A former US World War II-era warship, which survived two of the Pacific War’s most important battles, was supposed to be used in a live-fire exercise off the western coast of the Philippines as part of annually held joint military drills.

A World War II-era US Navy ship intended to be sunk in a live-fire military exercise by US and Philippine forces sank prematurely on Monday, slipping beneath the South China Sea before any missile or bomb could strike it.

A World War II-era Philippine navy ship to be used as a target in a combat exercise by American and the Philippine forces accidentally sank hours before the mock assault, prompting the drill to be cancelled.