A manned submersible filmed, photographed and inspected the damaged hull of the USS Samuel B Roberts during a series of eight-day dives, Texas-based underwater technology firm Caladan Oceanic said.
The "Sammy B" sank during a battle off the island of Samar on October 25, 1944, when American forces were trying to liberate the Philippines, then a colony of the United States under Japanese occupation.
Footage released shows the three tubes of a torpedo launcher and the ship's gun mount.
"Laying at 6,895 meters, it is now the deepest shipwreck ever located and investigated," tweeted Caladan Oceanic founder Victor Vescovo, who piloted the submersible.
"This little ship has taken on the best elements of the Japanese Navy, fighting them to the bitter end," he added.
Undated photo, released on June 25, 2022, showing the wreck of the USS Samuel B Roberts off the Philippines Handout Caladan Oceanic and EYOS expeditions/AFP
According to US Navy records, the crew of the Sammy B "floated for nearly three days waiting to be rescued, with many survivors succumbing to their injuries and shark attacks."
Of the 224 crew members, 89 died.
The event took place during the Battle of Leyte, which saw intense fighting between Japanese and American forces for several days.
The Sammy B was one of four American ships sunk on October 25, 1944.
Mr. Vescovo's team had already spotted the USS Johnston in 2021, which rests at nearly 6,500 meters and was until then the deepest known wreck.
The team is also looking for the USS Gambier Bay at a depth of more than 7,000 meters, but has not yet succeeded in locating it.
However, there is a lack of information to hope to locate the USS Hoel.
By way of comparison, the wreck of the Titanic lies almost 4,000 meters deep.
© 2022 AFP