Who knows? The USS Stein is a former American frigate known to have suffered an attack from the depths more than forty years ago. The date was not stated in any of these sources. Two weeks later, she headed south along the coast of Mexico and South America on her shakedown cruise. Their first thought was to get to the nearest dry-dock for help, at which point, the crew noticed the tattered SONAR dome and all the scratches. . Likes and follows greatly appreciated. Displacement was 3,020 long tons (3,070t) light and 4,066 long tons (4,131t) full load. Either Carpenter greatly exaggerated their size or the much larger ones were not located on this section. In October 2000, the USS Cole was attacked by suicide bombers, while in port in Aden, Yemen, for refueling. In 1978, Knox-class destroyer escort USS Stein was running special operations in the Pacific Ocean when it encountered something large and something unseen, haunting the depths. 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US Navy destroyer USS Reuben James on the Hudson River in New York, April 29, 1939. The Naval Oceans Center said, The animal must have been extremely large and of species still unknown to science. Biologists who visited Long Beach and who examined the claws and the hooks speculated that it was a giant squid. It seemed that something very large and powerful attacked the dome and tore it to shreds, and this was confirmed by the presence of several broken-off curved hooks or claws that sank deep into the rubber. TIL in 1978, a US Navy ship was attacked by an unknown species of giant squid. Although a highly tentative estimate, it suggests that the hooks probably belonged to a small squid. It would also be odd in that these creatures live at extreme depths, and normally only come to the surface when they are sick, wounded, or otherwise on their last legs, so why would it have so aggressively attacked a Navy destroyer? Original Documentary Footage In 1978, the USS Stein, a United States Navy frigate, was performing special operations at an undisclosed location in the Pacific Ocean. For instance, it claimed that this happened on the USS Steins maiden voyage but there is no official documentation to this effect. The culprit of the attack left behind numerous teeth/claws embedded in the cuts. Image Credit: Museum of New Zealand. Read . The attack ceased after two hours, killing 34 Americans and leaving 171 wounded. The creature involved had to be gigantic, but what exactly was it? My GOTY 2022 is neither Elden Ring nor God of War Ragnarok! USS Cole Memorial. If you have faced any supernatural or unexplainable event then you can submit your own story to reach out to more people using our website as a medium. Explore. The ship got its name USS Stein after Tony Stein, who was the first Marine to receive the 'Medal of Honor' for action in the Battle of Iwo Jima. The USS Franklin was laid down on December 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.Named in honor of American Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, the carrier was launched on October 14, 1943 and commissioned a few months later, on January 31, 1944.Following a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean, she headed for San Diego to begin combat . British Crown Dependencies / Overseas Territories, Follow To Contrive & Jive on WordPress.com. Either Carpenter greatly exaggerated their size, or the much larger ones were not located on the site. (1978). Here is a short segment from a documentary, Arthur C Clarkes Mysterious World, showing the damage to the sonar coating and a claw from a supposed squid species that may have attacked the radar dome of the USS Stein. Why North Korea still shows off the US spy ship it captured in a deadly attack more than 50 years ago. The claws were much larger than those of any squid that had been discovered at that time. The culprit of the attack left behind numerous teeth/claws embedded in the cuts. According to the report, the ships main anti-submarine sensor, the large bow-mounted AN/SQS-26CX low-frequency scanning sonar, went haywire, experienced a blast of increased noise feedback, and ceased to function. According to the main report, at some point the ships main anti-submarine sensor, AN/SQS-26CX large bow-mounted low-frequency scanning sonar, suddenly failed, having recorded a very loud noise before that. And its free! TIL The rubber coating of the sonar dome of the USS Stein was . The captain, realising his ship was now crippled, decided to head to the Long Beach Naval Dockyard. Images by PH2 Hensley (Wikimedia Commons, public domain) and the U.S. Navy (Wikimedia Commons, public domain) respectively. [10], In Mexican service, the Phalanx CIWS was removed and the Sea Sparrow launcher restored. In my opinion, the Steins assailant was likely a hooked squid, a member of the family Onychoteuthidae. It had make calls in Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Acapulco. The perpetrator of the attack left numerous claws stuck in the slits. The large 27,215-kilogram (59,999-pound) dome affixed to the front of the ships hull was the suspected location of the flaw, so the Stein made for shore and docked in dry dock so that the engineers could investigate. A helicopter deck and hangar for operating the DASH drone helicopter was fitted aft. The ship's sonar suite was enhanced by the addition of an AN/SQS-35 variable depth sonar. If we take it for granted that an incredibly large squid attacked an American ship, then the recognition of this species could be the main scientific sensation of the century. The report originally appeared in the journal of the US Naval Institute, but there were few details about exactly where the ship was located or what actually happened, and not even an exact date. After landing on Iwo Jima in 1945, his platoon was halted by Japanese fire; Stein single-handedly charged a series of enemy pillboxes and exposed his position to draw fire. He noted that the teeth, or claws, found on the dome were the likely culprits of the large tears, demonstrating that they perfectly matched the width of each. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! Using these proportions and the estimated length of the claw that Wood held in his hand, it turns out that the length of the mantle (torso) of the squid that attacked USS Stein is only 29 cm. The USS Stein Monster: A Huge Creature Attacked A Navy Frigate in 1978, Destroying Parts Of Its Hull Article The radar system that was in charge of recognizing submarine threats abruptly failed, forcing the USS Stein, a US Navy frigate, to immediately reroute to its home base in 1978. The creature could be of an enormous size similar to that USS Stein Monster, or could be beyond our imagination with a different body structure formed in a unique way that it makes a living.. USS Stein: The Ship Attacked by a Monster Squid. Required fields are marked *. The human silhouette is by Madhero88 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0). At the time, the United States Central Command identified the attacking aircraft as an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter. The insulating rubber coating of the sonar dome, which was attached to the front of the bow below the waterline, had been ripped open. Was this vessel really attacked by some sort of large monster, and if so was it a giant squid or something else? In 1978, a big sea creature, supposedly an unknown species of squid, about 150 ft (45 meters) lengthy, attacked the USS Stein and with its claws induced harm to the pores and skin of a sonar hooked up to the underside of the vessel. And if current estimates for its maximum size are fourteen metersit has been widely reported that a squid with fangs like these should measure over forty meters long. The ship's crew noted that an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 jet was passing much nearer to the ship than normal. Seven days later, with the families of the crew waiting dockside for the USS Scorpion . The claws imbedded in the coating resemble those of a colossal squid, which is distinguished from gigantic squids by its larger body size and the size of the huge hooks lining its tentacles. One radar technician onboard at the time remembers the day and remembers the attack. The numbers indicate two of the matching cuts demonstrating that these are the same section. From December 1941 through June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of those who perished . You can leave a comment below. Incertae Sedis is where I post my miscellaneous writings about natural history. https://www.iflscience.com/the-uss-stein-monster-in-1978-a-massive-creature-attacked-a-navy-frigate-shredding-parts-of-its-hull-65325 Flynn, C. (Director), & Weigall, M. (Director). Stein was laid down on 1 June 1970 at Seattle, Washington, by Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co.; launched on 19 December 1970; sponsored by Mrs. Rose S. Parks; and commissioned on 8 January 1972. Image credit: Morphart Creation/Shutterstock.com, The hooks of a colossal squid. Scientists, on the other hand, disagreed with the crew and many were adamant that it was some creature. Naval Institutes magazine, but there were few details on where exactly the ship was or what really happened and not even an exact date given. Using these proportions and the estimated length of the hook held by Wood (1.47 cm) results in an estimated mantle length of 29 cm for the Stein squid. [11], The escort remained in port there until June 1974, when she got underway for a series of special operations. Onychoteuthids are characterized by two rows of large hooks on each of their two tentacular clubs. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Mysterious Wolf-Monsters: How Many Types Are There? https://www.patreon.com/mlordandgod?f.. The USS Stein left San Diego, California, in the April of 1978. The claws embedded in the coating appear to belong to a colossal squid, which differs from its giant squid relative by overall body mass and large hooks that line the tentacles. For centuries, such creatures have been reported across the world, many mysteries still yet to be solved. Some pieces were so badly torn off that they hung in pieces, and the largest hole was 4 feet (120 cm) in diameter. 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This claim is highly questionable, as the photo of Wood holding a piece of claw shows that the piece is no longer than his own fingernail. [6][7] The ship's main anti-submarine sensor was the large bow-mounted AN/SQS-26CX low-frequency scanning sonar, while AN/SPS-40 air-search radar and AN/SPS-10 surface search radar was fitted. This is larger than the largest known, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The warship worked out of Subic Bay until late October when she sailed on a voyage that carried her to Singapore, and thence into the Indian Ocean. As repairs went on, the claws, hooks, whatever they were, were sent out for analysis and study, and were examined by Navy biologist F.G Wood, who concluded that they were from the tentacles of some sort of giant squid. The USS Franklin's early service. They have the longest claw 0.38 cm. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. Drugs and yoghurts, this film is a pure trip. The year is 1978. Over 8% of the surface of the dome was found to have large tears in the rubber coating as if it had been shredded, with whole ribbons torn off and the largest gash reportedly measuring 4 feet long. Sea creatures and the problem of equipment damage. USS Stein (DE-1065) was a Knox-class destroyer escort, later redesignated as a frigate (FF-1065) of the United States Navy. At least 114 frigates were used during World War II to escort and protect destroyers and participate in other fleet protection and patrol missions. My name is Tyler Greenfield and Im a paleontology student. Colossal squid are thought to have a total length of 1014 meters (3346 ft). The creature involved had to be gigantic, but what exactly was it? They estimated that 8% of the surface of the dome was covered in deep and substantial cuts, gashes and scrapes. And beneath the waves, another danger was . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The memorial honors the 17 sailors who were killed in the attack and the crew for their heroic actions to save the ship. Over 8 percent of . In 1967, at the height of the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War, the Israeli Air Force launched an unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty, a US Navy spy ship that was monitoring the conflict from the safety . The two frigates arrived in Mexico on 16 August 1997 and entered service on 23 November 1998. The club and body are those of Onychoteuthis horstkottei from Bolstad (2010). Stein was laid down on 1 June 1970 at Seattle, Washington, by Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co.; launched on 19 December 1970; sponsored by Mrs. Rose S. Parks; and commissioned on 8 January 1972. The crew of USS Bainbridge reported that they saw an unexploded limpet mine on the side of one of the ships attacked today in the Gulf of Oman, according to a US defense official familiar with the . More Than a Lot. Is everything else just an anti-hole? Large claws were left embedded at the bottom of most of the scratches. [5], The ocean escort spent another eight weeks at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and completed fitting-out. The Oxford electric bell It's ringing since 1840s! Nearly three dozen others were injured, some of them severely. © 2023 IFLScience. The USS Stein Monster was an unidentified sea creature that apparently attacked the Knox-class destroyer escort USS Stein (DE -1065), which was later redesignated as a Frigate (FF-1065) in the US Navy. Also read: This Blue Creature Found In The Caribbean Sea Leaves Scientists Unanswered, The US Navy frigate USS Stein (FF-1065) underway in the Pacific Ocean on March 2, 1987. Navy biologist FG Wood is called in to inspect the coating. He pointed out that the massive tears were probably the result of the teeth, or claws, located on the dome, showing that they exactly matched the breadth of each. Dec 28, 2015 - Giant squid attacked the navy ship USS Stein - WTF fun facts. Welfare & Fairley (1980) said it occurred near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean off South America. Petty Officer Ira Carpenter claimed that the longest one was about 4 feet long. However, a photograph and video of a section of damaged rubber show the longest cuts to only be ~2 inches long. COPYRIGHT UNSOLVED MYSTERIES & PARANORMAL ACTIVITIES, 2017-2018. Facts. The average thumbnail length of an adult male is just 1.47 centimeters (Jung et al., 2015). 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After placing the building in dry dock, engineers examine the hull and come across something they didnt expect: the NOFOUL rubber coating of the sonar dome is indeed shredded on about 8% of its surface. It seems obvious, then, that a squid was responsible, but the crew have stuck to their story. Pinterest. Your email address will not be published. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It's really long, so just skip to next section for the facts. The legend of the Kraken, a giant cephalopod from Greek and Norse mythology that attacked ships and dragged sailors to their doom, is many hundreds of years old. Here is an unlikely, but apparently true, story of the US Navy frigate USS Stein, whose sonar dome was probably attacked by a colossal squid in 1978. After that, read about these44 strangest creatures on Earth. The squid may have attacked because it thought Steins big dome looked like a whale. One problem with this incident was that there is very little official documentation of this incident. The claws embedded in the coating appear to belong to a colossal squid, which differs from its giant squid relative by overall body mass and large hooks that line the tentacles. https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2015.42.6.753, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/stein.html, Rosa, R., Lopes, V.M., Guerreiro, M., Bolstad, K., & Xavier, J.C. (2017). USS Sederstrom (DE-31) USS Shubrick (DD-639) USS Sims (DE-154) USS Smith (DD-378) 1942 Battle of Santa Cruz in the first Kamikaze attack. I Often Hear That: I'll Share Some With You, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, A 3,500-Year-Old Frozen Mummified Bear Found in Siberia. Arizona in the 1950s. It didnt take long back to the dock to figure out why the sonar had stopped working. 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