Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs) are phenomena involving objects or craft that are seen moving underwater or emerging from the water. While USO encounters are less well-known than UFO sightings, there have been numerous reports and accounts of such phenomena throughout history. Below is a chronological list of notable USO encounters in the U.S. (and nearby regions) since the 15th century:
Pre-20th Century USO Encounters
- 1516 – “The Voyage of the Vega” (Reported by Italian Explorer Antonio Pigafetta)
- Location: Off the coast of the Philippines.
- Description: Antonio Pigafetta, a chronicler of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, documented an encounter in which the crew of the ship witnessed strange lights emerging from the sea. These lights were described as resembling “fire” and were attributed to some mysterious underwater phenomenon.
- 1561 – Spanish Naval Exploration (Reported by Spanish Sailor)
- Location: Off the coast of Florida.
- Description: Spanish explorers reported seeing a large, glowing object rise from the ocean and fly away into the sky. This event was noted in various sailor’s logs, with some descriptions resembling modern USO phenomena.
20th Century USO Encounters
- 1942 – “Battle of Los Angeles” (U.S. Navy)
- Location: Los Angeles, California.
- Date: February 25, 1942.
- Description: During World War II, military personnel witnessed what they believed to be enemy aircraft over Los Angeles. Some reports describe lights moving rapidly over the ocean, rising from the water, and evading anti-aircraft fire, leading to speculation that the objects might have originated underwater.
- 1950s – The “Great Falls Incident” (U.S. Air Force)
- Location: Great Falls, Montana.
- Date: 1950s.
- Description: UFO sightings in the area were frequently accompanied by reports of strange lights moving over bodies of water, with some witnesses claiming the lights dipped into the water before disappearing. Military radar tracked anomalous underwater movements as well.
- 1964 – The Shag Harbour Incident
- Location: Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia (Canada, but close to the U.S. border).
- Date: October 4, 1967.
- Description: The Canadian Coast Guard reported a series of lights in the sky, which later descended into the water, creating a splash. Despite extensive searches by authorities and naval forces, no wreckage was found. This event is considered one of the most significant USO incidents, as the object was tracked under the water.
- 1966 – The USS FDR (USS Franklin D. Roosevelt) USO Encounter
- Location: Near the Mediterranean Sea.
- Date: 1966.
- Description: A USO was reported to have been tracked by sonar and was described as performing evasive maneuvers beneath the ocean. This encounter was corroborated by several crew members of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
- 1967 – The USS Tiru (Submarine Incident)
- Location: Off the coast of California.
- Date: 1967.
- Description: Crew members aboard the U.S. Navy submarine USS Tiru reported sonar contacts with a large object moving at high speeds underwater. The object was able to outpace the submarine, and the sonar readings were described as anomalous.
- 1969 – The USS Trepang (USO Incident)
- Location: Off the coast of the Antarctic.
- Date: 1969.
- Description: The USS Trepang, a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, reported a mysterious object that was detected moving at high speeds underwater. The object was able to match the submarine’s depth and speed, and there was no other logical explanation for the contact.
Late 20th Century USO Encounters
- 1971 – The USS Pinnacle (USO Incident)
- Location: Off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Date: 1971.
- Description: The USS Pinnacle, a U.S. Navy ship, reported encountering a massive underwater object that appeared to be tracking their movements. The object was seen on sonar and was described as larger than any known submarine. The ship’s crew members were able to track it for several hours before it disappeared.
- 1973 – The “Bermuda Triangle” USO Incident
- Location: Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean.
- Date: 1973.
- Description: Multiple sightings in the Bermuda Triangle during this time involved reports of strange underwater objects or craft emerging from the sea. These objects were sometimes described as hovering over the water before diving back into the ocean.
- 1989 – The “USS Omaha” USO Incident
- Location: Near the coast of Florida.
- Date: 1989.
- Description: The USS Omaha, a U.S. Navy warship, reported a mysterious underwater object that emerged from the water, hovered above the ship, and then descended back into the ocean. The encounter was captured on radar and visually by crew members. The object displayed extraordinary movement and speed.
- 1990 – The USS Valdez USO Encounter
- Location: Off the coast of California.
- Date: 1990.
- Description: The USS Valdez, a U.S. Navy ship, encountered an unidentified submerged object while conducting routine operations. The object was tracked on sonar, and there was no identifiable explanation for its presence. The incident led to increased interest in USO encounters among the military.
21st Century USO Encounters
- 2004 – The “Nimitz UFO Encounter”
- Location: Off the coast of Southern California.
- Date: November 2004.
- Description: Although this encounter is best known for its aerial UFO aspects, there were also reports from Navy personnel aboard the USS Princeton and other ships that tracked unidentified objects both in the air and underwater. The radar operators reported strange underwater phenomena, suggesting that the objects may have emerged from the sea.
- 2007 – The “USS Princeton” USO Encounter (Extended)
- Location: Off the coast of California.
- Date: 2007 (Following up from the 2004 Nimitz encounter).
- Description: During extended monitoring, the USS Princeton radar systems continued to track unusual underwater contacts. Some reports suggested that objects were moving at speeds far beyond any known submarines, suggesting a possible USO involvement.
- 2017 – The “USS Princeton” and “USS Theodore Roosevelt” (Modern Day USO Encounters)
- Location: Off the coast of Florida and East Coast of the U.S.
- Date: 2017 (Following up on earlier sightings).
- Description: A number of reported sightings by Navy personnel and radar operators aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt indicated possible USO activity. These objects were tracked moving underwater, before emerging above the ocean at extraordinary speeds.
Summary:
USO encounters are reported frequently by military personnel, sailors, and submariners, especially within the last century. Many of these reports involve underwater objects that exhibit behaviors far beyond the capabilities of known human-made technology. These phenomena remain largely unexplained and continue to intrigue researchers in the field of UFOlogy and oceanic studies
