The USS Aaron Ward was 348 feet long, 36 feet wide, displaced 1,839 tons and was capable of 35 knots at flank speed. The ship was sunk in 1943 by bombs from a group of Japanese bombers.
At the time of sinking, the ship was armed with four 5 inch guns, seven 20mm Oerlikons, two dual 40mm Bofors, five 21 inch torpedo tubes, and depth charge racks on either side of the stern.
Because of the depth of this wreck, all dives are decompression dives which require the appropriate training and experience in extended range diving. For safety reasons, twin tanks with a separate regulator and gauges on each tank, and a dive computer are required for this dive, and extended range protocols are enforced. In order to stay within the maximum depth for air diving, it is recommended that divers not descend below the deck level.
A dive to the two forward 5 inch guns and the bow, reaches a depth of about 200 feet (60 m). You can then ascend to the bridge, examine the 20mm Oerlikons and the gun director (165 feet/50m). A slightly deeper dive involves heading aft past the torpedo tubes, rear funnel, searchlight, 40mm Bofors, aft 5 inch guns, to the severely damaged stern. The depth charge racks, rudder and one propeller can be seen without going below 215 feet (65 m).
For more information on the USS Aaron Ward DD-483 and archival photos, see the NavSource Naval History website and the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships. |
