The U.S. Navy confirmed Monday that a Navy destroyer sunk by Japanese forces during World War II has been discovered. The Royal Australian Navy has found the USS Edsall at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, 80 years after it sank with more than 200 crew members on board.

USS Edsall, a 314-foot destroyer, was built in 1919 and entered service in 1920. The ship took part in numerous transports during World War II, protecting other ships from Japanese attacks in Australian waters.

On March 1, 1942, Japanese naval forces attacked the ship. During the prolonged conflict, Edsall managed to evade heavy bombardment, leading some Japanese soldiers to dub the ship the “dancing mouse”. Naval History and Heritage Command. Japanese air forces then joined the attack, and within hours of the engagement Edsall sank with more than 200 crew members, suffering only one fatal hit among thousands of shells.

Almost the entire crew was lost, causing the wreck to become a “sacred site”, according to the US Navy.

The shipwreck was recently found by the Royal Australian Navy. discovery announcement Made on November 11 Veterans Day Memorial Day in the United States and other parts of the world.

“This is part of our ongoing efforts to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy. in a statement announcing the discovery. “We will now be able to preserve this important monument and hope that the families of the heroes who died there will know that their loved ones rest in peace. We will tell their stories, learn from their courage and be inspired by their sacrifice. We will always remember them.”

Little information was given about how the ship was found. Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said his fleet used “advanced robotic and autonomous systems normally used for hydrographic survey capabilities to locate USS Edsall on the seabed of the Indian Ocean.” No details were given about the condition of the ship or how the wreckage would be preserved.

The announcement of Edsall’s discovery came just three days after UK military officials announced that a shipwreck discovered off the coast of Scotland belonged to Edsall. Confirmed to be British shipIt was sunk by a torpedo during World War I, killing more than 500 crew members on board.

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