The Montevideo Maru, which sank in 1942 after being attacked by a US submarine, has been found in the depths of the South China Sea, ending searches for the wreckage of Australia’s worst maritime disaster.
More than 1,060 people were killed, including 979 Australians, when the US submarine attacked the Japanese-flagged ship without knowing who was inside. On board were Japanese soldiers, prisoners of war, and civilians from 14 countries.
The Silentworld Foundation said in a statement today that a team, supported by Fugro, a company specializing in deep seas, and the Australian Ministry of Defense, searched the seabed for more than two weeks to find the wreckage.
“The discovery of the Montevideo Maru closes a terrifying chapter in Australia’s military and maritime history,” said Silentworld director John Mullen.
The remains of the ship were found at a depth of more than four thousand meters -greater than that of the Titanic- off the coast of the Philippines.
“We hope today’s news brings some comfort to loved ones who have had a long wait,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacted on social media, highlighting the “extraordinary effort behind” the discovery and “the promise solemn flag of Australia to always remember and honor”. those who served” the homeland.
Australian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said in a statement that “these Australians have never been forgotten.”
“Lost in the depths of the seas, their final resting place is now known.”
Silentworld stressed that neither the ship’s wreckage nor human remains or personal belongings will be recovered “out of respect for all the families of those on board.”
Twice as many Australian soldiers and civilians lost their lives in this incident alone as in the entire Vietnam War, surpassing the sinking of HMAS Sydney in 1941 with 645 deaths and the hospital ship Centaur in 1943 with 268 deaths.
Source: TSF
