Sub found 103 years on

ONE hundred and three years ago the Australian World War I submarine AE1 vanished without a trace.

Now it’s been found, ending one of the nation’s most puzzling and oldest naval mysteries.

AE1 went missing while on patrol off East New Britain on September 14, 1914, with 35 Australian, New Zealand and British crew on board.

There was no distress call and no witnesses.

It was the first wartime loss for the Royal Australian Navy and the first Allied submarine loss in World War I, according to Defence.

Over the years, there have been 13 searches for AE1. One, in 2013 involved a navy minehunter and another in 2014 used multi-beam sonar carried aboard a chartered mining survey boat.

Most were confined to an area east of Duke of York Island, off the New Britain capital Rabaul.

AE1’s final contact with destroyer HMAS Parramatta at 2.30pm, more than a century ago, placed her in this area.

Mioko Island villagers at the time spoke of seeing a “monster” or “devil fish” that appeared and quickly disap- peared into the water.

The latest and successful search, which only began last week, used the Dutch- owned survey vessel Fugro Equator.

The vessel was equipped with a range of technologies, including solar technology and an autonomous underwater vehicle.

In the end, a camera sent deep into the water off Duke of York Island this week confirmed the wreck was AE1.

It was always assumed the submarine was not a victim of enemy action because the only German vessel nearby at the time was a small survey ship.

Because no wreckage, oil or bodies were found it was also believed AE1 sank intact, most likely after striking a reef that punched a hole in the pressure hull.

The submarine was found in 300 metres of water.

It appears to be well pre- served and in one piece. The submarine’s discovery this week could help experts determine how it sank, with a diving accident believed to be the likely cause.

Commanded by Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Thomas Besant, AE1 accompanied the Australian expeditionary forces dispatched at the start of WWI to capture then German-occupied New Britain.