A Navy destroyer that was sunk by Japanese forces during World War II has been recovered, the US Navy confirmed Monday. The Royal Australian Navy has found the USS Edsall at the bottom of the Indian Ocean more than 80 years after it went down with more than 200 crew members on board.

The USS Edsall, a 314-foot destroyer, was built in 1919 and commissioned in 1920. During World War II, the ship took part in numerous transports, protecting other ships from Japanese attacks in Australian waters.

On March 1, 1942, Japanese naval forces attacked the ship. During the prolonged engagement, the Edsall managed to avoid heavy bombardment, leading some Japanese soldiers to nickname the ship “the dancing mouse”. Naval History and Heritage Command. The Japanese Air Force later joined the attack, and within hours of the battle, the Edsall sank with more than 200 crew members on board, having received only one fatal hit among thousands of rounds.

Almost all of the crew were lost, according to the US Navy, making the wreck “a hallowed ground”.

The wreck was recently discovered by the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement of discovery it was done on November 11, which marked Veteran’s Day in the United States and Memorial Day in other parts of the world.

“This is part of our ongoing efforts to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy. in a statement announcing the discovery. “We will now be able to preserve this important memorial and hope that the families of the heroes who died there will know their loved ones rest in peace. We will tell their stories, learn from their courage and be inspired by their sacrifice. We will always remember them.”

Little information has been provided about how the ship was found. Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said his fleet used “advanced robotic and autonomous systems normally used for hydrographic survey capabilities to locate the USS Edsall on the seabed” of the Indian Ocean. No details were provided on the condition of the ship or how the wreckage will be preserved.

The announcement of Edsall’s discovery came just three days after UK military officials revealed that a wreck discovered off the coast of Scotland was confirmed to be a British cruiser sunk by a torpedo during World War I, killing over 500 crew members on board.

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