via ABC News, 22 April 2023: The shipwreck of the Montevideo Maru, which was carrying Allied POWs and tragically sunk by an American submarine during World War II was found off the coast of the Philippines. The wreck will be designated as a war grave. More news stories linked below.
The ship at the centre of the worst maritime disaster in Australia’s history has been discovered more than 4,000 metres beneath the sea, 81 years after it sank.
It was torpedoed by an American submarine, which did not know it was carrying prisoners of war and civilians captured in Rabaul.
In total, about 1,060 prisoners were lost, including 850 service members and 210 civilians from 14 countries.
The location of the wreck has remained a mystery for decades — until now.
SS Montevideo Maru was found after 12 days of searching in the South China Sea, by a team led by not-for-profit Silentworld Foundation, deep-sea survey specialists Fugro and supported by the Department of Defence.
Source: SS Montevideo Maru shipwreck found 81 years after Australia’s worst maritime disaster – ABC News
See also:
- WWII Japanese Transport Lost With 1,080 People Located in Philippines | Maritime Executive, 21 Apr 2023
- World War II shipwreck of SS Montevideo Maru, which sank with over 1,000 POWs, found in South China Sea | CNN, 21 Apr 2023
- World War II Shipwreck Found After 80 Years | VOA, 22 Apr 2023
- WWII wreck on which nearly 1,000 Australians died found | AFP/Manila Bulletin, 22 Apr 2023
- Australia finds wreck of Japanese WW2 disaster ship | New Telegraph, 22 Apr 2023
- Australia says discovery of WW2 shipwreck ends ‘tragic’ maritime chapter | Reuters, 22 Apr 2023
- Explorers find WWII Japanese ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs | New York Post, 22 Apr 2023
- Explorers find WWII wreck on which nearly 1,000 Australians died | Al Jazeera, 22 Apr 2023
- Japanese ship Montevideo Maru that sank with 979 Australians found in South China Sea after 81 years | South China Morning Post, 22 Apr 2023
- Montevideo Maru: Australia finds wreck of Japanese WW2 disaster ship | BBC News, 22 Apr 2023
- Japanese ship that sank during WWII with 864 Australian soldiers on board found after 81 years | The Independent, 22 Apr 2023
- Wreck hunters find Japanese ship that took 980 Australian POWs to a deep-sea grave | The New Daily, 22 Apr 2023
- WWII ship that sank with 1,000 Allied POWs on board discovered in South China Sea | Live Science, 27 Apr 2023
- Explorers find WWII ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs | AP/Business Mirror, 13 May 2023
