Japanese ship that sank during WWII with 864 Australian soldiers on board found after 81 years

Deep-sea survey specialists found in the South China Sea the wreck of a Japanese merchant ship that sunk in World War II with 864 Australian soldiers on board, according to reports.

Australia’s defence minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that 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 en route from what is now Papua New Guinea to China’s Hainan by a US submarine, unaware of the prisoners of war onboard. It is considered Australia’s worst maritime disaster.

The long-awaited find comes ahead of 25 April 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,” Mr Marles said in a video message.

The search for the wreck, found at a depth of more than 4,000m (13,123 feet) was led by a maritime archaeology not-for-profit and deep-sea survey specialists, and supported by Australia’s Defence department, according to the government.

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

More than 1,000 men – POWs and civilians from several countries – are thought to have lost their lives in the tragedy.

Australia says discovery of WW II shipwreck ends ‘tragic’ maritime chapter.

Additional reporting from Reuters