Decades-Old Shipwrecks Found in Alaska

Underwater archaeologists have uncovered the wrecks of three military vessels linked to Japan's invasion of Alaska's Aleutian Islands during World War II, a conflict often referred to as the "forgotten battle." The discovery, made last month near Attu Island, includes two Japanese freighters and the American cable ship SS Dellwood, which was involved in laying undersea cables during the war. The Japanese ships were sunk by American aircraft in June 1942, shortly after the invasion, while the SS Dellwood sank in 1943 during efforts to bolster the island's defenses. Dominic Bush, a maritime archaeologist and project co-leader, explained that the Japanese aimed to transform Attu into an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" for future attacks on American territories. However, as the war progressed, Japanese forces were abandoned by their command and instructed to hold their position until their demise. This marked a significant moment in the Pacific theater, as Attu and the nearby island of Kiska were the only locations in North America occupied by a foreign enemy during the war. The expedition utilized advanced sonar technology, allowing researchers to efficiently survey large areas of the seabed with high resolution. The SS Dellwood was reportedly laying cables for a new air base when it struck an uncharted underwater feature. Additionally, evidence of anti-submarine nets used to protect Attu's main port from Japanese submarine attacks was also found during the exploration.