Exploring Iconic Battle of Midway Shipwrecks | Nautilus Live

From September 8-12, 2023, an interdisciplinary, interagency, and international team led by Ocean Exploration Trust aboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus had the honor and privilege to conduct in-depth archaeological assessments of three World War II aircraft carriers lost during the Battle of Midway. Our exploration resulted in the first visual survey of Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Akagi 赤城, the first detailed views of United States Ship Yorktown since it was first located 25 years ago, and a comprehensive survey of IJN Kaga 加賀. These historically significant wrecks were explored in their final resting places within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the largest protected area in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world.

Archaeologists from Japan, the U.S., and over 100 experts around the world were connected to ship operations via telepresence technology, helping guide the mission and providing valuable real-time interpretations throughout the surveys. Each dive was launched and closed with protocol ceremonies to honor this place and all who lost their lives in ways that reflected their significance to Kānaka ʻOiwi (Native Hawaiian), Japanese, and U.S. military families and communities.
These historic, noninvasive, visual survey dives were conducted during the E/V Nautilus Ala ʻAumoana Kai Uli expedition, a 27-day NOAA-funded mission to explore never-before-seen deep-water habitats to collect baseline data needed to support management in the most remote and northwestern section of PMNM. The surveys of the ship’s final resting places were aimed at documenting these historically significant wrecks, examining their condition, and honoring all those who lost their lives on both sides of the battle.

The Battle of Midway surveys were made possible by the expertise, support, and collaboration of many partners including Ocean Exploration Trust, NOAA Ocean Exploration, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, SEARCH, Inc., U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, International Midway Memorial Foundation, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the State of Hawaiʻi, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, University of Maryland, University of Rhode Island, University of Hawaiʻi, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, and Japanese archaeological colleagues from Teikyo University, Tokai University, and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

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[little_ball_of_hate]

So thankful for the respect and dignity given to all of those who lost their lives. So thankful for the Native Hawaiian perspective with regards to grief and loss.

[sirboomsalot]

It amazes me just how beautiful these ships still are, broken and buried as they may be.

[onenine]

My grandfather spent his entire career at the Newport News shipyard - he was in the Apprentice Class of 1941. He served part of his apprenticeship by helping to lay the Douglas fir decks of Yorktown and Enterprise. As such, those ships have a special significance to our family, particularly the Yorktown. I offer my heartfelt thanks for all of your efforts - it warms my heart to see her almost seaworthy on the ocean floor, even after 81 years.

We build'em strong in Newport News. <3

[BugInABed]

It truly is awe inspiring to see these legends of the pacific war on the bottom and still present. A very big thank you to everyone on the team.

[xCaroI]

It broke my heart when the ROV was damaged and was unable to get a visual survey of Akagi, and only Kaga. I can't put into words how happy I am to finally have eyes on her 4 years later. I honestly did not think we'd get an opportunity like this again. Thank you team and everyone involved. Much respect to the service members and their families. Thank you.

[lkzhang]

Congratulations to Dr Robert Ballard and his team for filming Akagi for the first time in 81 years！

[_gdgd]

Thank you for sharing this video, I’m Japanese.
My uncle was a pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and he was sunk along with the aircraft carrier “Souryu” at Midway.
I know that Japan was on the wrong side in WW2, but soldiers need to fight for their own country.
My uncle and grandfather were great soldiers.
I really appreciate you sharing this video, as I can’t visit there.

[Spindrift_]

Thank you for bringing us these precious images. The reverence & respect with which it was done is manifest

[Randomstuffs]

It was amazing watching these live, thank you to all involved

[Drknss]

I was watching the livestream when you surveyed the Kaga wreck. Thank you Nautilus crew for your incredible job.

[jehb]

The fact the island is still attached to the ship is remarkable considering the hell that The dauntless has rained down upon the ship and the catastrophic explosions that were triggered.


This is a much better expedition or at least a lot more footage then was released when the RV Petrel found this year's back.

[sec]

The video quality here is soooo much better than when I was watching it live. I don't know if it was on my end or not, but mahalo for posting this highlight.

[KBth]

An excellent documentation of the consequences of a naval battle that changed the course of the war in the Pacific., well done on the presentation and

[prettypic]

I would LOVE to see more marine archeology from this channel! it's such a cool, under explored field!

[sse_weston]

Something I did not appreciate when the Petrel team filmed Kaga was the level of damage to the main deck. I figured the hangar would've been mostly torn away, and saw as much in 2019, but those direct hits and secondary explosions wholly obliterated the inner hull so much. It is no wonder Kaga suffered the highest total death toll.

[paulies]

This was a really cool watch during the week, thank you kids😎😎💪💪

[kstovall]

Thank you for this. Watched a lot of it live but these HD images are amazing!

[two-time-champ]

Thanks to everyone that made this incredibly important exploration/survey possible. This was so moving. I am at a loss for words. So I'll just leave it at that. Thank you, again.

[connorjohnson]

Thank you all so much for streaming these dives with us it really was an incredible experience to get to see these 3 historic wrecks. I thought that you guys did an incredible job at respectfully and thoughtfully presenting these wrecks as well as providing the information that highlighted their historical significance. It was all done in such a professional manner and with the reverence that places like this deserve. I only wish you could've used Mini-Herc so that we wouldve gotten an even more amazing view and video than we got! Thanks to everyone onboard and on shore that made it all possible!

[jorgea.villalon]

Incredible video, thank you for sharing, JV