Let Aussie shipwreck hunters find the Centaur

Antipodean Andy · Dec 7, 2008

Let Aussie shipwreck hunters find the Centaur - Ted Graham | The Courier-Mail

AUSTRALIAN shipwreck hunters should be asked to find the lost hospital ship Centaur, says the man who orchestrated the discovery of the HMAS Sydney.

Ted Graham, whose foundation this year solved the mystery of the Sydney's resting place, said local operators should be given the chance to find the hospital ship, which sank in 1943.

Mr Graham said the Centaur should not be as hard to find as the Sydney, discovered off Western Australia in March by a team headed by British shipwreck hunter David Mearns.

International companies were asked to tender for a $4.3 million hunt that was expected to trawl waters as deep as 6000m. The Centaur is thought to lie in less than 3km of water.

"The Centaur can be found by an Australian group. We have the companies and we have the experts to do it," Mr Graham said. "This is about bringing closure to the families of those who died. The brothers and sisters (of victims) deserve to know what happened to the Centaur during their own life-times."

Martin Pash, one of three remaining survivors from the 64 people rescued after the Centaur sank, said he hoped the site would be respected.

"To satisfy everything, the sooner they find it the better," Mr Pash, 85, said from his Melbourne home last night.

"But don't interfere with it. Let it lie there."

Mr Pash retains vivid memories of his escape from the ship, which was brightly lit in fine weather, with large red crosses painted on the sides, when it was torpedoed at 4.10am. The search area for the Centaur will be smaller than that of the Sydney.

The last co-ordinates from the Centaur were taken 10 minutes before the attack. Debate has raged for years over whether the Centaur lies just east of Cape Moreton or further south, 23 nautical miles east-northeast of Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island.
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Nostalgair · Dec 7, 2008

Thanks for the post Andy.

Another Aussie nautical mystery.

Cheers

Owen

liverpool annie · Dec 7, 2008

Nostalgair said: ↑

Thanks for the post Andy.

Another Aussie nautical mystery.

Cheers

Owen
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We were only talking about the Centaur the other night ! I didn't realise they were looking for it !

http://ww2chat.com/forums/biographies/1105-lt-ellen-savage.html

Annie

Antipodean Andy · Dec 7, 2008

Annie, with the discovery of the Sydney, the spotlight has rightly swung onto the Centaur.

http://ww2chat.com/forums/hmas-sydney/2179-discoverer-hmas-sydney-offers-help-centaur.html

I'd like to see a search for the Armidale as well but am not sure how deep she might be. Much smaller ship too. Mind you, a proper search for Vampire wouldn't go astray either.

http://ww2chat.com/forums/war-sea/4...tivities-hmas-vampire-crew-after-sinking.html

Antipodean Andy · Dec 8, 2008

I guess this means, to over simplify things, the hunt is on!

Shipwreck finders welcome Centaur funding - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The man who led the team that discovered HMAS Sydney says $4.3 million is enough money to find the Australian World War II ship the Centaur.

The Federal Government yesterday committed the money to search for the hospital ship that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the south-east Queensland coast in 1943, in which 268 people died.

It is believed the ship lies on the sea bed somewhere between Caloundra and North Stradbroke Island.

British shipwreck hunter David Mearns says the search for HMAS Sydney cost $5 million.

"It was a little bit more a complicated project because of the nature of the navigation and also we were looking for two ships - not just one," he said.

"The other advantage now is that fuel prices have gone down so we're actually in a better economic climate in terms of the cost to do it.

"So I think $4.3 million is quite a healthy budget."
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Antipodean Andy · Feb 25, 2009

Companies show interest in Centaur search - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The search for a World War II hospital ship sunk off the south-east Queensland coast more than 60 years ago is a step closer.

The Centaur was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off Cape Moreton in 1943, killing 268 people.

The state and Commonwealth Government committee, formed to coordinate the search, received 11 expressions of interest from Australian and international companies wanting to find the ship.

The panel is seeking further details from the preferred project managers to finalise terms of engagement and contract details.

The contract is expected to be approved by the end of next week, but the committee says details of the successful tender are commercial in confidence.

It is not yet known when the search for the Centaur will start.
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Kyt · Feb 26, 2009

Coomercial in confidence? For a wargrave?

Antipodean Andy · Feb 26, 2009

I thought that as well and the only thing I can think of is that it's very bad wording.

Antipodean Andy · Apr 2, 2009

Centaur search could start in November - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Prime Minister says the search for the World War II hospital ship, the Centaur, could start off the south-east Queensland coast in November.

International dive company Blue Water Recoveries will manage the search for ship which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1943, killing 268 people.

Kevin Rudd says the company played a key role in finding HMAS Sydney off Western Australia last year.
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spidge · Dec 19, 2009

Australian Hospital Ship Centaur found.

Australian Hospital Ship Centaur found.

The AHS Centaur was sunk without warning by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine on 14 May 1943, about 50 miles east north-east of Brisbane. Of the 332 persons on board, only 64 survived.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,26509762-3102,00.html

Kitty · Dec 20, 2009

That is truly wonderful news, I look forward to seeing the underwater footage next year

sniper · Dec 20, 2009

Is this ship classed as a wargrave? Better get down there Spidge with your camera, haha

Sniper

spidge · Dec 20, 2009

No RAAF lads on it.

Cheers

Geoff

Kitty · Dec 21, 2009

Shame. I'd pay good money to watch that

Cobber · Dec 23, 2009

NOTE EDIT

Guys I had posted a post of RAN ship losses, a list of most of the RAN ships sunk in WW2, and the Month and year and location of where ship lost.
I have deleted this post as i did not like the way i had constructed it. i will work on it on post it to my satisfaction soon.

NOTE EDIT

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