Operation Silent ANZAC a victory
21 September 2007
The Australian team of the Turkish Australian AE2 Expedition is preparing to return home after a ten day archaeological survey of the World War 1 Australian submarine HMAS AE2.
The expedition was a great success with a much clearer picture developing of the submarine's condition and a way ahead as to how to best preserve the submarine and its amazing story of heroism at Gallipoli.
Through a combination of advanced technology, scientific analysis and superhuman diving efforts in difficult conditions, the team was able to unlock some of the secrets of the vessel's remarkable condition.
The expedition's success was based on two major milestones; firstly, divers inserted a video camera developed by DSTO scientists into the submarine's control room which provided the first images in 92 years.
"The results are spectacular and we hope to get some of the images to the media very soon", said Terence Roach, Vice President of the AE2 Commemorative Foundation.
The second major accomplishment came from the on site analysis of corroded and organic material sampled from the hull of the submarine which gave an explanation for the AE2's relatively good condition.
"Studies of the samples told us that the hull was submerged in silt on four occasions. That is great because the low oxygen environment of the silt formed a protective coating on the buried submarine which has slowed the rate of corrosion", said Peter Briggs, Chairman of the AE2 Commemorative Foundation.
These major breakthroughs were nearly adversely affected when one of the team's divers experienced difficulties. The diver was quickly rescued by a second diver and the pre-planned medical evacuation procedures proved to be highly effective. The diver is recovering well after being discharged from hospital on Monday.
The next steps will involve a detailed examination of all data collected to decide on how best to preserve the submarine and the memory of the Navy heroes of Gallipoli in an effort remember their actions and to signify the strong and ongoing friendship between Australia and Turkey.
