A Japanese World War II ship from 1942 has been discovered off of Luzon island in the South China Sea.
The ship, Montevideo Maru, was found after a 12-day search in the ocean at a depth of over 4000 meter, which is equal to 13,120 feet, making the wreckage of Maru deeper than the Titanic. The ship was being used to take Allied prisoners from World War II before it was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines in 1942 and taking 1,080 lives, the largest maritime wartime loss for Australia, according to Associated Press.
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“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,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “This is the heart and the spirit of Lest We Forget.”
Silentworld Foundation, a not-for-profit based in Sydney, Australia involved in the search for this ship, announced that no artifacts or human remains will be removed by the wreckage out of respect for the families and relatives of the prisoners of war aboard the ship.
A total of 979 Australian POWs had been onboard the ship before it sank, making up a little more than half of the POWs. The POWs on board were from 14 different nations.
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The Montevideo Maru sank on July 1, 1942 when a submarine for the United States named Sturgeon had fired four torpedoes at the ship, which sank in under 10 minutes of being struck.
“Families waited years for news of their missing loved ones, before learning of the tragic outcome of the sinking,” said Silentworld director John Mullen. “Some never fully came to accept that their loved ones were among the victims. Today, by finding the vessel, we hope to bring closure to the many families devastated by this terrible disaster.”
