Microsoft billionaire and co-founder Paul Allen together with his team found a sunken Japanese warship Musashi off of the Philippines' coastal area. Musashi is one of the largest warships ever built during the times of World War II.
The expedition team used M/Y Octopus, owned by Allen. With the yacht's advanced technology, detailed topographical data, and historical records, they were able to find and photograph the warship at Sibuyan Seas on Sunday, which ends a decade long of mystery regarding its location, according to Reuters.
With the use of the underwater vehicle and its high-resolution cameras, the team was able to spot the 73,000-ton battleship on its third dive.
The huge warship Musashi was built discreetly by the Japanese and was commissioned in 1942. It was sunk by the United States military forces during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on Oct. 24, 1944. Commander Vice Admiral Toshihira Inoguchi and half of its crew of 2399 died as the ship sunk under a barrage by 17 bombs and 19 torpedoes.
The billionaire disclosed that he together with his team, respects that the area is a war grave and will work together with the Japanese government to make sure that the site will be treated with respect and honor according to the Japanese tradition, USA Today reported.
Allen added that the Musashi and Yamato were the most powerful, heaviest, and biggest warships ever built.
A Japanese organization that supports its navy veterans stated that they will conduct a memorial service at the site once the discovery is confirmed by them.