Archive of Spotlight Feature Articles

Sinking of USS O-9 Remains a Mystery

Sub's Story Airs Monday, May 2 on The History Channel

By Fred Gorell

In September 2004, a NOAA-sponsored high-tech, maritime archaeology expedition went to a wreck site to shed light on what happened the morning of June 20, 1941 off the Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire, that caused the American submarine USS O-9 to sink, taking the lives of all 34 crewmen.

Artist's model of the submarine

An artist's model of USS O-9 before it sank (Credit--Image by Rick Yorczyk).

This expedition was carried out with the Marine Sciences Program of the University of Connecticut research vessel Connecticut, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Undersea Research Program (NURP) and Office of Ocean Exploration (OE), the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and the History Channel. On Monday May 2nd, the History Channel's "Deep Sea Detectives" series will air "USS O-9: The Forgotten Sub of WWII"

"This was the first photographic survey of the wreck site," said NOAA's Rick Yorczyk, project manager for OE, "and the images confirmed it was the USS O-9." The researchers noted that the conning tower was hung with fishing gear but in good shape as was the bow area, and that none of the submarine's escape hatches appeared to be open.

"Aft of the conning tower the vessel had collapsed," said Yorczyk, "but it did not appear to be the result of an explosion or collision. There is some closure in the sense that the lost crewmembers have been found, but in the end, why the submarine sank remains a mystery."

historical image of the USS 0-9 at its launch

Historical image of USS O-9 at it's launch (Credit--U.S. Naval Institute)

One of 16 O-class submarines, O-9 (hull number later designated as SS-70) was launched on January 27, 1918 at the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., in Quincy, Massachusetts. After several months patrolling the eastern seaboard, O-9 sailed for Britain to begin war patrols, but World War I ended November 11, 1918, before O-9 arrived in European waters. After post-war service, which included training operations and patrols guarding the Panama Canal, O-9 was decommissioned in 1931.

With a new world war impending, O-9 was re-commissioned on April 14, 1941 to help train the Navy's growing number of submariners. Two months later the crew of the USS O-9 was on a training mission and while conducting a deep submergence test, O-9, an old boat built for another war, failed to surface. All efforts to contact the sub were unsuccessful. By evening, telltale debris and an oil slick confirmed the worst. Just why the submarine sank taking the lives of all hands is still unknown. O-9 was operating in the same area in which two years previously the submarine USS Squalus (SS-192) was lost, but 33 crewmen were saved through a remarkable undersea rescue. Because O-9 was in more than 400 feet of water, twice the depth where Squalus sank, rescue was not a realistic option. Several ships searched in a vain attempt at rescue and Navy divers heroically dove to record depths in hopes of at locating the sub, but had to call off the operation because of the great risk.

Fish and other marine animals inhabit the wreckage site.

There were many pollock and other marine animals in the area which made video imaging rather difficult. (Credit NOAA Image)

The precise location of what was believed to be O-9's final resting also remained unknown, until September 20, 1997. Glen Reem, a retired U.S. Navy Captain, scuba diver, and nautical researcher, assisted by side scan sonar experts Gary Kozak and Marty Klein of Klein Associates Inc., the maker of side-scan sonar equipment, led a search for and found what looked like the lost submarine. Sonar images revealed the wreck lying on its side on the ocean floor.

In 2004, researchers and marine archaeologists returned to the site with a side-scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to conduct a "look but don't touch" video survey of the wreck's physical condition, to confirm it as the O-9 and to learn more about why it was lost. Because the O-9 wreck is in essence a maritime grave site, the expedition treated the site with dignity and respect. No objects were removed from the wreck site. With the assistance of OE, Dr. Susan Langley from the State of Maryland served as an archaeological lead, and provided site documentation and expedition results to the Naval Historical Center for formal review.

NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration was created to investigate the oceans for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. The program signaled a turning point for the nation's ocean exploration efforts and it represents a bold and innovative approach. It infuses teams of multidisciplinary scientist-explorers with a spirit of discovery, then equips them with the latest exploration tools.

Missions of the Office of Ocean Exploration are:

Mapping and characterizing the physical, biological, chemical and archaeological aspects of the ocean
Developing a more thorough understanding of ocean dynamics and interactions at new levels
Developing new sensors and systems to regain U.S. leadership in ocean technology
Reaching out to the public to communicate how and why unlocking the secrets of the ocean will benefit current and future generations.

The office dedicates 10 percent of its annual budget to various outreach and education activities and is committed to working toward improving science literacy and developing the next generation of ocean explorers, scientists and educators.

[5/2/05]

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