Modern Mysteries

Wreck of long-lost tugboat found 95 years on

By T.K. Randall
March 24, 2016

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) The US Navy tug had been at the center of a maritime mystery spanning almost a century after it disappeared along with its entire crew during a routine voyage to American Samoa.

A major search and rescue operation was conducted in an attempt to locate the missing vessel but despite extensive efforts via both air and sea the Conestoga was eventually declared officially lost.

It wasn't until the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered an uncharted wreck off the coast of the Farallon Islands in 2009 that the case would resurface.Now at last, following months of investigatory work, the organization has finally revealed that the wreckage, which was found in around 180ft of water, is indeed that of the enigmatic Conestoga.

New data recovered during the investigation, coupled with records from the time it disappeared, have indicated that the vessel sank in rough seas while attempting to reach a protected cove.

What ultimately became of the Conestoga's crew however continues to remain a mystery.

Source: NOAA

Tags: USS Conestoga, Shipwreck