A mystery beneath the waves
In April 1943, nearly a year and a half after the United States’ official entry into World War II, the USS Grenadier embarked on what would be its last mission. As it maneuvered through the Strait of Malacca, a crucial waterway nestled between the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, it encountered a fate no naval crew would desire.
Yet, the question persisted: what truly transpired to the USS Grenadier post-bombing? The submarine’s fate seemed sealed, buried with countless wartime mysteries at the bottom of the ocean. However, the relentless tides of time finally brought answers in 2019, revealing a secret that had been submerged for decades.
A watery grave?
Amidst the turbulent waters and the ensuing chaos, the fate of the USS Grenadier’s crew of 76 brave souls became the subject of speculation. Did the submarine drag them to the dark abyss? Or did they manage to escape, only to confront the horrors awaiting in one of World War II’s most brutal battlegrounds?
As the torpedoes struck, the sailors frantically attempted to mend the damages, aware that their moments within the submarine were dwindling. With the cold embrace of the sea around them and the lurking unknown ahead, their future seemed bleak, marred with uncertainty and fear.
The sub was lost to time
As the years passed, the story of the Grenadier became one of many war tales lost to the annals of history. Its memory faded, joining other ill-fated wartime expeditions that seemed to have vanished without a trace. Yet, whispers from the depths began to surface when trawler crews navigating the Strait of Malacca reported mysterious obstructions ensnaring their nets deep below.
Descending hundreds of feet into the ocean’s embrace, intrepid researchers unveiled a relic of the past. The USS Grenadier’s story, it seemed, was ready to resurface.
The Grenadier was a beast
The Grenadier’s journey began in Maine, setting sail in November 1940. It drew its name from an oceanic fish known for its prowess in the deep waters. A mammoth vessel, the submarine weighed nearly 1,500 tons, spanning over 300 feet.
With an impressive speed of over 20 knots when cruising above water, the Grenadier was an engineering marvel, primed for perilous naval undertakings.
Drawn into the fray
By April 1941, merely five months post its inaugural voyage, the U.S. Navy commissioned the Grenadier. The storm clouds of World War II were already gathering over vast swathes of the globe, and it was evident that America’s involvement was imminent.
After testing its capabilities in the Caribbean’s azure waters, the submarine retraced its journey to Maine. Its return, poignantly, was a mere month before the devastating Pearl Harbor attack.
Pearl Harbor was the catalyst
The annals of history vividly remember December 7, 1941, when Japanese forces unleashed a surprise onslaught on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, drawing the United States into the global conflict. Swiftly responding, the Grenadier was dispatched to the Pacific theater.
While it docked briefly at the scarred Pearl Harbor, its sights were set on Japan. The crew diligently scoured the seas, identifying numerous enemy vessels but, alas, not successfully sinking any.
Turning the tide
However, the submarine’s prowess soon shone through during its subsequent mission, which saw it patrol the bustling shipping routes near Japan and Taiwan. In May 1942, the Grenadier marked its maiden victory by sinking the Japanese transporter Taiyō Maru.
Notably, the ship was ferrying several eminent scientists, and its loss was a blow to the Japanese. This strategic triumph is believed to have played a pivotal role in altering the course of the ongoing conflict.
A risky move
As the submarine’s reputation grew, so did the peril of its missions. The Grenadier was soon relocated to the Pacific’s Midway Island, strategically positioned between Asia and North America.
With the formidable Imperial Japanese Navy advancing towards this American outpost, U.S. Navy leaders rallied their troops, preparing for a fierce resistance. Their resilience and strategy, combined with the prowess of submarines like the Grenadier, proved fruitful.
The Battle of Midway
The collective efforts of the American naval fleet, bolstered by submarines like the Grenadier, repulsed the Japanese onslaught. The Battle of Midway, now etched in history books, stands as a testament to naval warfare’s evolving strategies, marking a pivotal moment in the Pacific War.
Yet, the grim shadow of World War II lingered on, with battles raging across continents. As the world watched, the USS Grenadier, having proven its mettle, was designated for another critical operation.
Enemy vessels abound
Following their commendable triumph at Midway, the spirits aboard the Grenadier were high, buzzing with anticipation as they prepared for their next strategic maneuver. Their objective lay around the vicinity of the Truk Islands, situated in the heart of the Pacific. This region was a critical naval hub for the Japanese forces, making its waters swarming with enemy vessels and ripe for confrontation.
However, the intimidating presence of Axis aircraft persistently patrolling the skies became a significant hindrance. Their formidable aerial presence thwarted the submarine’s attempts at sinking any potential targets. Given these escalating challenges and the pressing need for safety, the Grenadier’s crew made a pivotal decision to chart their course towards Fremantle, Australia.
A much-needed victory
Upon reaching Fremantle’s shores, the Grenadier was tasked with embarking on its fourth mission. The shadows of their previous endeavors, particularly their inability to strike at Truk, weighed heavily on the crew. They felt the pressing need to redeem themselves.
Over the subsequent two months, their determination bore fruit as they successfully sank the Japanese tug Hokkai Maru. This victory bolstered their morale, and as the new year dawned on January 1st, 1943, the Grenadier set forth on its fifth wartime sortie.
The sub’s final mission
The next chapter in Grenadier’s journey showcased its prowess in naval warfare. In a span of just under two months, the submarine, with its proficient crew, managed to sink three pivotal Japanese vessels and significantly incapacitate a couple more. These achievements were precisely the morale booster the crew had been yearning for.
Their spirits rekindled and with a newfound sense of purpose, the Grenadier retraced its path back to its base in Fremantle. Here, meticulous preparations were set into motion for its next strategic assignment, unbeknownst to the crew, this would be the Grenadier’s final mission.
Headed to the Strait of Malacca
By mid-March 1943, the Grenadier was navigating its way towards the Strait of Malacca. This significant waterway, stretching over 600 miles, serves as a crucial link between the vast Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Japanese forces, capitalizing on the strategic importance of Southeast Asia, had entrenched themselves firmly.
The Allies, recognizing the threat, were rallying to curb the increasing Japanese influence. Amidst this backdrop, the Grenadier was entrusted with the mission to disrupt and diminish Japanese naval activities.
The submarine’s fateful course
Their encounter with the enemy was not long in coming. On the 6th of April, the vigilant eyes aboard the Grenadier identified a Japanese freighter navigating near Phuket, Thailand. Swiftly, they strategized and successfully sank the enemy vessel. However, this victory would ironically serve as their swan song.
Merely two weeks later, fate would throw the Grenadier into its most challenging predicament when two Japanese vessels entered their radar.
An incredibly risky move
Lieutenant Commander John A. Fitzgerald’s detailed report provides invaluable insights into the subsequent events. Upon sighting the looming threat, the Grenadier’s crew sprang into action, planning a strategic offensive.
In a daring bid to maximize speed and potential advantage, they took the gamble to surface. This maneuver, although fraught with risk, had the potential to give them the edge, if they could outpace the adversary.
Spotted by the enemy
Their plan, however, took an unexpected turn. Fitzgerald’s report describes the appearance of an aircraft overhead just as they were gearing up for the attack. In an immediate reactionary move, the crew swiftly submerged the Grenadier, attempting to evade the enemy’s gaze.
But fate was not on their side. The enemy aircraft had already detected them, and promptly proceeded to unload its cache of bombs, targeting the submarine below.
A direct hit
Descending rapidly, the Grenadier plunged into the depths, reaching over 100 feet. Fitzgerald initially believed they had successfully evaded the enemy, but this solace was short-lived. A series of explosive reverberations rocked the vessel.
Even deep underwater, the Japanese ordnance found its mark. As a consequence, the Grenadier plummeted further, each descent amplifying the gravity of their situation.
The crew’s bleak reality
Ultimately, the Grenadier came to rest, lying ominously on the seabed approximately 250 feet below. The crew found themselves in dire straits. The damage to the vessel was catastrophic, with all power sources obliterated, plunging them into abyssal darkness.
To exacerbate matters, fires began to erupt, threatening to engulf the entire vessel. Danger lurked at every corner.
Running out of options
Over the subsequent 13 agonizing hours, the Grenadier’s crew engaged in a desperate battle against time, trying to repair the severely damaged vessel. Displaying immense resilience, they managed to resurface the submarine by nightfall.
However, the extent of damage rendered the Grenadier incapable of further autonomous navigation. Stranded in the expansive Strait of Malacca, options dwindled rapidly.
Their efforts were in vain
In a last act of defiance and ingenuity, Fitzgerald instructed the crew to craft an improvised sail, aspiring to drift the Grenadier towards safer shores. This endeavor, though desperate, was a testament to their indomitable spirit.
But as dawn’s first light painted the horizon, a chilling realization dawned upon them. Two Japanese vessels were advancing steadily towards their location, sealing the Grenadier’s fate.
Not going down without a fight
The situation aboard the Grenadier grew increasingly dire, with the crew acutely aware that their ability to dive and escape was compromised. Facing the overwhelming reality of impending capture, the crew was resolute in their determination not to go down without exerting every last ounce of resistance. As they urgently set about destroying any classified documents and equipment onboard, the tension heightened with the approach of an enemy aircraft.
Displaying incredible resilience and defiance, they deployed the Grenadier’s anti-aircraft guns and managed to repel the aerial threat momentarily. However, their odds were considerably stacked against them. Outgunned and outnumbered, the looming threat of capture became ever more palpable.
Stranded in the ocean
With few available options and a grim situation unfolding, the crew made a heart-wrenching decision to scuttle the Grenadier. This act would ensure that the valuable vessel and its technologies wouldn’t fall into enemy hands. With a heavy heart, they evacuated, watching the Grenadier, their sanctuary and formidable vessel, vanish into the ocean’s abyss.
Now cast adrift in the vast expanse of the sea, the crew clung to any floating debris, hoping for a miracle but bracing for the inevitable – capture by the approaching Japanese ships. And as they would soon discover, the Grenadier’s sinking was merely the prologue to a much graver ordeal.
They were captured by the enemy
Swiftly, Japanese naval forces moved in, rounding up all 76 crew members of the Grenadier from the waters and transporting them to Penang, a Malaysian coastal town. The crew, once proud defenders of their submarine, were now prisoners.
Housed in a makeshift detention center within a repurposed school building, they faced relentless and brutal interrogations. As Fitzgerald recounted later, the Japanese interrogators did not hesitate to resort to savage torture, attempting to extract sensitive military information from their captives.
Months of torture
After enduring the horrors in Penang, the crew of the Grenadier was transferred to various Japanese prison camps. Unfortunately, their relocation did not signal an improvement in conditions. According to multiple accounts, the treatment was inhumane and deplorable.
Many succumbed to the relentless torture, malnutrition, and diseases, passing away in captivity. For those who endured, each day was a tormenting countdown, filled with anguish, despair, and a flicker of hope for the war’s end.
Gone without a trace
Time marched on, and eventually, World War II came to its cataclysmic conclusion. The survivors of the Grenadier ordeal, emotionally and physically scarred, finally saw their homeland again. But questions lingered – what became of their noble vessel?
The war had exacted a heavy toll, claiming over 50 American submarines. Vessels like the Grenadier simply vanished, leaving no trace, becoming unsolved mysteries of the vast ocean.
The last surviving crew member died
The enigma surrounding the Grenadier’s final resting place persisted for decades. Those brave men who once tread its decks started families, lived their lives, aged, and, over time, passed away.
By 2019, a poignant milestone was reached when the last surviving crew member breathed his last. Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, that very year heralded a breakthrough in the submarine’s long-elusive tale.
Tracking down the Grenadier
In October of that year, an international team of divers announced a monumental discovery: they believed they had located the Grenadier’s wreckage. But how did they piece together this maritime puzzle that had eluded many for so long?
Central to this discovery was Ben Reymenants, a Belgian diver based in Phuket, Thailand, whose reputation in diving circles was nothing short of legendary.
A curious hero
Reymenants gained global attention in 2018 when a youth soccer team became trapped in a treacherous cave system in Northern Thailand. Without hesitation, he volunteered in the high-risk rescue mission, contributing to the miraculous rescue of the trapped boys.
His exceptional skills and bravery did not go unnoticed; in September of the same year, he was honored by the Thai king, who bestowed upon him a prestigious award.
Searching for lost wrecks
However, beyond being a celebrated hero, Reymenants harbored a profound passion: the quest for lost maritime wrecks. The Associated Press highlighted this lesser-known facet of his life, emphasizing that Reymenants had dedicated years to meticulous research and exploration, seeking the final resting places of sunken relics.
Key to his success was leveraging local knowledge. Through detailed conversations with Phuket’s seasoned fishermen, he gathered invaluable insights and leads.
Using sonar to locate anomalies
Reymenants’ approach was both ingenious and collaborative. By probing the local fishing community about locations where their nets frequently got entangled, he identified potential underwater anomalies indicating wrecks. Armed with this information, he utilized advanced sonar technology to investigate these sites further. But this endeavor was not a solo mission.
Joining him in this deep-sea detective work were fellow diving enthusiasts and experts: Jean Luc Rivoire from Singapore, Lance Horowitz from Australia, and Benoit Laborie from France. Their combined efforts and expertise would soon yield results that would rewrite maritime history.
A large, mysterious object
Aboard Laborie’s vessel, the quartet of divers – Reymenants, Rivoire, Horowitz, and Laborie – passionately scoured the waters surrounding Phuket, driven by their collective mission to unearth the ocean’s hidden secrets. In October 2019, their dedication and perseverance paid off in an exhilarating way. As they scrutinized the sonar feedback, it depicted a large and distinctive object nestled at the bottom of the Strait of Malacca.
Estimated to be submerged approximately 250 feet below the surface, this find presented a tantalizing promise, yet accessing it would demand immense skill and preparation. Contrary to popular perception, diving to access shipwrecks isn’t a straightforward endeavor; it’s often fraught with challenges, both anticipated and unforeseen.
10 minute increments
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors provides guidelines asserting that traditional scuba divers should restrict their descent to a maximum depth of around 130 feet. This meant that the team’s target lay far beyond typical diving capabilities. To safely and successfully reach this submerged mystery, Reymenants and his team would have to deploy advanced diving techniques and equipment.
Fortified with a specially formulated blend of breathing gases, including helium and nitrogen, the divers were equipped to venture as deep as 280 feet. However, this depth came with a stringent time restriction: a mere ten-minute window to observe and analyze.
Unforeseen complications
Reflecting on their audacious dive, Horowitz articulated the urgency and challenges they faced during an interview with Live Science in September 2020. He remarked, “We didn’t really have too much time,” an assertion that seemed like a vast understatement given the magnitude of their undertaking.
Yet, in their limited time beneath the waves, the divers gleaned sufficient evidence that bolstered their confidence: they had stumbled upon a sunken submarine. Not just any submarine, but one that exhibited dimensions and features far grander than any they had initially anticipated.
Returning for answers
Despite their initial observations, the full extent of the wreck eluded them due to its sheer size. Horowitz detailed, “We weren’t able to swim around the whole wreck… it kind of disappears off in either direction.” The submarine, now a silent sentinel of the past, showcased signs of the ravages of time — a patina of rust, an overgrowth of barnacles, and interiors consumed by the sea.
Eager to piece together the identity of this behemoth, the team consulted historical records and maritime logs once they returned to the surface. Yet, despite their best efforts, they realized that the answers they sought lay back in the watery depths.
The fateful measurements
Determined to unveil the submarine’s identity, the team resumed their diving expeditions. As Horowitz recounted to the Associated Press in September 2020, “And so we went back looking for clues, nameplate, but we couldn’t find any of those.” The absence of clear markers compelled them to adopt a methodical approach.
They meticulously measured the submarine and cross-referenced these dimensions with naval archives. This comparative study solidified their belief: they had discovered the long-lost wreck of the USS Grenadier.
“We’re pretty confident”
Corroborating their hypothesis, Horowitz emphasized that the dimensions of the mysterious wreck aligned seamlessly with the specifications recorded for the Grenadier under Fitzgerald’s command. He confidently asserted, “They’re exactly, as per the drawings, the exact same size. So we’re pretty confident that it is the USS Grenadier.”
But the team was acutely aware that their conviction needed external validation. It wasn’t sufficient to merely declare the wreck as the Grenadier; they had to furnish compelling evidence.
Working on verifying the discovery
Spanning a duration of five months, the team undertook multiple dives, meticulously documenting every nuance and feature of the submerged vessel. Compiling their findings into a comprehensive portfolio, they aimed to irrefutably establish the wreck’s identity.
In September 2020, they publicly shared their monumental discovery. In tandem, the U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command initiated a rigorous verification process to ascertain the authenticity of the team’s claim.
The fateful measurements
Determined to unveil the submarine’s identity, the team resumed their diving expeditions. As Horowitz recounted to the Associated Press in September 2020, “And so we went back looking for clues, nameplate, but we couldn’t find any of those.” The absence of clear markers compelled them to adopt a methodical approach.
They meticulously measured the submarine and cross-referenced these dimensions with naval archives. This comparative study solidified their belief: they had discovered the long-lost wreck of the USS Grenadier.
“We’re pretty confident”
Corroborating their hypothesis, Horowitz emphasized that the dimensions of the mysterious wreck aligned seamlessly with the specifications recorded for the Grenadier under Fitzgerald’s command. He confidently asserted, “They’re exactly, as per the drawings, the exact same size. So we’re pretty confident that it is the USS Grenadier.”
But the team was acutely aware that their conviction needed external validation. It wasn’t sufficient to merely declare the wreck as the Grenadier; they had to furnish compelling evidence.
Working on verifying the discovery
Spanning a duration of five months, the team undertook multiple dives, meticulously documenting every nuance and feature of the submerged vessel. Compiling their findings into a comprehensive portfolio, they aimed to irrefutably establish the wreck’s identity.
In September 2020, they publicly shared their monumental discovery. In tandem, the U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command initiated a rigorous verification process to ascertain the authenticity of the team’s claim.
A long time coming
As the Associated Press reported, it’s a standard practice for wreck-hunters to liaise with the Navy to validate their underwater finds. Dr. Robert Neyland, who helms the Underwater Archaeology Branch, elucidated the rigorous validation process, stating, “A complete review, analysis, and documentation may take two months to a year to complete.”
Horowitz, reflecting on their discovery’s significance, noted the Grenadier’s profound historical and personal resonance. He stated, “This was an important ship during the war and it was very important to all the crew that served on her.”
The sub is still filled with life
Horowitz continued, emphasizing the emotional gravity of their discovery. “When you read the book of the survivors, that was, you know, quite an ordeal they went through. And to know where she finally lies and rests, I’m sure it’s very satisfying for them and their families to be able to have some closure.”
Beyond its historical significance, the wreck of the Grenadier has evolved into a bustling marine ecosystem. Commenting on its transformation, a diver remarked, “It is really thriving, covered with coral and giant fish,” highlighting nature’s capacity to reclaim and rejuvenate.
