncle, Freddy Heinrich, was aboard the St. Lo. Ive looked for info on her for years, and all i find is the same stuff. Thanks for shedding light on this Boat i have, and only will ever see in Paintings. This was surreal...

[@meatpopsicle1567]

Former Navy here, with some unsolicited advice regarding nomenclatures. Although I served decades after the sinking of the St. Lo, the names of various ship parts has not changed in all that time. For instance, hatches. Hatches are openings in decks and in overheads (ceilings, for the uninitiated). The openings on bulkheads (walls) are still called doors. This is a common mistake a lot of folks make. The "cargo net" is actually safety netting. It is in place to help prevent man overboard events. Modern carriers still utilize safety netting around the flight deck. Propellors on U.S. Navy ships are referred to as screws. Propellors are on small water craft, such as whale boats, etc. Hope this helps.

[@brianomalley7501]

You have a gift my friend I want to take you for sharing it with us can't say enough simply awesome the way you present it you make it very easy to understand what happened and accurate information easy and enjoyable to listen to thanks

[@rq83]

You create excellent work, thank you so much and please keep up the great work you do.

[@gregwilliams386]

Was this an organized Kamikaze attack or the Japanese habit of crashing a doomed aircraft into their target?

[@TrickiVicBB71]

First use of organized kamikaze

[@fernandomarques5166]

While damaged japanese aircraft would do suicide attacks on USN vessels (a good example of this being the Battle of Santa Cruz, where four separate aircraft, 3 Vals and 1 Kate, purposely crashed into USS Hornet and a Destroyer after being damaged by AAA and CAP), Leyte Gulf was the first time japanese aircraft took off with the express purpose of crashing into USN vessels.

[@davidmurphy8190]

Remember Colin Kelly and his B-17 of WWII fame when he tried to fly his stricken bomber into the IJN HARUNA (IIRC). The attempt was witnessed by Japanese pilots, including Saburo Sakai.

[@paulamos8970]

Very enlightening, don't worry about running a bit longer than you thought, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@BlindMansRevenge2002]

Well, the divine wind managed to knock out one of the Cambier bay class escort carriers. Too bad for the Japanese or 49 others where that one came from

[@jima1878]

Great video! Very interesting and well-done! At approximately 13:30, the "cargo netting" actually looks like personnel safety nets. We use that on deck edges which otherwise do not have a bulwark or hard railing.

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Can you do a vid on deepest known wreck by nation?

[@luked7525]

The renaming of St. Lo from Midway was accompanied by the renaming of her sister ship CVE-57 from Coral Sea to Anzio. Anzio had much better luck than St. Lo, and survived to be broken up in 1960.

[@jeffblacky]

Do some dives on our former M113 APCs that became reefs

[@davedruid7427]

At 16:54, you are showing the Hull with a Big Dent in it. That is almost identical the Bow Dent that is on the RMS Titanic.

[@beanssomers7930]

Those pictures of the bow show areas where the Bosn has been over the side slinging grey primer/paint near and around the anchor.

[@SuperchargedSupercharged]

Love the longer videos.

[@DardanellesBy108]

This wreck series has been surprisingly very interesting. Thanks for all the work!

[@robertsalanon2909]

Épave bien conservée , dégâts énormes , des écritures et peintures très visibles !! Hommage aux disparus ...Merci ...

[@roadweary5252]

Similar to the Titanic, buried up to her anchors

[@taras3702]

She clearly plowed into the mud at high speed forward end down much like Titanic's bow section, and probably broke her keel when the aft portion came down into the bottom the same way Titanic's bow section did. Amazing St. Lo isn't covered in rusticles due to the fires that were raging aboard.

[@timchad277]

Love your shipwreck vids ,great job.

[@Ka9radio_Mobile9]

🤩

[@JasonS76]

You found it 👍👍👍

[@eclipser2004]

The old saying was CVE (escort carrier) Combustible, vulnerable and explosive

[@jumpingjeffflash9946]

These videos are great but the image/video quality resolution is really amazing on these ships sitting thousands of feet down.

[@briankroenung7995]

Hatches are horizontal. Doors are vertical.

[@allangibson8494]

Hatches are waterproof - doors aren’t.

[@brandonclark435]

Depends if the ship has a list.

[@genEricSVG]

On a ship wouldn't anything that can be dogged or sealed up to be waterproof be considered a hatch ?

[@trenttiedeman2630]

What if it’s diagonal?

[@stevehesson5968]

@@allangibson8494. Except for Water Tight Doors. Yes, doors pass through bulkheads, hatches pass through decks and scuttles pass through hatches. 26 years USN, 6 ships. Third generation career Navy.

[@colinbarnard6512]

Re: the gun with the helmet. A few thoughts: First, it's a sublime, beautiful, poingnant picture. Two, the site is a US Navy War Grave. Three: the Navy could send an ROV to clear the detritus, and then place a respectful barrier, and memorial plaque, so no more human refuse collect on the monument. Then the US Post Office can issue a stamp with that image (sans garbage) to bring the image, and its meaning, to wider public knowledge. Especially as we are soon going to experience World War 2 solely by the written record, the participants, as well as those on the homefront, will pass from life, along with their experiences and memories.

[@olegadodasguerras3795]

Skynea New vídeo ? Its a good night 😊

[@DesGardius-me7gf]

“I’d never heard of a Kamikaze. I’d heard of bombers, and all those kinds of things. But somebody _purposely_ doing this!? It didn’t even occur to me.” -Orville Bethard, survivor from the St. Lo

[@matthewmarsh1072]

Not to sound grisly but that Helmet by the gun tub could be very likely where the body one of her 113 KIA came to rest. She went down in 30 mins, there was not enough time to recuperate the dead. I remember seeing a documentary of the documentary about RMS TITANIC and one of the most somber sights someone said was all the still intact shoes they found at the bottom of the ocean around the wreck. It became obvious those shoes once had bodies in them, some of the 1517 people lost that day.

[@woodrowwheeless2509]

USS St Lo has the distinction of being the first US Navy ship sunk by a Mkamikaze. MY dad, Aviation Macinist Mate, Thad Wheeless was aboard. The ship was on stand down when she was attacked. I have done some research and even have the name of the Kamikaze pilot. Dad was awarded the Bronze star for keeping some his mates afloat.

[@toemblem]

Incredible! I can't beleive this ship looks so good after all of this time. I am hoping to see the USS Gambier Bay someday.

[@jackburkhart873]

Family friend and neighbor was a survivor. I kick myself for not talking to him more!

[@dodic8574]

How is it that you did not mention that behind and to the left of the helmet, a clear human indentation of sort is visible, with something that to me looks like last decomposing peaces of bones exactly following shape of human skeleton?!

[@nicholasmelby5361]

Could that section of the flight deck that is resting near the ship have been blown off as a result of the ships hull compressing when it hit the bottom causing a hydrodynamic surge?

[@kcstafford2784]

Just a word for utube....thanks...

[@GBNorton]

Great film, thanks for posting.

[@bruinflight]

These scenes are so evocative.

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Shows how good American steal was back then. No chinesium there.

[@jacktorrance2633]

Other countries tried to steel it!

[@Jaysqualityparts]

@@jacktorrance2633 pre-nuclear metal proves what we have done to the atmosphere like a bunch of idiots.