Australian submarine that disappeared over 100 years ago has been found

FIRST PICTURES: An Australian submarine with 35 crew that vanished 103 years ago without trace has been found after a concerted search that began only days ago.

The HMAS AE1 Submarine from WW1 has been found after it vanished without a trace more than 100 years ago.

AN Australian submarine with 35 crew that vanished 103 years ago without trace has been found off the coast of PNG after a concerted search that began only days ago.

The AE1 submarine that disappeared in September 1914 at the outbreak of World War I has been one of the world’s great maritime mysteries with everyone from the Royal Australian Navy, fortune hunters and even French adventurer Jacques Cousteau attempting to find the 50m long vessel.

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But a $1 million expedition involving a state-of-the-art gas exploration vessel, the same one used to unsuccessfully hunt the lost MH370 flight, has now captured positive images of the intact submarine 300m below the surface, on the sea floor south east of the Duke of York Islands.

After 103 years, HMAS AE1 was located in waters off the Duke of York Island group in Papua New Guinea in December 2017.

The AE1 submarine that disappeared in September 1914 at the outbreak of World War I has been one of the world’s great maritime mysteries.

It shows the upper conning tower hatch apparently still shut suggesting a catastrophic diving accident when it dived and struck the ocean floor with enough force to dislodge the rear fin.

Analysts believe it possibly began flooding very high up on the surface, sinking rapidly.

The leader of the expedition Rear Admiral (ret.) Peter Briggs said the men “would not have known what hit them” such was the apparent speed of the vessels demise.

There were 35 crew on board including Australian and British sailors and one from New Zealand. The loss without trace caused heartache for relatives on both side of the hemisphere for years.

A remote-piloted vehicle captured this picture of the wreck, showing battery ventilation trunks from of HMAS AE1.

Australia's first submarine AE1 in dry dock at Cockatoo Island in Sydney in June 1914. Experts believed her starboard hull was torn open. Photo: Supplied

Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed the astonishing find this morning and said there would be no attempt to retrieve the vessel whose exact location would remain a secret and the site considered a war grave.

“Following the discovery of the submarine, a small commemorative service was conducted by those onboard the survey vessel to remember those officers and sailors who lost their lives 103 years ago,’ Senator Payne said today.

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“Efforts are being made to contact the descendants of the crew.

“The current search was jointly funded by the Australian Government, the Silentworld Foundation, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Find AE1 Ltd; utilising Fugro Survey’s vessel and search technology. Its success is due to the efforts of these teams.

Survey data showing HMAS AE1 on the sea bed. Multi-beam echo sounder and side-scan technology was used in an underwater drone flying 40 metres above the sea bed on pre-programmed 20 hour missions to find the wreck.

The rusted casing of HMAS AE1.

‘The Australian Government will work closely with the Papua New Guinean Government to consider a lasting commemoration and recognition of the crew of AE1 and to preserve the site.”

One relative Vera Ryan, from Lilyfield in Sydney Inner West, said the loss of the submarine and her uncle engine room Petty Officer Jack Messenger caused her family huge trauma and heartache.

“This is meaningful to me to stand for the family to do all I can to have that ship found,” she said as the search began last weekend.

“I stand for my grandmother in this and my aunt who told me all the stories from when I was a very small child, I remember knowing my uncle was lost on a submarine off the Duke of York Islands which normally four-year-olds don’t hear those stories. But those stories had such a great effect on me. I’ve told the stories to my children and my grandchildren it’s something the family have passed down so it’s important to all of us.”

The broken hull of HMAS AE1.

HMAS AE1’s helm.

Originally published as Australian submarine that disappeared over 100 years ago has been found