‘Measure of comfort’: Wreckage from Australia’s worst maritime disaster found

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he hopes the discovery of a ship that sank off the coast of the Philippines more than 80 years ago will bring a measure of comfort to loved ones of the 979 Australian troops and civilians on board.

The search for the wreckage from the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history ended this week when a team of researchers and defence personnel found the Japanese transport ship SS Montevideo Maru at the bottom of the sea.

The Montevideo Maru was sunk by a US submarine, which was unaware of the almost 1000 Australians on board.

The ship sank on July 1, 1942, after being torpedoed by an American submarine, which was unaware it was carrying prisoners of war and civilians captured in the former Australian territory of New Guinea.

In total, it was carrying about 1060 prisoners from around 16 countries, including 850 Australian service members, who had been taken after the fall of Rabaul months earlier.

The shipwreck was found after 12 days of searching in the South China Sea, led by the not-for-profit Silentworld Foundation, deep-sea survey specialists from Fugro, and supported by Defence.

At over 4000 metres in depth, the wreck lies deeper in the ocean than the Titanic.

Albanese said he hoped the news brings a “measure of comfort to loved ones who have kept a long vigil”.

“At long last, the resting place of the lost souls of the Montevideo Maru has been found,” he said in a statement. “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 is the heart and the spirit of Lest We Forget.”

Chair of the Australian War Memorial Kim Beazley, whose uncle Syd Beazley was among those lost in the tragedy, said the discovery of the ship was a “monumental moment in war history”.

“Finding the site of Australia’s most devastating loss at sea and will help heal Australia’s collective memory for generations,” Beazley said. “This has solved a Second World War mystery and my family’s history.”

This scan shows the final resting place of the SS Montevideo Maru.Credit: Silentworld Foundation 

Silentworld’s director John Mullen said families had waited years for news of their missing loved ones.

“Some never fully came to accept that their loved ones were among the victims,” he said. “Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster.”

The team set out on an expedition to find the wreck in the South China Sea, northwest of Luzon, on April 6 and discovered it after 12 days, thanks to an autonomous underwater vehicle.

After finding the wreckage, they then took a few days to confirm it was, in fact, the Japanese ship.

Chief of the Australian Army Simon Stuart said Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators who had fought hard to protect Rabaul had enlisted from across the country to serve, before they were captured and met a terrible fate at sea.

“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,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said finding the shipwreck had been a remarkable effort by a passionate team of researchers and Defence personnel.

“I also acknowledge the generous support from the Philippines authorities in permitting this search,” he said. “These Australians were never forgotten. Lost deep beneath the seas, their final resting place is now known. This remarkable discovery is a reflection of who we are as a nation and remarkably close to our day of national commemoration; Anzac Day. We will remember them.”

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