Discover the Stoker: Ratings & Maritime News

In a remarkable advancement for maritime archaeology, the ADV 'Stoker' has successfully located the wreck of the USS 'Edsall' on the seabed, situated south of Christmas Island. This historic find comes 82 years after the destroyer sank on March 1, 1942, with a crew consisting of 185 sailors and 31 U.S. Army Air Force pilots. The significant announcement was made on November 11, 2024, coinciding with both Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Australia. The USS 'Edsall', commissioned in 1919, faced an overwhelming force of Japanese battleships and cruisers on that fateful day while performing escort duties in the Java Sea. Despite being heavily outgunned, Captain Joshua Nix and his crew demonstrated exceptional bravery, evading over 1,400 shells and engaging in nearly two hours of evasive maneuvers, including laying smoke screens. Ultimately, the destroyer was overwhelmed by 26 carrier dive bombers, suffering devastating damage. Sadly, there were no survivors from the crew. In a joint statement, U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy, alongside Vice Admiral Mark Hammond of the Australian Navy, recounted the heroic efforts of the crew, noting that Japanese observers remarked on the destroyer's desperate actions, likening it to a 'dancing mouse' due to its erratic movements. Although war crimes trials revealed that a few crew members had been captured and executed, nearly all aboard perished in the sinking. The Australian Navy first identified the wreck site in 2023, and researchers have worked diligently since then to confirm the identification of the USS 'Edsall', marking a pivotal moment in honoring its legacy.

On November 11, 2020, the 'Stoker' was involved in a collision with the submersible 'LR 5' close to the Fremantle anchorage, situated in the tranquil waters off the West Australian coast. At the time of the incident, the 'LR 5' was conducting emergency training exercises. Following the collision, the submersible returned to the Perth naval base, HMAS Stirling, to undergo necessary repairs.