Eighty-two years after it sank during the pivotal Battle of Midway, USS Yorktown has been revisited in a landmark deep-sea expedition. Using remotely operated vehicles, researchers from NOAA have conducted the first detailed visual survey of the wreck, revealing remarkable preservation and an unexpected find—a 1940s-era vehicle resting on the hangar deck.

USS Yorktown (CV-5) was located in 1998 at a depth of nearly 5,200m (17,000ft) in the Pacific Ocean. In May 2024, NOAA returned with cutting-edge technology aboard the research vessel Okeanos Explorer, enabling close-up observations of the aircraft carrier for the first time.

Remarkable condition

The ROV survey showed key sections of the ship—including the bridge, anti-aircraft guns and portions of the flight deck—were largely intact despite the immense pressure at depth. “It was an honour to ‘stand’ on the flight deck of the Yorktown for the first time in 82 years,” said NOAA archaeologist Andrew Pietruszka.

Surprising discovery

One of the most unexpected finds was a partially intact 1940s sedan discovered inside the hangar deck. The car appears to have been a Packard-type staff vehicle, based on its shape and surviving features. Its presence aboard the vessel—unusual for a warship—has prompted historical inquiry. Researchers speculate it may have belonged to a high-ranking officer or been intended for use onshore at an upcoming port call. The vehicle remains largely in place, a rare example of a civilian object surviving in a military wreck, and its survival is attributed to the cold, high-pressure environment of the deep sea.

Significance

The Yorktown played a critical role in the Pacific theatre before it was struck by Japanese torpedoes in June 1942. The new imagery will help inform both historical scholarship and future preservation efforts. NOAA has designated the site as part of its maritime heritage archive, protected under US and international law.