Researchers have uncovered a mysterious "ghost ship" lying 2,000 feet under the ocean's surface near a Hawaiian island for more than 60 years.
Discovered last year, the shipwreck of the vessel called "Dickenson" is resting near the island of Oahu. It bears evidence of having been torpedoed during World War II but is still remarkably complete, Live Science reported.
The find was the result of a collaboration between the University of Hawaii and NOAA.
"From her interisland service to her role in Pacific communications and then World War II, Dickenson today is like a museum exhibit resting in the darkness, reminding us of these specific elements of Pacific history," Hans Van Tilburg of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries said in a statement.
Dickenson, a cable ship later named the USS Kailua, first launched in 1923 and became part of a global telecommunications network. It met its end on Feb. 7, 1946, sinking as a target under submarine torpedo fire after it was no longer needed by the Navy or the Commercial Cable Company.
The researchers were surprised to find that the shipwreck, which was lost after its sinking, was preserved down to the Navy identification number still painted on the bow.
"It is always a thrill when you are closing in on a large sonar target with the Pisces submersible and you don't know what big piece of history is going to come looming out of the dark," the UH Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory's Terry Kerby said in a statement.
"One of our first views of the USS Kailua was the classic helms wheel on the fantail. The ship was surprisingly intact for a vessel that was sunk with a torpedo. The upper deck structures from the bow to the stern were well-preserved and showed no sign of torpedo damage."
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