Ocean Explorers Found Something Hidden on the USS Yorktown Wreck

A Sunken Warship in the Pacific

Nearly two and a half miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean lies the USS Yorktown (CV-5), a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that played a key role during the early stages of World War II. Launched in 1936, the Yorktown fought in two major battles—the Coral Sea and Midway—before being struck by Japanese torpedoes and eventually sinking in 1942.

This carrier was designed to carry aircraft, not ground vehicles. Yet during a recent deep-sea expedition in 2025, explorers made a surprising discovery. Hidden inside the ship’s wreckage, deep among twisted beams and collapsed metal, was something no one expected to see: a car.

A Car Where It Shouldn’t Be

As underwater video cameras scanned the remains of the ship, one crew member suddenly said what everyone else was thinking: “That’s a car.” At first, it was hard to believe. The object had the clear shape of a vehicle, complete with wheels and what appeared to be a soft top. It made no sense. Why would there be a car on a warship built for aircraft?

The discovery sparked confusion and excitement among the team. The car was clearly out of place, and no one could immediately explain how it ended up on the Yorktown. It had never been recorded in any official logs or reports. Trapped inside the remains of a warship lost during one of the most intense naval battles of the war, the vehicle was a complete mystery.

A Ship with a Famous Past

The Yorktown was no ordinary carrier. It was part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during a crucial period in 1942. After helping to slow down Japanese expansion at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the ship played a major role at Midway, where it was damaged by bombs and torpedoes. Despite efforts to save her, the ship could not be towed to safety and eventually sank.

The wreck of the Yorktown was first located in 1998 by ocean explorer Robert Ballard, who had previously discovered the wreck of the Titanic. His team sent cameras down into the deep, capturing clear images of the Yorktown’s remarkably preserved hull. The wreck was visited again in 2023, but it was the 2025 return that revealed something new—the car.

A Closer Look at the Vehicle

As the video team moved through the ship’s interior, they spotted the vehicle resting quietly in a lower compartment. Covered in rust but mostly intact, the car still sat on four tires. Some experts believe it might be a 1940 Ford Woody. Its shape and features matched the kind of automobile used by officers in the U.S. Navy during the prewar and early war years.

In those days, it was common for high-ranking officers—such as captains or admirals—to bring their own cars aboard ships when being deployed. These personal vehicles allowed them to move around quickly when the ship docked at port, whether to attend meetings, handle supplies, or take brief shore leave. The cars were often stored in cargo areas, surrounded by aircraft parts and equipment.

A Forgotten Piece of Normal Life

It’s likely that the car belonged to a senior officer assigned to the Yorktown before her final mission. Once the ship was struck during the Battle of Midway, it may have been forgotten as the crew focused on survival. Now, more than 80 years later, it sits in silence, untouched and hidden in darkness, a symbol of daily life caught in the middle of war.

The car doesn’t answer all the questions about its presence, but it does add a human layer to the ship’s story. It reminds us that the people on board brought pieces of their normal lives with them, even into the heart of a conflict. Explorers are still trying to identify the vehicle more clearly, but for now, it remains a curious part of a well-known wreck.