World War II’s famous U.S. Navy submarine USS Harder remains have been identified in the west of Luzon, Philippines. The Lost 52 Project has confirmed the find-a major event in naval history. The Harder sank more Japanese warships than any other American submarine during the war.
The Harder sits upright at a depth of over 3,000 feet; it remains largely intact except for damage behind its conning tower likely caused by a Japanese depth charge. A team from the Naval History and Heritage Command confirmed the wreck’s identity based on data provided by Tim Taylor, Tiburon Subsea CEO, and Lost 52 Project principal.
They were commissioned in December 1942, USS Harder, under the command of the legendary Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey undertook a series of patrols with astonishing gall. Its fifth patrol was the most eventful, with three Japanese destroyers sunk and another two heavily damaged in four days. The premature withdrawal of the Japanese fleet forced upon them scuppered their battle plans and substantially contributed to their defeat in the Philippine Sea.
In August 1944, Harder went on her final war cruise. She attacked Japanese escort vessels off Bataan with the USS Haddo and the USS Hake. Following an attack with torpedoes against the escort CD-22 on 24 August, Harder was sunk by a hail of depth charges. All 79 crewmen lost their lives.
“Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom,” said NHHC Director Dr. Samuel J. Cox. The wreck has since the discovery been treated as a war grave-a poignant reminder of the bravery of those who served upon it.
The USS Harder was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its first five patrols, among several other commendations, including those of bravery and leadership, Cmdr. Dealey was posthumously given the Medal of Honor.
These days, there is an organization called the Lost 52 Project, which has made it a point to locate all 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War II. Among others, they have already found the USS Grayback and USS Stickleback.