In a significant discovery, the WWII submarine USS Harder has been located in the South China Sea at a depth of 1140 meters (3750 feet). Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea, announced the find, marking the ninth WWII submarine he has discovered. This brings closure to the families of 452 servicemen lost in battle. Taylor's efforts are part of the Lost 52 Project, which aims to locate 52 US submarines lost during WWII.
The USS Harder, entombing its 80 servicemen, earned the Presidential Unit Citation for six successful war patrols. These included sinking five destroyers and rescuing a special forces team behind enemy lines. Taylor's team documented the gravesite using advanced 4D modeling photogrammetry, creating detailed historical archaeological records.
“We specifically went out looking for the Harder. It is such an iconic submarine. Submarines are designed to keep water out and keep men in. These men are there, inside this,” Taylor told NBC News. He emphasized the importance of the discovery and his personal connection, noting his father fought in WWII.
Taylor is advocating for regulation around underwater tourism to protect these historic sites. “Underwater, there’s no one watching you. A tourist or a pirate can go to these sites and vandalize them. I discover these sites, put them on the map, and then they become targets. Underwater tourism has to have some sort of regulation on it,” he said.
Taylor also commented on the human impact visible underwater. “The strangest thing I’ve seen below the water is man’s impact. You’ll see Coca-Cola cans. It just shows you how small the ocean is getting,” Taylor remarked.
He highlighted the ocean's vital role in sustaining life on Earth. “The ocean is our life on this planet. People don’t understand that. There is so much involved with fisheries, energy, and weather – we are just starting to study that. The blue economy is a one-and-a-half trillion-dollar economy. By 2030 it’ll be three trillion. Most of the things that live on the planet live in the ocean; it’s three-dimensional.”
In July 2023, scientists confirmed an 80-year-old urban legend by locating a Royal Navy submarine buried in a town park in Dartmouth, Devon. Experts from the University of Winchester used ground-penetrating radar to scan the site where the old boat was believed to rest, alongside landfill, which created Coronation Park on the banks of the River Dart.
The discovery of the USS Harder enhances our understanding of WWII naval operations and emphasizes the need for conservation and regulation of underwater heritage sites. Tim Taylor and the Lost 52 Project continue to shed light on these submerged historical artifacts, advocating for their preservation and protection.
