Jakarta, IO – Sydney-based Silentworld Foundation maritime deep-sea expedition team discovered the wreck of a World War II-era vessel called Montevideo Maru. The Japanese ship was sunk by a torpedo while carrying around 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) across the Philippine waters on July 1, 1942, reported AP, Monday (24/4).
Montevideo Maru transported prisoners and civilians who were captured after the fall of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. The US submarine Sturgeon, which had been stalking all night, did not realize it was carrying POWs. Four torpedoes were fired and the ship sank in less than 10 minutes.
The shipwreck tragedy became Australia’s worst maritime disaster because it killed around 979 Australian citizens, including at least 850 military personnel. Civilians from 13 other countries were also on board, bringing the total number of prisoners killed to around 1,060.
“The extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks for the enduring truth of Australia’s solemn national promise to always remember and honor those who served our country,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
After five years of planning, explorers began searching for the wreck on April 6 in the South China Sea, northwest of the Philippine island of Luzon. During a 12-day search using unmanned underwater technology equipped with sonar, the wreck was found at a depth of more than 4,000 meters, deeper than the Titanic.
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Out of respect for the families of the victims, neither Silentworld nor the Australian government will seek to recover any artifacts or skeletal remains on board.
“Families waited years for news of the missing loved ones, before learning of the tragic outcome of the sinking. Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster,” said Silentworld Director John Mullen. (bp)