Divers Find Wreck of First U.S Destroyer 'USS Jacob Jones' That Was Hit by a Torpedo in 1917 During WWI

World War artifacts are valuable to many authorities and civilians because of the time in history they reflect. Since the end of World War I and World War II, archaeologists have been busy uncovering items associated with those times. In 2022, some divers spotted an important object from World War I near Cornwall, stated Task and Purpose. 

The discovered object was the U.S.S. Jacob Jones, and the divers who found it were part of the U.K.’s Darkstar diving team. The destroyer was spotted on August 11, 2022. It was located around 120 meters underwater, stated Darkstar team member Steve Mortimer. The dive was not easy and the divers had to contend with a strong current during their task.

The mission's success overjoyed the team. "Identifying a wreck of historical significance is always going to be a brilliant experience, but doing it at over 100 meters and so far out at sea magnifies that," Darkstar team member Dominic Robinson said. The team confirmed that they did not disturb the shipwreck's structure. "Nothing was removed from the wreck site," Mortimer said.

The team quickly informed the U.S. embassy about their discovery. "This is such an exciting find - Jacob Jones was the first ship of its kind to be lost to enemy action. The ship, lost for over 100 years, has been on a lot of people’s wish lists because of its historical weight," Robinson said, The Independent stated. "It has a particular interest in America given the amount they spent on designing the destroyers."

 In 2024, the ship's conservation efforts commenced, stated CBS News. The destroyer came into the custody of U.S. authorities. An 80-pound bell attached to the shipwreck was given by a British Royal Navy officer to U.S. Navy Admiral James Kilby to commemorate this transfer. 

The destroyer was built by the U.S. Navy and commissioned in 1916, stated Task and Purpose stated. Its initial function was to patrol the Atlantic coast in the U.S.A. The destroyer was sent to the U.K. after the country entered World War I. It was mainly used in the war to protect stranded people in shipwrecks. The destroyer's biggest mission was the rescue of 305 survivors from the British cruiser Orama, which was attacked by German forces. 

The destroyer disappeared on December 6, 1917, after an enemy attack. The attacker was identified to be a German U-Boat U-53, which released a torpedo in the direction of U.S.S. Jacob Jones. The ship failed to dodge the attack. This led the commander to order everyone on board to abandon the ship. As per records, eight minutes after the attack, the ship sank. The destroyer garnered a special position in history as it was the first U.S. ship to sink as a result of enemy fire. In total, 64 crew members died in the attack. The remaining 46 crew members were rescued by authorities and transported to American soil. 

The ship's sinking moments have made it an appealing artifact for many enthusiasts, stated The Independent. "The destroyer’s commander ordered all life rafts and boats launched, but as the ship was sinking, the armed depth charges began to explode, which is what killed most of the men who had been unable to escape the ship initially," Robinson said. "A few of the crew and officers also tried to get men out of the water and into the life rafts. One name in particular was Stanton F. Kalk, who spent his time swimming between the rafts in the freezing Atlantic water." German submarine commander, Captain Hans Rose, seeing the distressing situation, helped many of the crew members and also gave the ship's coordinates to U.S. authorities to speed up the rescue efforts.

The ship's executive officer, Norman Scott, continued his service in the U.S. Navy and also participated in World War II, stated Task and Purpose. Scott lost his life in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. He was one of only two American admirals to perish in the war. The government posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor.