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AE1 possibly found of PNG reef
Posted: 28 Oct 2011 15:09
by SlatsSSN
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/s ... 6178946588
It would be nice to close off this for surviving loved ones.
J
Re: AE1 possibly found of PNG reef
Posted: 28 Oct 2011 19:41
by MikeJames
The RAN was very careful to state, in their initial announcement, that it could be any one of several navies lost subs and they were contacting the US, Japanese, Dutch and Royal Navies to collaborate with them on identifying the wreck.
Needless to say, that was too difficult for the media to comprehend and they ran with 'Lost Australian sub found!'
Turns out they were wrong.
Wreck in PNG likely to be a Japanese submarine
The uncharted wreck found yesterday, off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, is likely to be a World War II Japanese submarine.
Underwater vision taken by the Australian Minehunter, HMAS Gascoyne shows the wreck of a submarine, 55 meters below the surface in Simpson Harbour. The wreck is partially buried in the harbour floor but remains upright.
There had been initial media speculation that this may have been the wreck of HMAS AE 1 - Australia’s first submarine, lost in waters east of Rabaul during World War I in September 1914.
The imagery obtained by HMAS Gascoyne was examined by RAN historical staff, who concluded that the wreck is not AE 1 but a Japanese submarine.
The Royal Australian Navy will now work with Japanese authorities to assist in determining the wreck’s identity.
HMAS Gascoyne was taking part in Operation RENDER SAFE - the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the Pacific. This year, RENDER SAFE is being conducted in Rabaul over the period 18 October to 4 November.
Speaking to my contact in the RAN Historical section, he stated that it was clear that the wreck was in the wrong area for AE1.
Don't believe a third of whats in the media, particularly regarding Defence matters.
MJ