Discovery brings to an end Allen's eight year search for the Musashi

Microsoft's co-founder has used his own submarine to find the wreck of the Japanese Navy's biggest warship - which has lain undiscovered at the bottom of the ocean for the past 70 years.

Paul Allen revealed his amazing discovery to the world on Tuesday, by posting a photo to Twitter of the World War II battleship Musashi's rusty bow, which bore the Japanese empire's Chrysanthemum seal.

The Musashi - which, along with its sister ship Yamato, was the heaviest and most powerfully armed battleship ever constructed - was sunk by the U.S. Navy in 1944, taking with it more than 1,000 crew members.

But despite numerous eyewitness accounts, its exact location had remained a mystery - until now.

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Final resting place: The ship has lain undisturbed at the bottom of the Sibuyan Sea since 1944. Pictured: A wheel on a valve which would have been in one of the engine rooms

Explorer: Allen was able to find the ship using he M/Y Octopus. Pictured: One of the ship's 15 tonne anchors

Biggest: The Musashi was the Japanese Navy's biggest battleship during the Second World War

The discovery brings to an end Allen's eight year search for the Musashi - and is a discovery he hopes will 'bring closure' to those who lost relatives aboard the ship, according to his website.

Billionaire Allen said the M/Y Octopus, his luxury yacht and exploration ship, found the long-lost ship on the floor of the Sibuyan Sea - 1.6 miles under the surface.

The Octopus' remote operated probe Octo ROV located the Musashi on Monday, according to Allen's website. The Octopus is also outfitted with an exploration submarine.

Allen and his research team had used the historical records of four different countries in order to pinpoint the location of the ship.

On Tuesday, Allen posted a photo of a valve from the wreckage, which he described as the 'first confirmation' that it was of Japanese origin.

'RIP (rest in peace) crew of Musashi, approximately 1,023 (lives) lost,' Allen said in another tweet.

He said on Twitter he would soon post video of the ship's catapult and valve areas.

Found: Paul Allen took to Twitter to reveal he had found the wreck of the Musashi, sunk in 1944

War: American warplanes sank the Musashi on October 24, 1944, at the height of the Battle of Leyte Gulf

Record breaking: The Musashi was the largest armed battleship to ever be made. Pictured: A 'float plane'

Submerged: Allen and his team believe this to be an inverted type 89, 12.7 centimeter gun turret

Under fire: It was considered the largest naval encounter of World War II. Pictured: The Musashi being attack

Battle: The Musashi was sunk on the second day of fighting between the two sides

The Sibuyan Sea - at the heart of the Philippines' central Visayas islands - now covers busy shipping lanes and lies on the path of most tropical storms that cross the country from the Pacific Ocean.

But in 1944, it was the scene for a battle considered the largest naval encounter of the Second World War - a battle which would be the Musashi's last.

The battleship, which weighed 73,000 tons fully loaded, and was armed with nine 45 Caliber Type 94 main guns, was sunk by American warplanes on October 24, 1944, at the height of the Battle of Leyte Gulf - in which US and Australian forces defeated the Japanese.

About half the crew died when it went down.

Sister ship the Yamato was damaged in the fighting, according to the U.S. Navy, and American warships finally sank it a year later as it attempted to reach Okinawa.

Discoveries: The American billionaire (pictured) has also pursued space exploration

For Seattle-born Allen, 62, who founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975, the discovery of the Musashi is a thrilling moment.

'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.'

Allen, the 51st richest person in the world with a net worth of $17.5billion, according to Forbes Magazine, is known for his love of history - and also his generosity with the Octopus to help other exploration missions.

In 2012, Allen loaned the same ship that located the Musashi to the British government to locate HMS Hood bell from the bottom of the Denmark Strait.

The search was eventually called off due to bad weather.

The Octopus has also collaborated on Google Earth’s 'Explore the Ocean' feature, and has helped the Discovery Science Channel capture footage for a documentary to study the effects of nuclear detonation on the marine environment.

Director James Cameron has also used it, for a seven-hour solo journey to the earth's deepest point back in 2012.

But Allen is not confined to undersea exploration, either.

Luxury: The remote operated probe of the Octupus (pictured) located the Musashi on Monday

Submarine: Director James Cameron has also used Allen's submarine, to dive to the depths of the ocean

Parties: Allen's yacht is not just for exploring, however, it is also luxurious enough to entertain his friends - pictured here leaving the boat for the Olympic opening ceremony

Glamour: The Octopus also hosted parties in Cannes. Allen pictured here with George Lucas in 2005

The American is also working on a project called Stratolaunch, which aims to put 'cost-effective' cargo and manned missions into space.

He launched SpaceShipOne, the first privately built craft into suborbital space in 2004.

Spokespersons for the Philippines' navy and coast guard told AFP they were not informed of the discovery.