World

World War II ship sunk with 864 soldiers onboard found after 81 years

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Saturday that the wreck of a Japanese merchant ship, sunk in World War Two with 864 Australian soldiers on board, had been found in the South China Sea, according to a Reuters report from Sydney.

Marles said the SS Montevideo Maru, an unmarked prisoner of war transport vessel missing since being sunk off the Philippines’ coast in July 1942, had been discovered northwest of Luzon island.

The ship was torpedoed while sailing from what is now Papua New Guinea to China’s Hainan by a U.S. submarine that was unaware of the POWs onboard. The incident is considered Australia’s worst maritime disaster.

The long-awaited find comes ahead of April 25 commemorations for Anzac Day, a major day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand for their troops killed in all military conflicts.

“This brings to an end one of the most tragic chapters in Australia’s maritime history,” Marles said in a video message.

Specialists from a marine archaeology not-for-profit and deep-sea survey organisation led the hunt for the wreck, which was discovered at a depth of more than 13,123 feet. The search was also aided by Australia’s Defence Department.

The Defence Minister added, “The absence of a location of the Montevideo Maru has represented unfinished business for the families of those who lost their lives until now.”

AddThis Website Tools
IN Bureau

Recent Posts

‘If Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside disrespectful tone”: Iran FM Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said on Saturday that President Donald Trump should put…

3 hours ago

“Welcomed with open arms, lots of love and friendship”: Group of representatives from Montana hail study visit to India

The national capital is hosting ten representatives from the American state of Montana, who are…

3 hours ago

Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 jolts Philippines

An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck the Philippines in the early hours of Saturday, as…

3 hours ago

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says NATO buildup won’t have ‘any significant effect’ on Russia

NATO's recent decision to ramp up military spending will not significantly impact Russia's security, Foreign…

16 hours ago

India imposes 27-63% anti-dumping duties on plastic processing machines from China, Taiwan

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Plastic Processing Machines from China and Taiwan,…

19 hours ago

CTA report exposes systematic torture and deaths of Tibetan political prisoners under Chinese rule

The Human Rights Desk of the Department of Information and International Relations for the Central…

19 hours ago