Australian Navy to pass over warship's grave 75 years after sinking

Australian Navy to pass over warship's grave 75 years after sinking





An Australian Navy patrol ship has passed over one of Australia's most significant World War II battle grounds in the ocean off Java.



In a solemn event without great fanfare, those on board paused to remember a day 75 years ago when Australia's pride warship succumbed to the Japanese.



They paid tribute to 681 sailors who were on board HMAS Perth, which was sunk by the Japanese on the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra on March 1, 1942.

In waters to Jakarta's west, they remembered those who lost their lives at the time of the sinking and later in prisoner of war camps.



A total of 218 managed to return to home soil all with stories of remarkable survival.



In December last year, the museum and Indonesia's research centre for archaeology undertook a sonar survey of the wreckage, showing the site had significantly deteriorated since 1967.



It is thought illegal salvagers have extensively damaged HMAS Perth for scrap metal.



He said once the divers assess what remains, the focus can shift to the protection of the ship.



He said the Indonesian Navy had already begun patrolling the site.



During Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Australia last week, both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of maritime cultural heritage.