WWII submarine USS Harder located 'relatively intact' near Philippines

May 24 (UPI) — The legendary World War II submarine USS Harder has been located off the Philippine island of Luzon by an organization dedicated to finding submarines lost by the United States during the conflict, officials said Friday .

The Lost 52 organization found and documented the Harder's final resting place in 3,000 feet of water near Luzon, sitting upright and “relatively intact.”

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“Harder was lost in the course of victory,” Samuel J. Cox, director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, said in a statement.

“We are grateful that Lost 52 gave up the opportunity to once again honor the valor of the crew of the 'Hit'em Harder' submarine that sank the most Japanese warships — especially daring attacks — under the leadership of its legendary skipper Cmdr Sam Dealey.”

The submarine that earned the nickname “Hit 'em Harder” and became one of the most feared ships in the Pacific as it was credited with sinking five Japanese destroyers and rescuing a trapped special forces unit behind enemy lines during World War II.

The Japanese finally succeeded in sinking the Harder with a depth charge on August 24, 1944. Seventy-nine crew members lost their lives.

For his exploits, which often thwarted Japanese operations in the Pacific, Harder received six battle stars for his service in World War II, while Dealey received four Navy Crosses, the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Unit Quote.

The Harder is protected under U.S. law and under Navy jurisdiction as a burial site for those on board, officials said. Any activity around sites such as the Harder must be coordinated with the Naval History and Heritage Command.