LOST SUB FOUND AT LAST
Just six weeks into the First World War,
Australian submarine HMAS AE1 disappeared without a trace somewhere off the
coast of New Guinea, marking the first time an allied sub had been lost in the
conflict.
Marine archaeologists have now discovered
the historic wreck, ending a mystery that has endured for over a century.
Australia, like other commonwealth
countries, joined Great Britain in the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary
on August 4, 1914.
Six weeks later, on September 14, the HMAS
AE1 was on patrol off the New Guinean island of East New Britain when it went
missing, going down with 35 Australian, New Zealand, and British crewmen on
board. No distress calls were issued, nor were there any witnesses to the
scene.
Its final resting place, and the cause of
the sinking, have remained a mystery since that day.
Since the sub went down, there have been no
less than 13 private and government-funded hunts for the wreck. But as the Sydney
Morning Herald reports, it seems the 13th time’s the charm.
The missing submarine was discovered on December
20, 2017 by the Australian Navy and the Dutch-owned Fugro N.V. survey company
near the Duke of York Islands.
The 180-foot-long (55 meters) sub was found
resting under nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) of water. Incredibly, the latest
search for the missing vessel started only last week. A combination of radio
scans and up-close inspections by a submersible confirmed the identity of the
wreck.
“The boat and her crew, who’ve been on
eternal patrol since 1914... have now been found,” said Australian Defence
Minister Marise Payne in a statement.
“I truly trust that this discovery will
bring peace of mind to the descendants of the families of the crew who lost
their lives on board and perhaps in time it may also enable us to discover what
caused the submarine to sink,” adding that “It was... a significant tragedy
felt by our nation and our allies.”
The AE1, along with its sister sub the AE2,
were two E-class submarines—the first of their kind for Britain and Australia. According to the Australian Navy, these subs could
plunge to a depth of 100 feet (30.5 meters) and travel at maximum speed of 17
mph (28 km/h).
In terms of weaponry, these E-class
submarines were equipped with four 18-inch torpedo tubes, which were positioned
on the ship’s front, rear, and broadsides.
Along with the Australian Naval and
Military Expeditionary Force, the AE1 was part of an operation to capture
German-occupied New Guinea. Commanded by Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Thomas
Besant, the sub participated in actions that eventually led to the capture of
New Guinea.
As Payne noted, the reason for the sinking
is still unknown. It’s highly unlikely that the sub went down as a result of
enemy action, as the nearest German vessel at the time was a survey ship. Also,
because no oil, wreckage, or bodies were found, it was assumed the sub sank
intact—an assumption that proved correct. Radio scans and images taken by a
submersible show a remarkably well-preserved submarine.
Speaking to The Australian, retired
Rear Admiral Peter Briggs said the sinking likely happened as a result of a diving
accident, saying, “The submarine appears to have struck the bottom with
sufficient force to dislodge the fin from its footing, forcing it to hinge
forward on its leading edge, impacting the casing.”
The exact location of the AE1 is being kept
secret to prevent any unwanted intrusions. Along with the government of Papua
New Guinea, Australia is devising a plan to preserve the site and create a
lasting, meaningful commemoration.
No comments:
Post a Comment