WWII Wreck Hunter R/V Petrel Rechristened as U.S. Navy Survey Ship Sarah Lynn
The R/V Petrel, a deep-sea research vessel owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and famous for discovering WWII shipwrecks like the USS Indianapolis, USS Lexington, and IJN Kaga, was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 2022 for $12.5 million. In 2025, it was rechristened the Sarah Lynn. Equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, the ship is now suited for surveying underwater infrastructure such as cables and pipelines, though its exact mission remains undisclosed.
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Vessel that aided in discovery of famous WWII shipwrecks finds new life in US Navy
The R/V Petrel, a deep-sea research vessel originally commissioned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and responsible for discovering multiple famous World War II shipwrecks such as the USS Indianapolis, USS Lexington, and USS Hornet, has been acquired and repurposed by the U.S. Navy. Purchased in 2022 for $12.5 million, the vessel was rechristened the Sarah Lynn in 2025. While its exact Navy mission remains unspecified, the ship's advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles make it ideal for surveying underwater infrastructure like communication cables and pipelines. The report was first published by the U.S. Naval Institute and covered by Navy Times.
Navy TimesWWII Wreck-Hunting Vessel R/V Petrel Reborn as US Navy Survey Ship Sarah Lynn
The R/V Petrel, the research vessel of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which played a key role in discovering famous World War II shipwrecks including the USS Indianapolis, USS Juneau, Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, and carriers USS Lexington, USS Wasp, and USS Hornet, has been purchased by the U.S. Navy. The Navy acquired the vessel in 2022 for $12.5 million following Allen's death, and rechristened it the Sarah Lynn in 2025. While the specific mission of the Sarah Lynn remains unclear, the vessel is equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, making it well-suited for surveying underwater infrastructure such as communication lines and oil and gas pipelines. The news was first reported by the U.S. Naval Institute.
Navy TimesResearch Vessel That Discovered WWII Shipwrecks Rechristened as Navy Survey Ship Sarah Lynn
The R/V Petrel, a deep-sea research vessel owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and famous for discovering numerous World War II shipwrecks including the USS Indianapolis, USS Juneau, and Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, has been acquired and repurposed by the U.S. Navy. Purchased in 2022 for $12.5 million, the vessel was rechristened as the Sarah Lynn in 2025. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, the ship is equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, making it ideal for surveying underwater infrastructure such as communication lines and pipelines. The article, published in Navy Times, highlights the vessel's transition from civilian archaeology to military utility, though its specific new mission remains undisclosed.
Navy TimesWWII Shipwreck Hunter Vessel R/V Petrel Reborn as US Navy Survey Ship Sarah Lynn
The research vessel R/V Petrel, originally owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and known for discovering famous World War II shipwrecks including the USS Indianapolis, USS Hornet, and Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, has been acquired and repurposed by the US Navy. Purchased in 2022 for $12.5 million after Allen's death, the vessel was rechristened the Sarah Lynn in 2025, as first reported by the US Naval Institute. While its exact mission remains unclear, the ship is equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, making it an ideal platform for surveying underwater infrastructure such as communication lines and oil and gas pipelines. The article was published by Military Times on June 30, 2026.
Military TimesVessel that aided in discovery of famous WWII shipwrecks finds new life in US Navy
The research vessel R/V Petrel, owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and instrumental in discovering famous WWII shipwrecks such as USS Indianapolis, USS Juneau, and Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, was purchased by the U.S. Navy in 2022 for $12.5 million. In 2025, it was rechristened the Sarah Lynn. The vessel, equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, is considered an ideal platform for surveying underwater infrastructure like communication lines and pipelines, though its specific Navy mission remains unconfirmed. The article reports on the vessel's transition from private archaeological research to U.S. Navy service, highlighting its capabilities and historical significance.
Military TimesWWII Wreck Hunter R/V Petrel Reborn as US Navy Survey Ship Sarah Lynn
The R/V Petrel, the research vessel funded by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and famous for discovering numerous World War II shipwrecks, has been acquired and repurposed by the U.S. Navy. Purchased for $12.5 million in 2022 following Allen's death, the ship was rechristened the Sarah Lynn in 2025, as first reported by the U.S. Naval Institute. The vessel, now operating under the Navy, previously located wrecks such as the USS Indianapolis, USS Juneau, Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, and carriers USS Lexington, USS Hornet, and USS Wasp. While its specific mission remains undisclosed, the Petrel was equipped with advanced sensors and remotely operated vehicles, making it well-suited for surveying underwater infrastructure like communication cables and oil pipelines.
Military Times