(ethereal music) - [Hans] So I think it's really important to understand a little bit, the history. So this is really considered one of the most important
battles of World War II, one of the biggest naval battles ever, and happening just over four days in 1941. And there's been several
expeditions for the last 25 years that have tried to locate
the four aircraft carriers and two large ships, and hundreds
of aircraft that were lost during those four days 81 years ago. - [Jun] My name is Jun Kimura. One of the Ashore
scientist based in Japan. I'm American archeologist
working at the Tokai University as a associate professor. We are honored to be the team
member of Ashore scientist, and I'm very excited to seeing that Japanese aircraft carrier through this rover mission. Thank you. - [Scientist 1] Yeah, starting
to get a visual there. - [Scientist 2] I see that faint visual. - [Mike] Yeah, we have the wreck-in site. - [Scientist 1] I'm just gonna pause here and knock the sonar and
scan a few more times. - [Crew] Archeology team, if you're not- - We may not it get so fast.
- Too busy right now. Could you help explain
what kind of features you would be looking for to
confirm whether this is Akagi? - [Mike] Yeah, so the main
thing we're gonna look at is the placement of the island, which is where the bridge was. They were on actually different
sides of the carriers. Akagi's was on the starboard side and Kaga's was on the
port side, for example. And then there's also, their smokestacks were
oriented differently than the US carriers, which
were part of the island. Their smokestacks
actually came out the side of the flight deck and angled downward, and they were all
different sizes and shapes for the three carriers
that are in this area. So that'll be a pretty good indicator, as well as bow and stern
features, like how many- - So-
- Struts there were holding up the flight deck.
- I've increased the range a bit there, so that- - [Jim] Mike, I would
suggest another feature to be looking for are
the 8-inch casemated guns that were present on Akagi. A kind of a holdover from her origins as a battlecruiser that
were towards the stern. Yeah, it looks like sets of three on port and starboard side. - [Hans] It'll be good
to get a closer look at this gun tub, 'cause it's not a
20-millimeter casemate gun. I think it's either
12.7-centimeter Type 89 or a Type 96, 25 millimeter.
- We're in a... - [Hans] Ashore side, do
you think that's a Type 96? - [John] No, those are too big. I haven't seen any circular
gun tubs on this plan yet. They're all been semi-circular. - [Hans] I think in plan view, this might be semi-circular-
- Yeah, maybe. - [Hans] Because the other
half would be covered by the deck. - [John] Well, not this. - [Hans] Oh, right. - [Jim] Nautilus, as we are
indeed on carrier Akagi, let's take a moment of silence, please, to remember the type of site
we are on, an important site. Site for great service and
sacrifice, and the loss of lives. So, let us please just
take a moment of silence. (ethereal music) Nautilus, Ashore side, thank you. - [John] Thank you, Jim. - [Jim] We have confirmed
based on what we're seeing with the direct features visible
to us in this initial look, that we are on the carrier Akagi. What we are seeing is battle damage that comes from the loss of Akagi. As we can see, there's a portion of deck which has been flipped up
with the explosive pressures that were built up as
the hangar deck burned. We have passed gun tubs that
are very specifically tied to the plans of Akagi. Beneath this structure, we are actually seeing the
cruiser-style hull of the vessel as it was originally built and launched before it was modified
and turned into a carrier. - [Scientist 1] And that curvature right there is for the elevator. - Yes.
- You were saying? It's been blown from the center
line. There's 30 feet or so. - [Jim] Absolutely. So again, Nautilus, thank you. Ashore side out. - [Hans] And the Battle
of Midway, of course, took place solely between
squadrons of naval aircraft. The surface ships never
targeted each other, never got inside of each other. So, the aircraft carrier gained prominence and soon became the center of
the task force or the group. That meant that other ships, cruisers, and destroyers had the important role of escorting the aircraft carrier fleet and protecting the aircraft
carrier from incoming aircraft rather than firing their
guns at other ships. Each carrier sailed with a
number of escort vessels, screening vessels. - Oh.
- To help prevent that. And each of these carriers that
we're looking at, of course, as we've seen- - All right, 10 meters to-
- Carried anti-aircraft guns all around the perimeter. As Jun mentioned, Akagi had an impressive
capacity for aircraft up to maybe 90 aircraft to be able to be on board at one time. And those are aircraft
that are stowed down below, and also those on the upper hangar deck. I think if our references are correct. At the time of the Battle of Midway, Akagi carried 18 Nakajima
B5N torpedo bombers, 18 Aichi D3A dive bombers, and 24 Mitsubishi A6M
Zero fighter aircraft. Ashore side, does that sound right? - [Scientist 3] The question was something about the chrysanthemum emblem. The chrysanthemum is the
sign of Japanese emperor, I believe, and most of the warships actually
carry chrysanthemum emblem on their bow to indicate
they were a property of the Imperial Majesty. - Oh, okay.
- So you'll see that on all Japanese warships. I mean it's kind of coming into view now. - [Jim] Symbols of royalty on
warships go back centuries. The Imperial Japanese Navy- - Yeah, there it is.
- Chrysanthemum crest on the bow, and there it is. You can see it.
- Yeah. - [Scientist 3] That is the
symbol of an imperial warship. This means this belongs to the emperor. - [Malia] To add a little
historical context, our King Kalakaua visited Japan in 1881 and was personally presented with the Royal Order of the Chrysanthemum. And so there's a long
history of relationships between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan. - [Jim] Mike, Hans? - [Mike] Yep? - [Jim] As we just went past that, the outline of the crest is there, but the crest does not appear to be there. That's great. What that likely means is
that this was a gilded piece of carved wood, and that
it has been consumed, but the location of it is
so clearly defined there. When we get around, we'll take a look. I need to see it clearly. - [Malia] Hans or Mike, would you folks be able
to explain to the viewers and to those of us in the control room, the significance of this
vessel as a flagship? - [Mike] What the flagship means
that it carries the admiral and is the lead ship in the fleet. Yeah, I think Jim's correct that the actual seal
has been deteriorated. It was probably made
of wood. I don't know. I can convince myself it's
still there and just covered, but I don't... Probably isn't. Actually, it still might be
there. What do you think? - [Hans] Hard to tell. I'm wondering why it's
reflecting like that. - [Mike] 'Cause I can
see the ridges in it. - Yeah. You know-
- Yeah. I think it's there.
- There's a protective surface over it that has now got some growth. But I see a flower shape inside there.
- Yeah, it's definitely there. I do see it. Yeah. - So there may have been-
- It's there. - [Hans] Some sort of surface over it, protecting it from weathering. It may still be wood
in behind that, but... - Yeah, I think it's there.
- Yeah. Closer inspection.
- Yeah. - [Hans] I see the petals. - [Mike] Yeah. - [Hans] And that's what's
making the reflection, whatever protective surface they have. - [Mike] I think it was painted gold. - [Hans] Yeah. - [Jun] But there's something. - [Mike] Yes. - [Jun] Yes, because it's painted
by for the color, I think. Originally. - [Hans] You can see the
radiating lines of the petals. - [Mike] Yeah. Thanks, guys. That was worth the patience. - [Scientist 2] Absolutely incredible. - [Malia] You know, we can understand this as native Hawaiians, and the depth and the reverence
that we hold for this place, and for those who lay
in the realm of Kanaloa, the God of the sea. You know, I just wanted to
share this 'Olelo No'eau. It's a Hawaiian proverb. And it says (speaks in foreign language). Weighted down is Hanakahi
by the heavy rain. And this expression was much
used in Hawaiian laments for the dead to express
that heaviness of the heart as tears that pour like rain. And so we honor those who
gave the ultimate sacrifice, whether you were American or Japanese, we honor those that lay
in the realm of Kanaloa, our sacred Aina Akua, and we are in reverence as we view this, the Akagi. - [Hans] That's very
beautiful. Mahalo, Malia. - [Crew] Viewers writing in, sharing what an emotional
experience this is for them. I think that it's so true for all of us. This hits heavy in the air. What a profound honor
that this is for our team, and approaching this with such reverend. Part of my joy, certainly, in being able to be here is
being able to share this. Having our colleagues from
the Japanese embassy watching with us from our collaborators,
archeologists in Japan. Jun Kimura on the line with us
now and others joining soon. If this is the first time for
you encountering this story, it is a story of
tremendous turns of events, and a very pivotal moment as
we think about the Pacific and about that particular era of time. How we connected and related
to one another at that point. - [Mike] John's saying the circular tub down there is the the Type 89 director. Oh no, that's above that.
That's the gun tub below. Oh no, I was right.
Yeah, I said that right. The circular tub is the
Type 89 gun director. - [Scientist 3] So, Mike,
as you guys can see, there's more elevation to
this thing as we're moving. - [Mike] Yep. Well, that's strange. - [Scientist 4] I'm not
seeing anything on sonar. - [Mike] Yeah, there's not... - [Scientist 4] There's nothing
higher than this, right? - [Mike] There's no island there. - [Scientist 4] No. - That's-
- This is the highest point in this area.
- Bizarre. - [Hans] So it's just gone? - [Mike] That's not enough. I
don't even know what that is. Oh, there's a... - [Scientist 3] Top is sheared off, but we are definitely
looking at the island in- - [Mike] Yeah, there's
an anti-aircraft gun. - [Scientist 3] Yep, and it's
exactly where it should be. So, there's far more of
this that has survived. - [Hans] Is that
anti-aircraft gun directly below the center of the island? - [Mike] I'm trying to find
a better shot of the island here in this boat. - [Hans] Looks like it's just past it. - It doesn't look-
- Yeah, I think it was just... It was just so that whatever
we were looking at was part of the tower, but it's gone. The rest of it's gone. That's amazing. I'm
very surprised by that. - [Scientist 3] Mike, this
anti-aircraft gun was just half. - [Mike] Yeah. - [Scientist 3] Part of the island. - [Mike] Yeah, that's what I'm seeing. - [Jim] So, this is where Admiral Nagumo and his staff would've
been when they were forced to evacuate by the fires
that were raging there. - [Scientist 3] So you know, again, what we've been talking about here is that this is being some
pretty incredible drama. This is where, as we've said, you know, this is where the admiral
and his staff had to evacuate by climbing down. The survival of this structure,
even in its damaged state, is something we hadn't been expecting. It's rather amazing to see,
and even though, you know, it has deteriorated and fallen in, there's still identifiable elements that clearly connects us back to that time and that point in the battle. - [Mike] Yeah, I think before
we were a little high on it, so it didn't look as
prominent as it should have, but yeah, this is like,
it seems like the top half of the tower's missing, but this is the full
footprint of it, I think. It's much smaller than Yorktown's 'cause it didn't have
the stack as part of it. - [Crew] The turn of events in this battle happened so quickly, really was not particularly long from the time the American attacks to these massive fires breaking out. Before, Akagi, the bombs fell at 10:26 AM and Admiral Nagumo abandoned
the island at 10:45. So, less than 20 minutes. It's solemn imagining what
those minutes were like. - [Jim] Do you see the casemate gun? There it is. Right there. - [Mike] Yep, there it is. - [Jim] Sorry. We're so sorry. - [Scientist 3] And you know
what? I think that's 1/4 of it. - [Jim] Yeah, sorry to interrupt, guys. We didn't wanna lose this. - [Scientist 3] There's two of 'em, and they're both pointed forward. - [Jim] So, there's less mud. You can see the right at the mud level. - [Jim] That's an important observation. - [Crew] Can someone share
with us what those are and the importance? - [Jim] These are important
because this harkens back to the beginnings of
this vessel as a cruiser. These means casemate guns
were installed in ships, pre-aircraft carrier era. And before this vessel was converted, you find these on cruisers,
you find these on battleships. And as you can see, a casemate weapon, a higher-up, we would
call 'em air capsule. But these barrels stick out and this is for ship-to-ship fighting. This is not anti-aircraft. This goes back to a ship
slugged it out with each other, gun to gun, as opposed
to anti-aircraft weapons that protect you from aerial attack. Again, a reminder that we're looking at a vessel designed for one purpose and then converted to another,
and a reflection with that on how war at seas change dramatically. And that with this vessel in
particular is the flagship, demonstrated that point powerfully on the 7th of December 1941 when aircraft from this
carrier attacked Pearl Harbor. So seeing this, thought we
might not see them at all, because when we looked elsewhere, where these guns were said to be, they were buried in the mud. - [Mike] Yeah, well,
actually Jim, we hadn't been to an area where they were yet, 'cause we came down on the other side. So, this is the first ones
that we could've seen. So yeah, good eye. - [Jim] This is great. - [Phil] This is prior. Awesome. - [Jim] And you can get, really, a feeling for the
experience of being encased as part of a gun crew
with a weapon like this. I mean they are truly relics, and just imagining the
sound and the feeling as around from this weapon
would be discharged to- - [Mike] Something what we're seeing. - Rapidly.
- Right? - [Hans] Yeah, so we're also noting- - [Jim] And these weapons in this particular arrangement
are unique to Akagi and thus diagnostic, once
again, of this wreck. You know, identifying it as
the flagship of Kido Butai. - [Hans] It's rare when the ship actually tells you its name. So this is a pretty important
moment in this exploration. - [Scientist 5] Again,
for those tuning in, we're looking carefully and closely at this port side of the stern of the ship to see if perhaps some of the markings on the side of the ship could
be the Japanese characters, the kanji, identifying
this as the IJN Akagi. - [Mike] I think it's
backwards from what you said, but I think I can make out the
embossed A on the right one. - [Scientist 2] Yeah, almost
like the paint is eroding. - [Mike] Yeah, so I can see- - [Scientist 6] Oh, yes. We agree. There's shapes in the
paint, below the paint. - Yep.
- Yeah. - [Crew] Oh, yep, I see it. It's coming in at just the right angle when the lights produced
that little shadow. - [Mike] Yep. - [Crew] Wow. - [Scientist 5] This feels
especially sacred and important, and just want to honor the vessel, and all of those who
sailed on this vessel, and the lives they lived on this vessel as it's revealing its name to us. Although, not totally deliberately, looks like the story might
be that there was an attempt to paint over the name, but such an honor to bear witness to this. - [Jun] Hi, this is Jun Kimura from Japan. Yes, if it's in hiragana
character, not kanji, then it has three characters. But one of the square,
it's not really square. I have a curiosity about it. So if it's kanji, it
should be two characters. - [Hans] Yeah, thank you. So
it should be the hiragana? - [Jun] Yes. - [Jim] You can see the A,
you can see ka, and then gi. So, the double mark. Yeah. So, Akagi. - [Jun] So, the most to left side that has a little bit of
good shape must be gi, pronouncing G-I. And there's a small
square notches picking up because of the sound, that has something two dots on pronunciation of gi. So I think from right
side to left side, Akagi, in three character in hiragana. - [Scientist 5] Oh, thank
you. Arigatou gozaimashita. Thank you very much.
Mahalo nui for joining us. - [Jun] Arigatou. - [Scientist 5] So we're looking now into the lower hangar as well. What a huge space was in there. That's a good question
about the bomb strike. You know, that was further
half of it, 1000-pound bomb that began to ignite the
fuels and the ordnance, and without the side hangar
doors as with the Yorktown, then the blasts of
those induced explosions must've been a tremendous force. The fires and that force
of induced explosions then really seemed to
have opened this thing up. I can't imagine what it must
have been like, frankly. - [Jim] Just the thought
with all those fires burning in the hangar level and the guys crashed down below in the engineering spaces, realizing that you're not... You're just not gonna make it. - You know, it's about-
- Thank you. - [Hans] 10:30 in the morning
when the strike hit the Akagi, the 1000-pound bomb was
dropped right down the... Close to the elevator. And it started igniting the fires, and some of the fire pumps, you know, were put out of action. They couldn't extinguish the fires, eventually had to abandon ship, but it wasn't until the next morning when the decision was
made to scuttle the ship. So, Akagi was still afloat
early the next morning in the darkness, probably still burning, and it was clear that
they can't save the ship. And so the flagship
received one torpedo each from four Japanese destroyers. And there's, you know, it sounds something of a
ceremonial action to me. That's quite touching. - Absolutely.
- And that's what sank the vessel in the early hours of the following morning, 3:00, 4:00. I'm not sure exactly what it was. - [Crew] And just to confirm
my understanding, Hans. By scuttling, you mean
they purposely sank it so that it wouldn't fall
into enemy hands potentially? - [Hans] That's right. - [Scientist 7] So do we
know that given the damage that we are seeing on the wreck, how much of it is from
the attack and the fire, and how much of it is from
sinking through the water column and being at the bottom of the sea floor for the last 80 years? - [Hans] Yeah, well,
you're right to point out that those are all different processes. Different processes of
scrambling what we see here in different positions
and removing big pieces of what we don't see here. And it's hard to say
where the boundaries are between those processes. It really is. But you're right, some is battle damage, subsequent fire damage,
induced explosions, then the scuttling, then the
fall through the water column, then the impact with the sea floor, and then the slow deterioration over time. All of those things have
slightly different influences and results on the site
as we see it today. - [Phil] Yeah, a big obvious anchor here. - Yeah.
- Pretty cool. - [Hans] Yeah, you folks saw
it first time around. Yeah? - [Phil] But you know,
this is a better view, to be honest. We were a little side
shot in seeing it overhead and seeing that depression. - Understandable.
- Great view. - [Hans] How many anchors
underwater you think you've seen in your career, Phil? (Phil chuckles)
Hard to count, right? - [Scientist 3] I wonder
if that's a couple of the prop blades sticking out. What do you think? - Go ahead, Jim.
- It's not a very clear image here, so I could just be looking at dirt, but it looks like there's a
couple prop blades sticking out. - [Hans] Well, that's the
shackle and there's no chain. I don't think there's a chain. - [Scientist 6] And some letters on the right side there or no? - [Hans] I know they saw
lettering at the stern. I don't know which side
they saw it on. Maybe both. I mean, you know, movies are one thing, but I don't see a
Hollywood love story here. I don't hear a soundtrack. You know, just the immense
quiet of the deep ocean. And we've lowered Atalanta
down like a lantern. Three miles down to
catch a glimpse of this, and it's very moving. Very striking. Some of the images we've
seen on the previous site, and this site today are,
you know, are unforgettable. (ethereal music)
