Our first casuality found

An update on a blog post from 2014 "Our first causality", with news today that the AE1 has been found.

Australia’s first submarine HMAS AE1 has finally been located, ending a 103 year maritime mystery.

The fate of the 800 ton AE1 and her 35 crew members has remained one of the persistent mysteries of Australia’s military history, after it was lost off the Duke of York island group on 14 September 1914 with all personnel aboard.

It was the first casualty for the Royal Australian Navy and the first Allied submarine loss in World War I; a significant tragedy felt by our nation and our allies.

The AE1 at Portsmouth in 1914

The Royal Australian Navy teamed up with a range of search groups in this expedition to locate the submarine, funded by the Commonwealth Government and the Silentworld Foundation, with assistance from the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian National Maritime Museum, Fugro Survey and the Papua New Guinea Government. The expedition embarked on the survey ship 'Fugro Equator' equipped with a team of maritime surveyors, marine archaeologists and naval historians who scoured the search area with a multi-beam echo sounder and side-scan technology in an underwater drone flying 40 metres above the sea bed on pre-programmed 20 hour missions.

Survey data showing the AE1 on the sea-bed (cC.of A.)

They located an object of interest in over 300 metres of water. Upon further inspection, confirmed the object to be AE1. The data collected was analysed and a three-dimensional rendering of the underwater environment was produced before dropping a camera to confirm the find.

The first images captured by the expedition show the vessel is remarkably well preserved and apparently in one piece. 

Battery ventilation trunks of the AE1 (cC.of A.)

Following the discovery of the submarine, a small commemorative service was held by those on-board the survey vessel to remember those officers and sailors who lost their lives 103 years ago. Efforts are being made to contact the descendants of the crew.

The Australian Government will work closely with the Papua New Guinean Government to consider a lasting commemoration and recognition of the crew of AE1 and to preserve the site.

The information gained from this expedition and from the research to date will greatly assist in unravelling the mystery of the loss of HMAS AE1, and will be held by the Australian National Maritime Museum for future generations to remember. More underwater images at the Navy.gov.au site.

Helm of the AE1 (cCommonwealth of Australia)

Lest We Forget.