The wreckage of the famous World War II submarine USS Harder, SS-257, has been found in the South China Sea, nearly 80 years after it sank. This important discovery was made by Tim Taylor, chief executive of Tiburon Subsea, and his team from the Lost 52 Project project set up to find the 52 American submarines lost in the war.
The Harder, known for its daring attacks and increasing scores of tonnage, rests in over 3,000 feet of water off the coast of Luzon, Philippines. Lost on August 24, 1944, the submarine was under the command of Medal of Honor recipient Commander Samuel D. Dealey with 79 crewmen on board. Relatively well-preserved, despite aft depth-charge damage behind the conning tower.
The discovery was particularly poignant for Taylor, who in 2021 received a Distinguished Public Service Award from the Navy for his work on the Lost 52 Project. This is the ninth WWII submarine that Taylor had found; he is the only civilian who has located, documented, and shared such findings with the US Navy, bringing closure to the families of 452 servicemen lost in battle.
The USS Harder, during its service, proved to be one of the most formidable forces in which it sank the most Japanese warships among US submarines. Its fifth war patrol alone had proved quite a success in depleting the critical supply of Japanese destroyers; thus, this contributed to the premature departure of Adm. Ozawa’s Mobile Fleet, joining in the Japanese defeat in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
According to the NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, a U.S. Navy rear admiral, retired, sacrifices needed to be remembered so that victories and freedom could be gained. He said, “Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom.” He thanked the Lost 52 Project for allowing him to pay homage to the valor of the crew on board the “Hit ’em HARDER” submarine.
This discovery was further made possible through pioneering underwater robotic technology that enabled Taylor and his research team to document the gravesite through advanced 4D modeling photogrammetry, thus creating the most comprehensive historical archaeological records available today.
The USS Harder received the Presidential Unit Citation for the first five patrols, and six battle stars for World War II service. Commander Dealey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous contribution to the war effort on Harder’s fifth patrol, in addition to several Navy Crosses, and other commendations.
The remains of USS Harder are an archaeological resource representing US history and, therefore, fall under the purview of the Department of the Navy. Non-intrusive activities, such as remote-operated vehicles to document the wreck site, are allowed. Any action that could disturb the site must be coordinated with NHHC and authorized via the relevant permitting program. It represents the final resting place of those who have died in defense of the nation and must be treated as a war grave.
The Lost 52 Project is internationally recognized by organizations such as the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, JAMSTEC, and the Philippines National Museum. It is described as the most pioneering and exhaustive offshore underwater archaeological expedition in Pacific waters.
The discovery of USS Harder is also a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the crew on board, proof of the progress of underwater exploration technology, to honor these wartime heroes for generations to come.