USS F‑1 submarine found: A deep-sea discovery off San Diego

• The USS F-1 wreck was located off the coast of San Diego.
• The submarine sank in 1917 after a collision with another vessel.
• An expedition by WHOI and the US Navy discovered the wreck at a depth of over 1,300 feet.

Scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the United States Navy made an extraordinary discovery off the coast of San Diego. On the ocean floor, they found the wreck of the American submarine USS F-1, which sank in 1917 during exercises, along with a Navy training aircraft that crashed in 1950.

According to Live Science, the USS F-1 sank due to a collision with another U.S. Navy submarine. In this tragic accident, 19 crew members died, and three were rescued. The wreck rests at a depth of over 1,300 feet, making human diving impossible. The research was conducted using the underwater vehicles HOV Alvin and AUV Sentry.

Bruce Strickrott from WHOI emphasized that the combination of capabilities from both underwater vehicles significantly contributed to the advancement of oceanographic research. "These two important oceanographic tools work extremely well together," said Strickrott in an interview with Live Science.

During the expedition, the wreck of a Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft, which crashed nearby in 1950, was also examined. Thanks to the latest research, the US Navy was able to confirm that no people were killed in the crash.

The USS F-1 wreck is currently treated as a memorial site for the tragically deceased sailors. WHOI and the US Navy decided not to interfere with its condition, aiming to preserve its historical value and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

This discovery not only enriches the knowledge of the history of the U.S. Navy but also demonstrates how modern technology can help uncover the mysteries of the past.