In a momentous underwater discovery, the USS Harder, a decorated U.S. Navy submarine from World War II, has been located at the depth of 3,000 feet in the South China Sea near the northern Philippine island of Luzon.

The vessel, renowned for its daring missions against Japanese forces, met its fate on August 24, 1944, along with the loss of 79 brave submariners during its sixth war patrol.

The wreck sits upright and is “relatively intact,” with the exception of damage behind its conning tower from a Japanese depth charge.

This find, as reported by the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the war.

“Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom,” Samuel J. Cox, NHHC Director and retired U.S. Navy admiral, emphasized.

The USS Harder’s exploits are the stuff of military legend.

Under the command of Commander Samuel Dealey, the submarine undertook five war patrols that culminated in the sinking of five Japanese warships, among them three destroyers in just four days.

This resulted in disrupting Japanese plans and delaying their carrier force, contributing to their eventual defeat.

The search for the USS Harder was part of the Lost 52 Project, an initiative led by Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea, aimed at locating the 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War II.

“We are grateful that Lost 52 has given us the opportunity to once again honor the valor of the crew of the ‘Hit ‘em Harder’ submarine,” the NHHC’s Cox said, in reference to the vessel’s motto.

The NHHC said the wreck is “the final resting place of Sailors that gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave.”

The USS Harder and its crew were posthumously awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their extraordinary heroism.

Commander Dealey, who had already been decorated with the Navy Cross, two Gold Stars, and the Distinguished Service Cross, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the submarine’s fifth patrol.

Historical accounts recall the bold tactics employed by Dealey, including a dangerous “down the throat” shot which involved firing torpedoes directly at the bow of an oncoming Japanese destroyer.

“At 1,500 yards, Dealey fired three torpedoes and ordered the sub to dive. As the Harder passed 80 feet underneath the destroyer, two of the torpedoes struck the ship, sending shock waves through the submarine.”

Relevant articles:
– USS Harder: WW2 submarine wreck found off Philippines, BBC
– USS Harder: Wreck of famed US Navy World War II sub found off the Philippines, WESH
– Legendary U.S. World War II submarine located 3,000 feet underwater off the Philippines, CBS News
– USS Harder: Wreck of famed US Navy World War II sub found off the Philippines, WESH