Over a century after its 1917 sinking near Pearl Harbor, the USS F-1 submarine has been discovered fully intact by marine archaeologists, revealing preserved details of the crew’s final moments, offering unprecedented insights into early U.S. submarine history, and evoking both awe and solemn reflection on the perils they faced.

In the cold, dark depths of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii, marine archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery: the USS F-1, a United States Navy submarine lost in 1917, has been found fully intact, more than a century after it sank.

For 108 years, this steel vessel lay undisturbed, a silent grave for the six crew members who perished in what remains one of the Navy’s earliest underwater tragedies.

The discovery, led by a team from the Naval History and Heritage Command in collaboration with advanced robotic explorers, has stunned historians and maritime researchers alike.

The USS F-1, a K-class submarine, was commissioned in 1917 during World War I, designed to expand the Navy’s undersea capabilities in the Pacific.

On a routine test dive near Pearl Harbor on December 17, 1917, something went catastrophically wrong.

Official Navy reports at the time attributed the loss to mechanical failure and sudden flooding, but without the submarine or its crew recovered, the details remained largely speculative.

“We’ve long had fragments of reports, a few eyewitness accounts, and a lot of conjecture,” explained Dr.

Emily Hartman, the lead archaeologist on the project.

“Seeing the vessel in situ, frozen in time, allows us to finally understand what may have happened.”

The discovery came unexpectedly during a routine survey of the seafloor using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with 4K cameras and sonar mapping technology.

Initial scans showed only shadowy contours beneath layers of sediment, but as the ROV descended closer, lights cut through the murky water to reveal the unmistakable shape of a submarine.

“It was surreal,” recalled ROV pilot Marco Salazar.

“We were expecting to see fragments, maybe the conning tower, but the entire vessel was sitting upright, intact, almost as if it had been placed there yesterday rather than over a century ago.”

High-resolution imaging allowed the team to examine the interior in unprecedented detail.

Personal items, dials, and instrumentation remained in place, preserved by the cold, oxygen-poor environment of the seafloor.

For archaeologists, this level of preservation is extraordinary, providing a rare 3D snapshot of life aboard a WWI-era submarine.

One particularly haunting moment came when they focused the camera on the captain’s quarters, where navigation charts and manuals were still scattered across the desk.

“It felt like we had stepped back in time,” said Hartman.

“The crew’s last moments, their environment, even their routines are visible in ways we’ve never seen before.”

Historians are already combing through the images and sonar data to piece together a timeline of the sinking.

Early analysis suggests that a combination of mechanical failure and human error led to flooding in the forward compartments, trapping the crew before they could escape.

Yet the submarine’s intact structure raises additional questions about how it resisted the immense pressure of deep water for so long.

“These materials, the steel, the rivets, the hull design—everything contributed to the vessel surviving intact,” explained naval engineer Thomas Greene.

“It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of early 20th-century submarine engineering, even under tragic circumstances.”

The find has also sparked renewed interest in the broader history of early American submarines, many of which were lost under mysterious circumstances during World War I.

Researchers hope that studying the F-1 could offer insights into the development of submarine technology and the risks faced by early submariners.

At the same time, the site serves as a poignant memorial.

The six sailors who perished aboard the USS F-1 are now remembered not only in historical documents but through the preserved vessel itself, a silent witness to the dangers of wartime innovation.

Plans are underway to create a digital 3D model of the submarine, which will allow museums, historians, and the public to virtually explore the F-1 without disturbing the fragile site.

For Hartman and her team, the discovery is both a professional triumph and an emotional journey.

“It’s a blend of science, history, and human story,” she said.

“To finally put a face, a place, and a context to the loss of these men—it’s incredibly moving.”

The discovery of the USS F-1 stands as a reminder of how much history remains hidden beneath the waves and how technology can bring the past vividly to life.

Over a century later, the submarine has emerged from darkness, offering a glimpse into the lives, dangers, and heroism of the earliest U.S.submariners.

As the research continues, archaeologists and historians alike hope the vessel will shed light on unanswered questions and ensure that the sacrifices of its crew are never forgotten.