M-24 midget submarine wreck
I am doing a wreck diving course on Friday and Saturday on the HMAS Adelaide. We are required to do research on a Sydney wreck. I chose the M-24 WWII submarine:
The M-24 submarine was one of 3 midget submarines that entered Sydney Harbour on the night of 31st May 1942. The submarines were seeking to sink vital warships moored in the Harbour, with their primary target revised to be the USS Chicago.
The M-24 submarine entered the Harbour at approximately 10pm, and followed a Manly ferry through the anti-submarine net, which due to material shortages had large sections missing.
The submarine was spotted by the USS Chicago, which opened fire. However, the submarine received only minor damage.
The submarine was then fired upon by 2 other Australian warships, before setting up readying itself to fire on the USS Chicago. The M-24 fired 2 torpedoes, but due to the small size of the submarine had to wait until it regained stability after firing the first one. One torpedo missed the Chicago and hit alongside the HMAS Kuttabul, which broke in 2, as well as damaging a Dutch submarine. The attack killed 19 Australian sailors and 2 British sailors. The other torpedo hit the eastern side of Garden Island without damaging anything.
The M-24 then left the Harbour. It was a mystery what had happened to it for 64 years, until 6 divers found it in 55m and 5km off Bungan Head in November 2006. The "No Frills" divers found it covered in fishing nets, predominantly made of nylon which means they are post-1960's. It is now preserved as a war grave and a 500m exclusion zone has been put around it. Divers are not permitted to view the wreck, and it would cost $50-$60 million to recover it, so the decision was made to leave the two Japanese soldiers' remains resting in the sand inside the submarine (they believe the remains are there due to the various technical aspects of the submarine). The names of the soldiers were Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban, who was 23 and Petty Officer Mamoru Ashibe, who was 24.
(sources Wikipedia and NSW Heritage and Environment website)
The M-24 submarine was one of 3 midget submarines that entered Sydney Harbour on the night of 31st May 1942. The submarines were seeking to sink vital warships moored in the Harbour, with their primary target revised to be the USS Chicago.
The M-24 submarine entered the Harbour at approximately 10pm, and followed a Manly ferry through the anti-submarine net, which due to material shortages had large sections missing.
The submarine was spotted by the USS Chicago, which opened fire. However, the submarine received only minor damage.
The submarine was then fired upon by 2 other Australian warships, before setting up readying itself to fire on the USS Chicago. The M-24 fired 2 torpedoes, but due to the small size of the submarine had to wait until it regained stability after firing the first one. One torpedo missed the Chicago and hit alongside the HMAS Kuttabul, which broke in 2, as well as damaging a Dutch submarine. The attack killed 19 Australian sailors and 2 British sailors. The other torpedo hit the eastern side of Garden Island without damaging anything.
The M-24 then left the Harbour. It was a mystery what had happened to it for 64 years, until 6 divers found it in 55m and 5km off Bungan Head in November 2006. The "No Frills" divers found it covered in fishing nets, predominantly made of nylon which means they are post-1960's. It is now preserved as a war grave and a 500m exclusion zone has been put around it. Divers are not permitted to view the wreck, and it would cost $50-$60 million to recover it, so the decision was made to leave the two Japanese soldiers' remains resting in the sand inside the submarine (they believe the remains are there due to the various technical aspects of the submarine). The names of the soldiers were Sub-Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban, who was 23 and Petty Officer Mamoru Ashibe, who was 24.
(sources Wikipedia and NSW Heritage and Environment website)
There is a museum somewhere with crockery that was damaged during the firing in Sydney Harbour - Australian Jewish Museum perhaps? Or Australian Maritime Museum. It wasn't until I saw that exhibit that I had any idea that it had happened!!
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