Maritime Archaeology of Guadalcanal: Iron Bottom Sound

Eighty years after World War II, the NA173 expedition brings together archaeological experts from all combatant nations — the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand— as well as interdisciplinary experts worldwide through the Scientist Ashore program. In locating and exploring these historically significant sites, this expedition aims to honor those lost and keep alive the memory of sacrifices made during the Battles of Guadalcanal, as well as highlight the significance of this unique place globally. 
 

Located in the Solomon Islands, the Iron Bottom Sound was the scene of five major naval battles during World War II, resulting in the loss of over 20,000 lives, 111 naval vessels, and 1,450 planes. These underwater maritime heritage sites now rest on the seafloor in a confined area offshore Honiara. To date, only 30 of the military ships lost in this area have been located, with at least 21 still missing.

During our exploration of the Iron Bottom Sound, the team is using the University of New Hampshire's uncrewed surface vessel, USV DriX, to create a high-resolution map of the entire basin (~3,500 km²) and identify potential exploration sites. DriX is a 7.7-meter-long vessel outfitted with an EM712 multibeam sonar capable of mapping the seafloor and topside sensors to support piloting from both a shoreside control center and team members on E/V Nautilus.