The discovery of the WW1 Australian submarine

Above:The Australian and Turkish teams at Karabiga Harbour
after discovering the wreck of the AE2.
Photograph by Mark Spencer Right: First pictures of the AE2.
The partly open hatch on the top of the conning tower is clearly visible. Photograph by Mark Spencer

In October this year, Tim Smith, one of the Heritage Office's maritime archaeologists, returned to Gallipoli on a special quest. Tim formed part of an Australian team to inspect and identify a shipwreck believed to be the missing submarine AE2.

As a maritime archaeologist for the Heritage Office, I was part of PROJECT AE2, the Australian team which travelled to Turkey in October to search for the wreck of the AE2. One of Australia's first two submarines, the AE2 was lost off the coast of the Dardanelles on 30 April 1915.

The submarine AE2 had a glorious past. It was built in Britain and commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1914. During the infamous Dardanelles Campaign of 1915, the AE2 crept through the treacherous strait leading to the inland Sea of Marmara and the Turkish capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul). It was the first Allied submarine to survive the passage and carried the first "Diggers" into combat during the bloody Gallipoli Campaign of 25 April.

In Istanbul we met our Turkish hosts led by Mr Selçuk Kolay. Mr Kolay, Director of the Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Istanbul, had discovered the wreck site after searching for the elusive remains since 1995. Earlier last year, the Australian team had inspected another wreck located nearby which proved to be the remains of a coastal steamer and not the AE2 (for a report on this expedition, see the April issue of Heritage NSW).

After traveling by boat to Karaburun Point we reached the AE2's original rendezvous point, the last known location of the submarine. It was here in 1915 that the AE2 encountered a Turkish torpedo boat and the crew were forced to abandon the submarine, but not before deliberately scuttling it. Now, 83 years later, the search team donned dive gear and entered the water over the wreck.

Encumbered by up to 50 kilograms of mixed gas tanks and other equipment, the divers descended into the completely dark depths below. The only illumination was by torch light and the demanding depth of 73 metres meant that only ten minutes could be spent on the bottom. The divers had a slow 80 minute ascent to the safety of the surface.

For those of us waiting on the research vessel, the scene when the divers broke surface was one of jubilation and emotion. Landing near the conning tower, the divers had been able to confirm that the wreck was indeed the Australian submarine. Even the conning tower hatch by which the crew made their escape was still ajar. Boat horns echoed around the Sea of Marmara as the team signaled the success of the moment. The mystery of the AE2 was finally solved.

After over 80 years submerged, the submarine's hull is in amazing condition. Lying upright on the seafloor, the hull is intact; the torpedo tubes, hydroplanes and propellers are clearly visible.

Work will now concentrate on the analysis of the discovery. I am completing an archaeological report for the Navy, based on the findings of the project's divers. This involves using photographs taken by expedition director, Dr Mark Spencer, video footage and on-site measurements to provide an assessment of the site and to develop possible management models to ensure the long term survival of the remains. This work will continue with discussion between the Heritage Office and the Australian and Turkish Governments.

Expedition director, Dr Mark Spencer dons his camera with assistance
by John Thomson (grandson of Leading Seaman
Thomson of the original AE2 crew). Photograph by Tim Smith