Expedition · Off Luzon, Philippines, 2023
Montevideo Maru
One of the most tragic losses of life in Australian maritime history. Sunk on 1 July 1942 with prisoners of war and civilians captured at Rabaul, and found in April 2023 more than 4,000 metres down.
Montevideo Maru in port
Sunk
1 July 1942, by USS Sturgeon
Lost
Approx. 1,080 people from 14 nations
Found
April 2023, more than 4,000m deep
Location
110km north-west of Luzon, Philippines
A humanitarian expedition
The finding of the Montevideo Maru
With an interest, commitment and passion for uncovering stories of Australia’s past, Silentworld Foundation, with the support of a large team of experts, undertook a search for the wreck site of Montevideo Maru. The 7,267-tonne Japanese-built cargo and passenger ship was being used as a prisoner transport in World War II.
The humanitarian expedition aimed to find the final resting place of approximately 1,080 military personnel and civilians from 14 nations, most of whom were Australian soldiers. The sinking of the ship in 1942 resulted in one of the most tragic losses of life in Australian maritime history.
Montevideo Maru had been requisitioned by the Japanese Navy and was carrying approximately 1,000 prisoners of war and civilians, captured during the fall of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, as well as 122 Japanese crew. She was sunk by the United States submarine Sturgeon, whose crew were unaware that Allied prisoners were aboard, on 1 July 1942.
In April 2023, Silentworld Foundation, with partners Fugro and Unrecovered War Casualties – Army, found Montevideo Maru off the coast of the Philippines.
April 2023
The search
The search began on 6 April 2023 in the West Philippine Sea, 110 kilometres north-west of Luzon. After just 12 days, on 18 April, a positive sighting was recorded using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with built-in sonar.
It took a number of days to verify the wreck using expert analysis from the project team of maritime archaeologists, conservators, operations and research specialists, and ex-naval officers.
The expedition, led by Silentworld Foundation director John Mullen, followed nearly five years of planning by Silentworld and 20 years of dedication from the Montevideo Maru Society.
Remembering
An international story
Although Silentworld Foundation focuses on maritime archaeology and conservation within Australian contexts, the humanitarian aspect was at the forefront of this search. As well as the many Australians lost on board, the prisoners included the Norwegian crew of the destroyed ship Herstein, and prisoners of other nationalities.
Silentworld Foundation was privileged to work closely with Japanese researchers, and with descendants and relatives of those Australians aboard. Once the announcement was made, the Foundation was honoured to host the stories of hundreds of other descendants on its social media and website. The news made international waves as the three nations most heavily represented in the tragedy, the United States, Japan and Australia, reflected on their past.
International cooperation featured not only after the discovery but throughout planning, between governments and institutions all invested in finding the final resting place of Montevideo Maru.
In the analysis that followed the discovery, it became clear that the lists and numbers of casualties gathered from Japanese records in 1945 may require more research. This has led to further international cooperation and stronger relationships in the effort to create as accurate a list as possible.
On film
The finding of the Montevideo Maru
For families & the community
Questions & answers
Were individuals from other services on board the ship when it sank?
Yes. The majority of those lost on Montevideo Maru were members of the Australian Army. However, individuals from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force are believed to have been aboard. There were also hundreds of Australian and international civilians, as well as Japanese crew and guards.
Will you inform the families that their missing have been found?
With approximately 1,080 victims from 14 nations, and more than 80 years after the event, tracing next of kin has not been possible. However, Silentworld Foundation has made every effort to provide information to related organisations around the world and within Australia and Papua New Guinea, and has shared its findings through media announcements in Australia and in the countries represented by those lost aboard.
Are there plans for a commemorative event or ceremony?
There are a range of memorials and services held around Australia and in Papua New Guinea for the victims of the sinking of Montevideo Maru. Commemorative events are most likely to take place on or near the anniversary of the ship’s loss, 1 July. Details for each event are made available closer to the date.
How do I express interest in attending a commemorative event?
Register your interest with the Department of Defence to be notified of upcoming events: Register with us | Army.gov.au.
Will the Australian Government pay for descendants to attend?
Funding is not available for descendants to attend commemorative events.
How do I provide a DNA sample to prove my ancestral connection?
The expedition to locate the resting place of Montevideo Maru and the people lost aboard was non-disturbance. There is therefore no requirement to provide DNA at this time, as there is no DNA database of those lost on board.
Descendant families
Get in touch
We encourage descendant families all over the world with an interest in this wartime loss to get in touch.
Email the Foundation
familiesofMvM@silentworldfoundation.org.au
Register with the Australian Defence Force
To be kept informed of developments: Register with us | Army.gov.au
Phone enquiries