THE mystery surrounding Australia’s largest loss of life at sea has finally been solved after eight decades.
Deep sea explorers located the wreck of a World War II Japanese transport ship known as the Montevideo Maru this past weekend.
On July 1, 1942, the American submarine USS Sturgeon torpedoed and sank Montevideo Maru, without knowing it carried an estimated 1,060 prisoners of war from at least 14 countries.
It was Australia’s worst maritime disaster which killed approximately 979 Australians along with 33 Norwegian sailors as well as 20 Japanese guards and crew including civilians.
The wreck was located at a depth of more than 4,000 meters off the coast of the Philippines – deeper than the ill-fated British passenger liner Titanic that sank under the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean 111 years ago.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles relayed a heartfelt message hours after the discovery of the World War II shipwreck which he said brings to an end one of the most tragic chapters in Australia’s maritime history.
“After more than 80 years, lying in the quiet depths of the South China Sea,” said Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister.
With the resting of the sunken ship and its passengers finally found, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hoped that the news brought “a measure of comfort to loved ones who have kept a long vigil.”
“We hope today’s news brings a measure of comfort to loved ones who have kept a long vigil,” said Anthony Albanese, Australian Prime Minister.
Silentworld Foundation – the maritime archaeology group that organized the mission said the sunken ship is now considered a war grave which should be treated with respect and assured human remains or artifacts inside the sunken ship will not be removed.
