This May marks the 65th anniversary of the torpedoing and sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur by the Japanese Submarine I-177. It was sreaming to Port Moresby to pick up casualties and was off the coast of southern Queensland.
It took 3 minutes to sink, and 268 died. Sixty-three men and a nurse spend 35 hours on rafts before being rescued by the Us Destroyer Mugford.
There is a Centaur Association (but I couldn't find a website).
Tom Leask lost thgree uncles on the Centaur, but not his father because he was sent to be with his mother who was having problems with her pregnancy.
David Mearms, who recently found the wrecks of the HMAS Sydney and German Raider Kormoran is currently doing research with plans on locating the Centaur. He also was in on the discovery of the German Battleship Bismarck and HMS Hood.
For more info: www.education.magill,ca/profs/milligan/centaur/A.HOME
First the Sydney, Now the Centaur. --Old Coot
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