Famous Found Shipwrecks in the Last Decade
The past 10 years have kicked off an amazing wave of underwater finds that have changed our understanding of maritime history. New tech and remotely operated underwater vehicles for deep-sea hunting now let us spot and record sunken ships with accuracy. From Shackleton’s ice-trapped Endurance to Cook’s HMS Endeavour hiding in Rhode Island waters, our team at Americash Jewelry & Coin Buyers walks you through some of the greatest undersea discoveries in recent years.
How Technology Is Rewriting Maritime History
Tech has completely changed underwater exploration this decade. Robot submarine fleets can map the vast ocean floors, finding wrecks nobody could have spotted before. Underwater robots can transmit data straight to scientists, while low-orbit satellites keep ships connected, letting teams share findings instantly worldwide.
There have been several major finds in the last few years. Recently found shipwrecks include a Roman vessel that sits 148 feet under the Mediterranean Sea off Turkey, holding hundreds of sealed jars from 2,000 years ago. Researchers found 31 wrecks in Lake Constance, and dive teams pulled over 900 artifacts from South China Sea wrecks.
Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance: The Antarctic Miracle Discovery (2022)
History’s most famous lost ship reappeared in March 2022 after 107 years. Shackleton’s Endurance lay perfectly intact 10,000 feet under the Weddell Sea and was found on March 5, 2022, during the Endurance22 expedition.
Dr. John Shears, a British polar geographer with over 30 years of experience, led the team. He worked with subsea expert Nico Vincent. They captured thousands of 3D scans with a 4K camera, finding artifacts such as a flare gun, a boot, dishes, and the ship’s wheel.
The Endurance was a three-masted vessel from 1912, measuring 144 feet long and 25 feet wide, with an oak keel 85 inches thick. New studies suggest design flaws might have caused the sinking, not just ice pressure. This find reveals early 1900s polar gear and how Shackleton kept his crew alive for almost two years on the ice.
HMS Gloucester: Royal Navy Tragedy Revealed (2023)
Finding HMS Gloucester revealed a tragic chapter in British royal naval history. The disaster that killed King James II’s brother and hundreds more. This war frigate, built by Matthew Graves in East London and launched in March 1654, measured 117 feet long and 35 feet wide and carried 58 guns.
On May 6, 1682, the ship hit a sandbank and sank while transporting the Duke of York to Scotland. Between 130 and 250 people died in one of the 1600s’ worst royal navy disasters. The wreck was discovered in 2007 about 28 miles off Norfolk’s coast, but the discovery wasn’t revealed to the public until 2023. Artifacts found with the ship include the bell, navigation tools, and personal items revealing royal navy life.
The artifacts teach historians about 1600s shipbuilding, royal travel, and maritime safety. The discovery provided fresh insights into naval operations during King James II’s era. “The Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck 1682” exhibition at Norwich’s Castle Museum drew thousands to see this maritime history.
Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour: Solving a 250-Year Mystery (2022)
The Australian National Maritime Museum finally cracked history’s biggest ship mystery, which was Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour. After 26 years of research, they confirmed that the wreck site RI 2394 in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, contains Lord Sandwich, formerly the famous Endeavour. Americans deliberately sank the ship in 1778 during the Revolution to block Newport Harbor.
Researchers used science and historical records to identify the ship. Wood sizes from the wreck matched perfectly with the navy records from Endeavour’s 1768 survey. The wreck showed major repairs using European wood, matching Endeavour’s 1776 fixes. Floor beam patterns lined up with Endeavour’s mast locations, and they found the special joint connecting the front post to the keel.
This discovery connects us to the Age of Exploration and science trips that changed world maps forever. Cook’s three Pacific voyages on Endeavour transformed European knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and led to major scientific breakthroughs. Finding Endeavour’s resting spot gives us a physical link to these world-changing trips and a better understanding of 1700s exploration.
World War II Shipwrecks: Military Vessels Emerging From the Deep
The last decade has brought major WWII shipwreck discoveries that change our understanding of naval warfare. These discoveries reveal Pacific War technology, tactics, and stories. Each wreck preserves details of ship construction, weapons, and personal items, helping historians understand vessel operations and sailors’ experiences during the war’s most intense battles.
Japanese Battleship Discoveries in the Pacific
In July 2025, a team of researchers located the Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki in Iron Bottom Sound. This was the first sighting since American torpedoes sank it on Dec. 12, 1942. Finding Teruzuki shed light on the bloody Guadalcanal campaign, where approximately 27,000 lives were lost on both sides during fighting that marked Japan’s first major defeat. The wreck revealed Japanese naval design, weapons, and tactics during the Pacific War’s most important campaign.
German U-Boat Revelations off American Coasts
Between May 1942 and 1943, 24 German U-boats hunted in the Gulf of Mexico, sinking 56 Allied ships and damaging 14 more. Germans built 1,162 U-boats in total, and Allies destroyed 785 by war’s end. Recent U-boat finds reveal German submarine tech, crew living conditions, and Operation Drumbeat tactics. These finds document WWII’s lesser-known war in American waters.
Find Your Own Treasures at Americash Gold & Jewelry Buyers
Famous shipwrecks found in the last decade connect us directly to major moments in maritime history. Each discovery rewrites our understanding of ancient trade and naval warfare and uncovers hidden treasures.
If you’re hunting for treasures of your own, visit Americash Gold & Jewelry Buyers in Westmont, Illinois, for gold, silver, jewelry, and collectibles. Or if you have items to sell, contact our team to get an estimate on the value of your collection.
sunken ship by Olga ga is licensed with Unsplash License
Tags: Shipwreck
