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CSIRO research vessel Investigator has located an Australian freighter sunk in the Bass Strait during World War II, which resulted in the death of 38 crew members.
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The SS Iron Crown was sunk by a Japanese submarine on 4 June 1942 while carrying a cargo of manganese ore, sinking less than 60 seconds after being torpedoed.
“The Iron Crown is historically significant as one of only four World War II shipwrecks in Victorian waters and is the only ship to have been torpedoed by a submarine in Victorian waters,” Peter Harvey, Heritage Australia maritime archaeologist, said.
“There were 43 crew from the Australian Merchant Navy on board the ship and 38 lost their lives in the attack. Locating the wreck after 77 years of not knowing its final resting place will bring closure for relatives and family of those that were lost at sea, as well as for Australia’s maritime community.”
Investigator used multibeam sonar equipment and a drop camera to locate Iron Crown, which was about 100 kilometres off the Victorian coastline south of the border of NSW.
“The wreck of Iron Crown appears to be relatively intact and the ship is sitting upright on the seafloor in about 700 metres of water,” voyage chief scientist Emily Jateff from the Australian National Maritime Museum said.
“We have mapped the site and surrounding seafloor using sonar but have also taken a lot of close up vision of the ship structure using a drop camera. This will allow us to create a composite image of the whole site to assist in follow up surveys for its conservation and management.”
Imagery from the camera showed the intact bow of the ship, with railings, anchor chains and both anchors still in position.
Jateff said it was an exciting but solemn moment for all on board when they realised that the wreck had been located.
“This is an important discovery for Australia and all on board feel honoured to have been involved in this successful search,” Jateff said.
“The fact that so many lives were lost in the sinking of Iron Crown was something that hit home with all scientists, staff and ship crew working on board Investigator.”
CSIRO confirmed that a memorial service will be held for the site in the future.
