The USS Harder, said to be the US Navy submarine that sank the most Japanese warships during World War Two, has been found in the South China Sea, some 80 years after it was sunk.
The Harder, a Gato class submarine, was sunk in battle on 29 August 1944, along with its crew of 79 men. Resting at a depth of more than 3,000 feet, the vessel sits upright on her keel relatively intact except for the depth-charge damage aft of the conning tower. The wreckage of the submarine was found off the Philippines’ northern island of Luzon.
Nicknamed “Hit ‘em HARDER”, she was one of the most famous submarines of World War II. Harder received the Presidential Unit Citation for her first five patrols and six battle stars for World War II service. Her commanding officer throughout her service, Commander Samuel D. Dealey (1906–1944), described as “a submariner’s submariner”, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses during his lifetime.