Historic WW2 Shipwreck Discovered Off Australia Coast

The wreckage of a WW2 US aircraft carrier has been found off the coast of Australia.

The USS Lexington was found 2 miles under the Coral Sea, around 800km off the east coast of Australia.

The ship was sunk between 4-8th May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea, killing over 200 crew members.

The US Navy have now confirmed that the well-preserved wreck was found by a search team led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Alan.

11 of the vessel’s 35 aircraft were also discovered.

The Lexington’s efforts played a large role in ensuring an allied victory by ensuring that carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku were unable to take part at Midway.

Adm Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, said of the discovery:

"As the son of a survivor of the USS Lexington, I offer my congratulations to Paul Allen and the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel for locating the 'Lady Lex”.

After being struck by several Japanese torpedoes, the ship was scuttled.

Although 2,000 crew members were rescued, 216 were killed during the battle.

The spokesman for the ship’s recovery team, Robert Kraft, said:

"Lexington was on our priority list because she was one of the capital ships that was lost during WWII."

The vessel is well preserved; pictures taken of the wreckage show the Lexington’s nameplate and weaponry, as well as some of its aircraft.

The ship will be left in its current position as the US Navy considers it to be a war grave.