SS Montevideo Maru: WWII shipwreck with 1,000 prisoners of warfare present in South China Sea

(CNN) A Japanese service provider ship sank throughout World Conflict II whereas carrying greater than 1,000 prisoners of warfare Australia The best lack of life is discovered at sea.

The Montevideo Maru was found off the northwest coast of Luzon Island within the Philippines at a depth of greater than 4,000 meters (13,000 toes) within the South China Sea, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marlies confirmed in a video he posted Saturday from his Twitter publish. account.

He stated the invention introduced an finish to “one of the vital tragic chapters in Australia’s maritime historical past”.

The ship was transporting roughly 1,060 prisoners from about 16 international locations, together with 850 Australian troopers, from the previous Australian territory of New Guinea to what was then the Japanese-occupied island of Hainan when an American submarine torpedoed and sank the ship – which had not been boarded. Marked as transporting prisoners of warfare – July 1, 1942.

“The shortage of a website for the Montevideo Maro is an unfinished enterprise for the households of those that misplaced their lives,” Marlies defined.

Australian authorities have paid tribute to these concerned within the search, together with deep-sea surveyors and members of the Australian Armed Forces, and thanked them for the closure of those that misplaced family members 81 years in the past.

“I need to thank the Silentworld crew and the devoted researchers, together with the Military’s Unrecoverable Conflict Losses crew, who by no means gave up hope of discovering the ultimate resting place of the Montevideo Maru,” stated Australian Military Commander Lieutenant-Basic Simon Stewart. .

“Loss like this runs down by way of the a long time and reminds us all the human value of battle. Lest we neglect,” Stewart added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote: “The extraordinary effort behind this discovery speaks to the enduring reality of Australia’s solemn patriotic promise to recollect and honor those that have all the time served our nation. It’s the coronary heart and soul of Lest We Overlook,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote.