Microsoft Co-Founder Finds Sunken Battleship

(RTTNews) - Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's maritime plunge took an exciting yet somber turn, after he found the wreck of a once-feared World War II Japanese battleship that met its doom by enemy torpedoes decades ago near the Philippines.

Allen, investor and philanthropist with a penchant for sea expeditions, posted images of the shipwreck on Twitter, believed to be that of the Musashi - one of the two largest warships in the world in her time.

Allen said the discovery was part of an expedition aboard his super-yacht, the MY Octopus, with the search spanning about eight years. The wreck was found at a depth of about 1 kilometer.

Allen said the Musashi is an engineering marvel and he is privileged to have played a role in finding it, and honored the bravery of the men who served aboard her. Allen was drawn to the World War II related expedition since his father had served in the U.S. Army.

The images of the shipwreck was poignant for all the nostalgia attached to it. In one tweet, Allen said one image showed the bow of the ship, which features a chrysanthemum flower and an anchor.

Meanwhile, the director of Japan's Kure Maritime Museum, who viewed the information posted by Allen, told CNN that it appeared the vessel was the Musashi, but could be confirmed only after further pictures were available.

Vulcan Inc, which manages Allen's business and philanthropic efforts, said the expedition team is aware of the responsibility related to the wreckage of the Musashi as a war grave and intends to work with the Japanese government to ensure the site is treated respectfully.

Launched in 1940, the Musashi was the largest class of warship ever constructed, displacing more than 69,000 tons. The Musashi sank on October 24, 1944, during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the central Philippines.

According to reports, citing U.S. Navy documents, torpedo planes from U.S. aircraft carriers fired at least 10 hits on the battleship in a span of few hours, and Navy dive bombers also had their share of salvos.

More than 1,000 of the Musashi's crew were killed and 1,300-plus survivors were taken aboard by other Japanese warships, according to the Navy report.