Montevideo Maru () was a merchant ship of the Empire of Japan. Launched in 1926, it was pressed into service as a military transport during World War II. It was sunk by the American submarine on 1 July 1942, drowning 1,054 people, mostly Australian prisoners of war and civilians who were being transported from Rabaul, the former Australian territory of New Guinea, to Hainan. The sinking is considered the worst maritime disaster in Australia's history. The wreck of the Montevideo Maru was discovered on 18 April 2023.
Pre-war history
Montevideo Maru was one of three ships (along with Santos Maru and La Plata Maru) of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) shipping line built for their trans-Pacific service to South America. The ship was constructed at the Mitsubishi Zosen Kakoki Kaisha shipyard at Nagasaki, and launched in 1926. At in length, and in the beam, it was powered by two Mitsubishi-Sulzer 6ST60 six-cylinder diesel engines delivering a total of and giving it a speed of . Before the war, the ship operated as a passenger and cargo vessel, travelling mainly between Japan and Brazil carrying Japanese emigrants.
World War II service
Montevideo Maru participated in the invasion of Makassar, Sulawesi (then Celebes) from 6 to 16 February, 1942. It completed several transport missions before being sunk.
Sinking
On 22 June 1942, approximately four months after the fall of Rabaul to the Japanese during January/February 1942, 1,054 prisoners (mostly Australians and possibly some New Zealanders) were embarked from Rabaul's port onto Montevideo Maru. It was proceeding without escort to the Chinese island of Hainan, when it was sighted by the American submarine near the northern Philippine coast on 30 June 1942.
Sturgeon pursued but could not fire, as the target was travelling at . Montevideo Maru slowed to about at midnight, to facilitate an expected rendezvous with an escort of two destroyers. Unaware that the ship was carrying Allied prisoners of war and civilians, Sturgeon fired four torpedoes at Montevideo Maru before dawn on 1 July 1942. At least one torpedo hit, causing the vessel to take on water and sink 11 minutes later. Australians in the water sang "Auld Lang Syne" to their trapped comrades as the ship sank beneath the waves.
The sinking is considered the worst maritime disaster in Australia's history. A nominal list made available by the Japanese government in 2012 revealed that a total of 1,054 prisoners (178 non-commissioned officers, 667 soldiers and 209 civilians) died on the Montevideo Maru. Among the dead were 35 sailors from the Norwegian merchant ship Herstein. Based on a report made to OSK, of Montevideo Marus complement of 88, some 17 crew and 3 guards are believed to have survived, though a total of 17 has also been claimed.
Among the missing prisoners were: Harold Page, deputy administrator of New Guinea and brother of Australian prime minister Earle Page Reverend Syd Beazley of the Methodist Mission, the uncle of future Australian Labor Party leader Kim Beazley Tom Vernon Garrett, the grandfather of Midnight Oil lead singer and government minister Peter Garrett Neill Ross Callaghan, the great uncle of a shadow minister for defence, Andrew Hastie 22 Salvation Army bandsmen, the majority being members of the Brunswick Citadel band. The bandsmen had enlisted together and comprised the majority of the band of the 2/22nd Battalion. John Laurie Ramsay, brother of future Governor of Queensland James Ramsay
Discovery of the wreck
In late January 2010, Federal Member of Parliament, Stuart Robert, called upon the then Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, to back the search for Montevideo Maru, in the same way that he had supported the search for AHS Centaur.
On 18 April 2023, the wreck of the Montevideo Maru was discovered at a depth of over in the South China Sea, off the northwest coast of Luzon, using technology from Dutch underwater search specialist Fugro. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he hoped the news would bring a "measure of comfort to loved ones who have kept a long vigil". Silentworld Foundation director John Mullens said in a statement that the site would not be disturbed because it is a war grave.
Memorials
A memorial to those who died was erected at the Repatriation Hospital, Bell Street, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria. A Montevideo Maru memorial has been erected near the centre of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria. A commemoration service was held at the memorial unveiling in February 2004.