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It took 1,335 shells fired and 26 planes to sink it.

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At about 1603 hours she was seen from the Japanese heavy cruiser Chikuma and within another five minutes the cruiser opened fire with her 8-inch (203 mm) guns. Fifteen minutes later the battleships of Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi's Sentai 3/1 opened fire with their main battery of 14-inch (356 mm) guns at extreme range (27,000 metres (30,000 yd)). All shots missed as the destroyer fled and conducted evasive maneuvers that ranged from flank speed – about 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) for the hobbled ship – to full stop, with radical turns and intermittent smoke-screens.

Edsall also disrupted the Japanese with counter-attacks, firing her torpedoes – which narrowly missed Chikuma – and with 4-inch gunfire, even though outranged. Edsall signalled that she had been surprised by two enemy battleships; this was copied by the Dutch merchant ship Siantar more than 160 kilometres (99 mi) away.

The Japanese surface vessels (2 cruisers, 2 battleships) fired 1,335 shells at Edsall that afternoon with no more than one or two hits, which failed to stop the destroyer. Vice Admiral Nagumo ordered airstrikes: 26 Type 99 divebombers (Aichi D3A) (kanbaku) in three groups (chutai) took off from the carriers Kaga (8), Hiryu (9), and Soryu (9). The dive bombers were led by Lieutenants Ogawa, Kobayashi, and Koite respectively. Their 250 kg (550 lb) bombs immobilised Edsall.

Subsequent Japanese navy reports referred to the incident as "a fiasco".

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https://christmasislandarchives.com/teacup-in-a-storm-christmas-island-in-ww2/

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Loss of Edsall

Meanwhile Edsall had heard the Pecos’s distress calls and steamed back to assist, probably seeking to rescue as many of its old stricken comrades as possible. When still about 64 kms away, it was pounced upon by a large Japanese fleet that included the battleships Hiei and Kirishima and heavy cruisers Tone and Chikuma. Despite the overwhelming odds, Edsall also defended itself with skill and gallantry for over 2 hours, much to the frustration of the Japanese commander, who then called in air support and 28 carrier-born dive bombers finally sank Edsall at 1731.

Sinking of the Edsall filmed by the Japanese
Sinking of the Edsall filmed by the Japanese
The Japanese had filmed the encounter, and this was later used in an instruction film on how NOT to attack American destroyers. As well as its own crew of about 100, Edsall was carrying the 32 airmen from Langley, but only a handful of survivors were rescued by the Japanese, and none are known to have survived captivity.

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Japanese video of the sinking

Some coonass is riding around it with a live scope right now

My fear is that illegal salvagers (incl Chinese govt) will desecrate the wreck for the steel...

So many wrecks have been violated

What's the katakana symbol for "Worldstar"?

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During World War II, the ship took part in numerous conveys

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I'm curious as to what the Aussie Navy was looking for in miles deep water when they stumbled onto this.

"The Royal Australian Navy's MV Stoker located the Edsall late last summer during a hydrographic survey..."

MV Stoker is a sub search and rescue ship. I guess they were practicing?

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I'm curious as to what the Aussie Navy was looking for in miles deep water when they stumbled onto this.

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MH370??

This is a good summary video illustrating just how tough it was to bring her down.