Microsoft co-founder: I found sunken Japan battleship

Doug Stanglin | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Research team led by Paul Allen finds sunken Battleship A research team led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has located a Japanese battleship off the coast of the Philippines.

A research team led by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen has located a Japanese battleship that was considered one of the world's largest and most technologically advanced warships when it was sunk off the Philippines during World War II, according to the expedition's website

Using an underwater vehicle, the team aboard Allen's superyacht M/Y Octopus found the Musashi on Sunday in the Sibuyan Sea.

The search vehicle, using high-resolution cameras, spotted the 73,000-ton battleship on its third dive, the statement said.

The Musashi, built under strict secrecy and commissioned in 1942, was sunk by U.S. forces during the lead up to the Battle of Leyte Gulf on Oct. 24, 1944.

Nearly half of its crew of 2,399, including Commander Vice Admiral Toshihira Inoguchi, lost their lives when the ship went down under a barrage by 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs.

Raw: Sunken Japanese WWII battleship found Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen announced that he has discovered the famous World War II Japanese battleship, the Musashi, more than 70 years after it was sunk by US forces. (March 4)

Allen said he respects the area as a war grave and plans to work with the Japanese government "to ensure the site is treated respectfully and in accordance with Japanese traditions."

An organization that supports Japanese navy veterans and conducts research on maritime defense said that if the discovery is confirmed, a memorial service could be held at the site, according to the Associated Press.

The Musashi, and her sister ship Yamato, were the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever built, Allen said. The Musashi featured 18-inch armor plating and was armed with nine 18-inch guns, the largest ever mounted on a warship.

The research team began looking for the ship more than eight years ago, drawing upon historical records from four countries, detailed undersea topographical data and advanced technology aboard the yacht.

"Since my youth, I have been fascinated with World War II history, inspired by my father's service in the U.S. Army," Allen said. "The Musashi is truly an engineering marvel and, as an engineer at heart, I have a deep appreciation for the technology and effort that went into its construction. I am honored to play a part in finding this key vessel in naval history and honoring the memory of the incredible bravery of the men who served aboard her."