The ship that sank with 979 Australian troops and civilians in World War II.mp4
The wreck of the Montevideo Maru — a Japanese prisoner transport that sank during World War 2 — has been located off of the coast of the Philippines, 68 miles north-west of Luzon. The vessel had been carrying an estimated 1,054 Australian prisoners of war together with civilians from Rabaul in Papua New Guinea to Hainan, in the South China Sea.
Unaware of the presence of the Allied passengers, the USS Sturgeon — an American submarine which had been in pursuit of the Montevideo Maru for nine days — sank the auxiliary vessel via torpedo on June 1, 1942. Alongside her prisoners, around three quarters of the Montevideo Maru’s 88-strong Japanese crew were also lost in the attack.
The loss of life has marked the sinking of the Montevideo Maru as the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history.
In fact, nearly twice as many Australians died when the Japanese ship went down as across the entirety of the Vietnam War.
Until now, however, the exact location of the wreck has represented something of an enduring mystery.
After a 12-day search in the West Philippine Sea it was found last week, at a depth of around 13,100 feet, by maritime archaeologists from Sydnet’s Silentworld Foundation and deep-sea survey experts with Fugro, a Dutch company, in tandem with the Australian Department of Defense.
The team undertook the search with the aid of an autonomous underwater vehicle with a built-in sonar system.
Silentworld director John Mullen said: “The discovery of the Montevideo Maru closes a terrible chapter in Australian military and maritime history.
“Families waited years for news of their missing loved ones, before learning of the tragic outcome of the sinking.
“Some never fully came to accept that their loved ones were among the victims.
“Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster.”
He added: “I am proud to be the citizen of a country that never forgets or stops looking for those lost in the course of duty, no matter how many years may pass.”
According to Silentworld, the wreck of the Montevideo Maru will not be disturbed, and neither artefacts nor human remains will be removed from the underwater site.
However, they added, the shipwreck “will be recorded for research purposes out of respect for all the families of those onboard who were lost.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the AP that “the extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks for the enduring truth of Australia’s solemn national promise to always remember and honour those who served our country.”
This, he added, “is the heart and the spirit of Lest We Forget”.
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Andrea Williams, an Australian whose grandfather and great uncle both died when the Montevideo Maru went down, was onboard the survey vessel the MV Fugro Equator when the wreck of the Japanese ship was detected.
Mrs Williams said: “Today is an extraordinarily momentous day for all Australians connected with this tragic disaster.
“Having had a grandfather and great-uncle as civilian internees on Montevideo Maru always meant the story was important to me, as it is to so many generations of families whose men perished.
“Being part of the Silentworld team that has found the wreck has been both hugely emotional and also fulfilling.”
Australian Army chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said that the discovery of the wreck has ended 81 years of uncertainty for the families of the lost.
He said: “The Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators who had fought to defend Rabaul had enlisted from across the country to serve met a terrible fate at sea on the Montevideo Maru.
“Today we remember their service, and the loss of all those aboard, including the 20 Japanese guards and crew, the Norwegian sailors and the hundreds of civilians from many nations.
“I want to thank the Silentworld team and the dedicated researchers, including the Unrecovered War Casualties team at the Army, who have never given up hope of finding the final resting place of the Montevideo Maru.
“A loss like this reaches down through the decades and reminds us all of the human cost of conflict, lest we forget.”
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