006: Dr Matt Carter explains the 1942 Japanese Midget Submarine attack on Sydney Harbour
Matt Carter is the leading technical diving maritime archaeologist in Australasia and is passionate about furthering the links between academic archaeological research and the technical diving community to explore shipwrecks outside of recreational diving limits...
Matt presented of the events in 1942, during the War in the Pacific, when Sydney Harbour was attacked by waves of top-secret Japanese Midget Submarines. This ambitious attack shattered Australia’s illusion of safety and came just metres from altering the course of the war, leaving controversy and mystery in its wake. Using cutting-edge 3D photogrammetry and technical computer animation, the team can now tell the true story of what really happened that fateful night, using the wreck of the M-24 Midget Submarine as evidence.
Opening image:
The tracks of the three midget submarines through Sydney Harbour.
Japanese Midget Submarine attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942
The full maritime story can also be found at Heritage NSW: https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/about-our-heritage/feature-wreck-m24-midget-submarine/
November 2006 Sydney-based recreational scuba divers from a private group, No Frills Divers, located the remains of Ban and Ashibe's missing M24 midget submarine off Sydneys Northern-Beaches.
Photo Credit: Liam Allen
The Ko Hyoteki class midget submarine also known as a Type A midget submarine was designed by the Japanese Imperial Navy and built from 1941 to 1942 by Kure Naval Yard or Ourazaki Naval Yard.
Photo Credit: Liam Allen
And more general information on the Japanese Mini Submarine attack can be found here: https://www.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/japanese-midget-submarine-attack-sydney-harb
Type A Japanese Midget Submarine
The recovery of the remains of M-27 showing the effect of the demolition charges fired by Chuman.
