A team of British defence divers have recovered an iconic symbol of one of the most notable US Navy shipwrecks – the bell of USS Jacob Jones – the first destroyer in US history to be lost to enemy action. 

Defence Equipment & Support’s Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) team retrieved the bell from the depths of the ocean 40 miles south of the Scilly Isles, 107 years after the shipwreck which cost the lives of 64 men. 

This operation highlights the longstanding and enduring naval ties between the UK and US and provided an excellent training opportunity for the expert SALMO team. 

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What happened to the USS Jacob Jones? 

In the final 18 months of the First World War, the US Navy maintained a substantial presence in UK waters and the Western Approaches to help cope with the U-boat menace and keep the maritime lifeline open across the Atlantic. 

USS Jacob Jones was one of half a dozen destroyers escorting a troop and supply convoy from southern Ireland to Brittany in December 1917. 

Rear Admiral (Retired) Sam J Cox, Director of the US Navy’s Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), said: “The ship played an important role safeguarding convoys carrying the troops and supplies from the US to the United Kingdom and France that were critical to Allied victory.” 

When USS Jacob Jones was undertaking this tasking, she was torpedoed by German U-boat commander and ace Hans Rose in U-53. 

The warship went down in just eight minutes, enough time for about one-third of the crew to escape on life rafts or jump into the Atlantic to save themselves. 

Although U-boat crews were vilified by Allied propaganda at the time, Hans Rose not only rescued a couple of American sailors when his boat surfaced after the attack, but he also radioed the US base at Queenstown, Ireland, (now called Cobh) to inform them there were men in the water in need of rescuing. 

The wreck was discovered resting on the seabed more than 375ft deep by the Darkstar technical dive team in August 2022. 

Despite the remoteness and depth of the destroyer, US authorities were concerned trophy hunters might try to recover USS Jacob Jones’ bell – an important icon of any warship. 

Last December, the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) asked the British Government for two favours – to preserve the sanctity of the wreck and recover the bell. 

The NHHC are guardians of nearly 3,000 shipwrecks and more than 17,000 aircraft lost at sea. 

RAdm (Retired) Cox said the remains of USS Jacob Jones were “a hallowed war grave” and that it is US Navy policy to “leave such wrecks undisturbed”. 

He added: “However, due to risk of unauthorised and illegal salvaging of the ship’s bell, the Navy History and Heritage Command requested Ministry of Defence assistance.”  

The bell was found camouflaged by growth on the seabed near the wreck in an upright position. 

The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) – being used at sea for the first time – was manoeuvred to allow its manipulator to carefully collect the bell and place it into the ROV basket, to allow recovery to the surface. 

The SALMO team also placed a wreath and the Stars and Stripes flag on the wreck in tribute to the 64 men who didn’t manage to escape the sinking destroyer 107 years ago. 

RAdm (Retired) Cox added: “This most recent chapter in the story of Jacob Jones is one of collaboration and mutual respect for the site. 

“The US Navy is grateful to the Salvage and Marine Operations Team for recovering the bell, which will serve as a memorial to sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of both the United States and the United Kingdom.” 

SALMO head Andy Liddell said: “I am proud of what the team have achieved. 

“To assist our Allies in the recovery of the bell from such a historic wreck on the first deployment of the new ROV is a massive achievement.” 

After a ceremonial handover to the US authorities, the bell will eventually be given to the expert conservators of the NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch in Washington DC before going on display as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices by the men who died. 

SALMO’s role includes responding to any Royal Navy incidents at sea involving ships, submarines and aircraft and providing underwater engineering support to maintain Royal Navy vessels.