Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • DE&S’ SALMO team retrieve US Navy bell off UK coast

Defence

DE&S’ SALMO team retrieve US Navy bell off UK coast

The Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) team has recovered an iconic bell off the UK coast, from one of the most notable US Navy shipwrecks.

Above: The USS Jacob Jones.
Courtesy DE&S

The bell of USS Jacob Jones has been retrieved from the depths off the Scilly Isles, 107 years after the ship became the first destroyer in US Navy history to be lost to enemy action.

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.

Advertisement
Teledyne

In the final 18 months of World War One, 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.

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 (rtd) 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 Jacob Jones was undertaking this tasking, she was torpedoed by German U-boat ace Hans Rose in U-53. The warship went down in just eight minutes, enough time for around one third of the crew to take to life rafts or jump into the Atlantic to try 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 by the Darkstar technical dive team approximately 40 miles south of the Scilly Isles in August 2022. She rests on the seabed more than 375ft deep.

Despite the remoteness and depth of the destroyer, US authorities remained fearful that unscrupulous trophy hunters might try to recover Jacob Jones’ bell – one of the icons of any warship.

Last December, the NHHC (guardians of nearly 3,000 shipwrecks and more than 17,000 aircraft lost at sea) asked the British Government for two favours: to preserve the sanctity of the wreck and to recover the bell.

RAdm (rtd) Cox stated that the remains of USS Jacob Jones were “a hallowed war grave” and that it is US Navy policy “to leave such wrecks undisturbed. However, due to risk of unauthorised and illegal salvaging of the ship’s bell, the Navy History and Heritage Command requested Ministry of Defence (MoD) assistance.”

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

The 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.

Advertisement
Teledyne

The SALMO team also placed a wreath and the Stars and Stripes flag on the wreck in tribute to the 64 men lost 107 years ago.

Radm 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."

Andy Liddell, SALMO Head, 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 lost.

SALMO is a team of civilian specialists within DE&S who support the Royal Navy and UK MoD. 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.

The ROV used to recover the bell is a new acquisition to enhance the salvage capability of SALMO. It is operated and maintained by a team of SALMO staff and builds on SALMO’s long history of operating ROVs. SALMO’s responsibilities also include managing more than 5,000 shipwrecks around the world that the UK MoD is responsible for.
 

 

 

 

 

Advertisement
Babcock LB
GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

Defence

GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

10 July 2025

GKN Aerospace has has signed a six-year follow-on contract with BAE Systems for continued manufacture of Eurofighter Typhoon transparencies at its Luton facility, through to the end of 2030.

Metis to supply Skyperion to NATO ally

Defence Security

Metis to supply Skyperion to NATO ally

10 July 2025

Metis has won a contract to supply a number of Skyperion drone detection systems to a NATO customer to provide the drone detect function as part of an integrated Counter Uncrewed Air Systems (C-UAS) capability.

ALL.SPACE unveils Hydra MAX

Defence Space

ALL.SPACE unveils Hydra MAX

10 July 2025

ALL.SPACE has revealed a major advancement in mobile satellite communications with the successful demonstration of Hydra MAX - the first network independent terminal of its kind to deliver ultra wideband communications to multiple satellites simultaneously.

BAE Systems assessed

Defence

BAE Systems assessed 'Awardable' for US DoD work in P1 Solutions Marketplace

9 July 2025

BAE Systems in collaboration with Defense Unicorns, have announced that their joint solution has achieved 'Awardable' status for US Department of Defense (DoD) work through the US Platform One (P1) Solutions Marketplace.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT
Government unveils Team UK approach to defence

Defence

Government unveils Team UK approach to defence

8 July 2025

UK Government plans to deliver jobs across the country by unlocking the full economic potential of Britain's defence sector are being unveiled today.

Construction begins on SLA accommodation at RAF Cosford

Defence

Construction begins on SLA accommodation at RAF Cosford

8 July 2025

Construction has started on a new 50-bedroom Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block at RAF Cosford in Shropshire.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025