The USS Stewart was a Clemson-class destroyer of the United States Navy, commissioned and launched in 1920. Measuring 314 feet and 4.5 inches in length, the Stewart weighed 1,329 tons when fully loaded and had a design speed of 35 knots (40 mph). The ship spent its first years serving in the Atlantic Fleet, primarily on coastal tours, before transitioning through the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean on its way to join the Asiatic Fleet in 1922. For 20 years, the Stewart carried out many missions, providing great service to the U.S. Navy. On March 25, 1942, her name was struck from the Navy list after she was damaged beyond repair while docked at Surabaya on the island of Java.

Much to the surprise of the U.S., a little more than a year after she was sunk, U.S. pilots reported sightings of a Clemson-class destroyer among the fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Stewart had been raised and recommissioned by the Japanese as Patrol Boat No. 102. The ship once again suffered critical damage when she was attacked by U.S. Army aircraft in the spring of 1945. Shortly thereafter, American troops found her abandoned in the port near Kure, Japan. The U.S. Navy held an emotional ceremony on October 29, 1945, in which the Stewart was recommissioned, after which she was towed back to the U.S.

The ship was no longer functional, so the U.S. Navy decided to use her as target practice, ensuring that she would never fall into enemy hands again. She put up a good fight, taking several days to sink off the coast of San Francisco, California. Unfortunately, when the Stewart sank, only her general location was known, and her final resting place remained a mystery. She was never seen again—until a trio of underwater drones found her in 2024.

In 2017, Ocean Infinity, based out of Austin, Texas, set out on a mission “to use innovative technology to transform operations at sea, to enable people and the planet to thrive,” according to the company’s website. They have deployed the world’s largest fleet of underwater drones and are working toward facilitating fleets of remotely crewed surface ships.

Ocean Infinity uses this technology to map the ocean floor, conduct scientific research, develop protective oceanic measures, and locate sunken structures. The company first drew national attention in 2018 when it used drones in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Though the search was unsuccessful, the process marked a pivotal change in how drones are used for underwater surveying. Later that year, Ocean Infinity successfully used drones to locate the wreck of the ARA San Juan, an Argentine submarine. This led to a contract with the South Korean government to locate the Stellar Daisy, a sunken bulk carrier. Ocean Infinity’s drones were able to find the wreck in record time.

After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral Samuel Perez became the CEO of Ocean Infinity, proudly lending his expertise to help recover sunken ships. When the opportunity arose to search for the storied USS Stewart, Perez and Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel J. Cox, Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and Curator for the U.S. Navy, were excited at the prospect of bringing closure to the ship’s history. Ocean Infinity’s drones found the Stewart resting 3,500 feet below the ocean’s surface.

The team had an idea of where to search with the drones, but they were amazed by the data and images the drones transmitted back to the crew. “Preliminary sonar scans revealed that the Stewart is largely intact and that its hull — which remains sleek and imposing — rests nearly upright on the seafloor,” reads the statement from Ocean Infinity. “Whether lost in battle or sunk as a target, a warship remains sovereign property in perpetuity,” said Cox. “It is important to know the location and condition of such wrecks so that they may be protected from unauthorized disturbance under the U.S. Sunken Military Craft Act. This level of preservation is exceptional for a vessel of its age and makes it potentially one of the best-preserved examples of a U.S. Navy ‘fourstacker’ destroyer known to exist.”

Ocean Infinity continues to strive toward its goal of using underwater and surface-level drones to explore the vast expanses of water on Earth. Upon approval from the Malaysian government, Ocean Infinity hopes to resume the search for Flight 370 within the coming months. The discovery of the USS Stewart serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and enduring legacy of those who served aboard her, as well as technological advances that continue to reshape our understanding of the ocean’s depths.

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