US, Indonesian Navy Divers Visit Wreck of USS Houston

U.S. Navy divers, assisted by personnel from the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), surveyed the World War II wreck of the cruiser USS Houston (CA 30), Oct 16-24.

The nine-day operation was held aboard USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) with embarked divers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, Mobile Diving and Salvage Team Seven (MDS 11-7). The purpose of the diving survey was to assess the current condition of the vessel and document any patterns of unauthorized disturbance of the grave site.

Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander, Task Force 73, said:

The ongoing surveys of USS Houston are helping to preserve the final resting place for more than 700 Sailors who perished during WWII.

Houston was sunk during the World War II Battle of Sunda Strait on Feb. 28, 1942. The ship remains sovereign property of the U.S. under customary international law, and is a popular dive site.

The survey mission concluded Oct 24. Divers found no evidence of recent salvaging. The ship’s condition remains relatively unchanged since the previous survey operations in 2014. Sailors from Safeguard and Navy divers completed the current phase of survey operations with a wreath-laying ceremony in waters near the wreck of USS Houston.

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Image: US Navy