“The ghost ship of the Pacific” rediscovered off California coast

Written on 10/02/2024
Mark Milligan


Underwater archaeologists have rediscovered the wreck of the USS Stewart (DD-224), a Clemson-class destroyer that served in both the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII.

USS Stewart was laid down in 1919 and was named after Charles Stewart, a Rear Admiral who commanded a number of warships during the War of 1812, the Quasi War, and both Barbary Wars.

Prior to the outbreak of WWII, the USS Stewart was serving in the Asiatic Fleet patrolling the Philippine Islands and Chinese waters.

In 1942, she was part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command and sustained severe damage during the Battle of Badung Strait near Bali in the Dutch East Indies.

USS Stewart was placed in a floating drydock at Surabaya for repairs, however, constant enemy air attacks and being at risk of capture led the naval authorities to scuttle her and the drydock. She was removed from the Navy list on 25 March 1942, and her name was reassigned to a new destroyer escort, USS Stewart (DE-238).