See the wreck of the wrecked hospital back in World War II

The search team, along with special equipment on Australia's "Seahorse Spirit" scientific research vessel, on December 20 found the wreck of AHS Centaur hospital deep in the Pacific Ocean.

This will help lift the mystery of this ship's fate from the past 66 years.

The 3,222-ton Centaur was built at Scotland's Greenock Workshop in 1924, originally designed as a freight train running on the route between Singapore and Fremantle port on Australia's west coast.

After the outbreak of World War II, in early 1943, the Centaur was converted into a hospital ship between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

In May 1943, the AHS Centaur set sail for the second flight from Sydney with 332 medical workers and crew and was sunk by a Japanese submarine at dawn on May 14 off North Island. Stradbroke, 50 nautical miles from Brisbane's northeast coast.

Only 64 of 332 AHS Centaurs survived the torpedo attack from Japanese submarines.

Centaur ship.Photo: bayjournal.com.au

The sunk Centaur was Queensland's worst maritime disaster and the highest shipwreck of submarine merchants on the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

The attack sparked public discontent because AHS Centaur was clearly identified as a hospital ship painted white with a large red cross symbol and the ship's journey announced via central diplomatic channels. up.

Australian and British governments sent a diplomatic note against Japanese fascists, who at the same time tried to investigate who was responsible for the attack to bring a trial to a war crimes tribunal. paintings.

Finding the AHS Centaur wreck will help bring peace to those who lose their families and relatives in this tragedy.

The Australian Government does not intend to salvage AHS Centaur and the shipwreck site will become a memorial to those who died.

Speaking on the occasion, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed that finding the AHS Centaur will help ensure that all the people know and commemorate 268 health workers and brave crew members who have sacrificed. born for the country.

The Australian Government and the state government have committed to spending 4 million AUD for the search for the AHS Centaur wreck, while the Department of Defense and the Office of the State Office staff monitor and provide technical support for the project. .