The Ship

The Montevideo Maru was a Japanese auxiliary ship used during World War II to transport prisoners of war and civilians. On 1 July 1942, it was sunk off the coast of Luzon in the Philippines by the American submarine USS Sturgeon. Unbeknownst to the submarine crew, the ship was carrying over 1,050 prisoners, most of them Australians captured during the fall of Rabaul in New Britain.

The Loss

The Montevideo Maru was unmarked, with no indication that it held POWs and civilians. When the submarine struck, the ship sank quickly, with all POWs and internees aboard lost. The victims included over 800 Australian soldiers and at least 200 civilians, making it the single greatest loss of Australian lives at sea.

“The ocean off Luzon became their grave. They were never meant to be forgotten.” — Australian War Memorial

Rediscovery and Memorial

For decades, the exact location of the wreck remained unknown. In 2023, after years of effort by researchers and families of the victims, the wreck of the Montevideo Maru was discovered at a depth of over 4,000 meters in the South China Sea. This discovery has helped bring closure to relatives and rekindled public awareness of this national tragedy.

Legacy

The Montevideo Maru represents a profound national loss for Australia and a stark reminder of the cost of war. It is commemorated at the Hellships Memorial alongside other vessels used to transport POWs under inhumane conditions. The story of its passengers—soldiers, missionaries, civilians—continues to be honored today.

Related pages: About the Hellships | Support the Memorial