In the dark, silent depths of the Pacific Ocean, a piece of history has been rediscovered.
A submersible drone has located the wreck of the USS Kailua, a World War II-era ship, resting more than half a kilometer below the surface off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii.
The ship, originally named the Dickenson, was sunk by torpedo in 1946 after a storied career that spanned telecommunications and wartime service.
Remarkably, despite its violent end, the ship is incredibly well-preserved, with its wheel, mast, and even its navy ship number, IX-71, still intact.
Here’s the kicker: the discovery offers a rare glimpse into a bygone era of maritime history, showcasing the ship’s role in both the development of global telecommunications and the Pacific theater of WWII.
The find is a testament to the enduring legacy of human ingenuity and resilience, even in the face of war and technological change.
Was the USS Kailua Just Another Forgotten Ship?
At first glance, the USS Kailua might seem like just another relic of the past—a ship that served its purpose and was eventually discarded.
But here’s the twist: the Kailua’s story is far more than a footnote in history.
It’s a microcosm of the technological and geopolitical shifts of the 20th century, from the rise of global telecommunications to the chaos of World War II.
The ship began its life in 1923 as the Dickenson, part of the Commercial Pacific Cable Company fleet.
Its mission was to lay and maintain submarine telecommunications cables, connecting the US to islands like Midway and Fanning in the North Pacific.
This was a time when undersea cables were the backbone of global communication, long before satellites and fiber optics.
But the Kailua’s story didn’t end with cables.
When WWII erupted, the ship was repurposed for military service, evacuating British telecommunications employees from Midway Island after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
It even survived a submarine encounter, with American ships chasing away a potential threat.
After the war, the Kailua was deemed surplus and sunk by torpedo in 1946. Far from being forgotten, its wreck is a time capsule of a transformative era.
A Submersible’s Journey into the Deep
The discovery of the USS Kailua was made by a team from the University of Hawaii’s Undersea Research Laboratory, using the Pisces V submersible drone.
“It is always a thrill when you are closing in on a large sonar target with the Pisces submersible, and you don’t know what big piece of history is going to come looming out of the dark,” said Terry Kerby, the submersible pilot who led the expedition.
The team was amazed by the ship’s condition.
“The upper deck structures from the bow to the stern were well-preserved and showed no sign of torpedo damage,” Kerby noted.
This suggests that the torpedo strike targeted the ship’s hull, leaving the upper decks largely untouched.
The ship’s wheel, mast, and navy ship number, IX-71, were all perfectly preserved, offering a hauntingly clear view of its past.
From Cables to Conflict
The USS Kailua’s journey began in 1923 as the Dickenson, a cable-laying ship tasked with expanding the US telecommunications network.
At the time, undersea cables were the lifelines of global communication, and the Dickenson played a crucial role in connecting remote islands like Midway and Fanning to the mainland.
But the ship’s mission changed dramatically after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Repurposed for wartime service, the Dickenson was renamed the USS Kailua and tasked with evacuating British telecommunications employees from Midway Island.
This mission was fraught with danger, as the ship was tailed by a submarine before American forces intervened.
After the war, the Kailua’s usefulness came to an end.
With the advent of new technologies and the dismantling of the Midway Island telecommunications network, the ship was deemed obsolete.
On February 7, 1946, it was sunk by torpedo off the coast of Oahu, where it lay hidden for nearly 80 years.
Why This Discovery Matters
The USS Kailua is more than just a shipwreck—it’s a living museum of 20th-century history.
Its dual roles in telecommunications and wartime service reflect the rapid technological and geopolitical changes of the era.
“Dickenson today is like a museum exhibit resting in the darkness, reminding us of these specific elements of Pacific history,” said Hans Van Tilburg of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The discovery also highlights the importance of underwater exploration in uncovering our past.
“This find is a reminder of the rich maritime heritage that lies beneath the waves,” Van Tilburg added.
“It’s a story of innovation, adaptation, and resilience.”
What’s Next for the USS Kailua?
The discovery of the USS Kailua opens up new possibilities for research and preservation.
The ship’s well-preserved condition makes it an ideal candidate for further study, offering insights into its construction, history, and role in WWII.
The team plans to create a detailed 3D map of the wreck, using advanced imaging technology to document its condition and layout.
This will help researchers and historians better understand the ship’s design and the circumstances of its sinking.
There’s also talk of turning the site into a protected marine sanctuary, ensuring that the USS Kailua remains preserved for future generations.
“This is a piece of history that deserves to be protected and shared,” said Kerby.
“It’s a reminder of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come.”
Sources:
- LiveScience: USS Kailua Wreck Discovered Off Hawaii
- EurekAlert: Submersible Finds WWII Shipwreck
