Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, has likely discovered the long-lost Japanese WWII battleship, the Musashi, more than 70 years after it was sunk. Allen made the discovery about a mile deep in the Sibuyan Sea near the Philippines. Allen posted a pair of photographs on Twitter that appear to confirm Paul Allen’s announcement that he discovered the Musashi. Pending confirmation that the wreck is in fact, the Musashi, the discovery would be the culmination of eight years of work by Allen and his research team to find the lost battleship.
At the time that Musashi was built in 1942, it was regarded as one of the largest, heaviest, and most technologically advanced battleships ever created. Weighing in at a colossal 73,000 tons fully loaded, the 900-foot Musashi was sunk by US forces in 1944. Allen equipped his super-yacht, the 414-foot M/Y Octopus, with high-tech ocean technology to map the undersea terrain.
In a statement released by Allen, the wreckage of the Musashi was discovered Sunday, March 2nd, by a ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) equipped with a high-def camera. Allen explained his motivation for searching for the Musashi:
“Since my youth, I have been fascinated with World War II history, inspired by my father’s service in the U.S. Army. The Musashi is truly an engineering marvel and, as an engineer at heart, I have a deep appreciation for the technology and effort that went into its construction. I am honored to play a part in finding this key vessel in naval history and honoring the memory of the incredible bravery of the men who served aboard her.”
There is no official word yet from Japan on whether or not Allen’s find is, in fact, the Musashi. But, Allen’s extensive collection of WWII vehicles and other WWII-related items are no secret. For more footage of the wreck of the Musashi, check out the video below.
Further reading: Microsoft, Musashi, Paul Allen
