WWII destroyer found, the deepest to be discovered

A U.S. Navy destroyer that engaged a superior Japanese fleet in the largest sea battle of World War II in the Philippines has become the deepest wreck to be discovered, according to explorers.

The USS Samuel B. Roberts, popularly known as the "Sammy B," was identified on Wednesday broken into two pieces on a slope at a depth of 6,985 meters.

That puts it 426 meters deeper than the USS Johnson, the previous deepest wreck discovered last year in the Philippine Sea. The Sammy B. took part in the Battle off Samar, the final phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.