Explorers find WWII ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs

SYDNEY — A team of explorers has announced the discovery of a sunken Japanese ship carrying Allied prisoners of war after being torpedoed in 1942 off the coast of the Philippines. This resulted in Australia’s largest maritime loss with a total of 1,080 dead.

The Montevideo Maru wreck was discovered using autonomous underwater vehicles with built-in sonar after a 12-day search at more than 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) deeper than the Titanic off the island of Luzon in the South China Sea. Discovered. .

There will be no effort to remove artifacts or human remains out of respect for the families of those who died, according to a statement Saturday from the Silent World Foundation, a Sydney-based non-profit dedicated to marine archaeology and history. . I joined the mission with Dutch deep-sea research specialist Fugro and the Australian Department of Defense.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “The extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks to the enduring truth of Australia’s solemn national commitment to always remember and honor those who have served our country. “This is the heart and soul of Lest We Forget.”

The Montevideo Maru transported prisoners of war and civilians captured after the fall of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. She noted that the ship was not marked as carrying prisoners of war, and on 1 July 1942, after chasing the ship through the night, the American submarine Sturgeon launched four torpedoes, found the target, and killed her. sank the ship within ten minutes.

The deaths included 1,080 people from 14 countries, including 979 Australians.

“Families waited years for news of their missing loved ones before learning of the tragic consequences of the sinking,” said Silent World director John Mullen. Some could not fully accept that their loved ones were among the victims.We hope that the discovery of the ship today will bring an end to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster. I have.”